Cleveland, Ohio-- The Mid-American Conference announced Thursday, November 4th the 2021-22 Women’s Basketball Coaches Preseason Poll as voted on by the league’s 12 head coaches. With 4 out of the 12 first place votes, the Ohio Bobcats were selected to win the 2021-22 MAC regular season title.  The Buffalo Bulls secured 5 out of 12 votes to take home the MAC Women’s Basketball Tournament title. Ten of the league's top women's basketball players were also selected to the Preseason All-MAC first and second teams as announced by the league office.
 
Ohio’s Head Coach Bob Boldon will bring back former MAC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, Cece Hooks, along with All-MAC honoree Erica Johnson. Hooks was named to the Becky Hammon watch list last month after averaging 25.1 points, 3.8 steals, 6.6 rebounds, and 4 assists per game in the 2020-21 season..
 
The Preseason All-MAC First Team features once again the Ohio duo of Cece Hooks and Erica Johnson, along with Buffalo’s Dyaisha Fair, Central Michigan’s Molly Davis and Eastern Michigan’s Areanna Combs.
 
The Preseason All-MAC Second Team is comprised of Bowling Green’s Lexi Fleming, Kent State’s Nila Blackford, Miami’s Peyton Scott, Northern Illinois Chelby Koker, and Toledo’s Quinesha Lockett. 
 
The MAC Regular season tips off on Tuesday, November 9^th with non-conference play. 2021-22 Conference action will open up Wednesday, December 29^th culminating with the MAC Women's Basketball Tournament that will take place on March 9^th, 11-12 at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio.
 
 
2021-22 MAC Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll (First Place Votes) 
1. Ohio – 132 points (4 first place votes)
2. Bowling Green – 124 points (3)
3. Buffalo – 123 points (3)
4. Kent State – 102 points
5. Eastern Michigan – 83 points (1)
6. Central Michigan – 80 points
7. Northern Illinois – 79 points
8. Toledo – 67 points
9. Ball State – 65 points (1)
10. Western Michigan – 31 points
11. Miami – 27 points
12. Akron – 23 points MAC Tournament Champion: Buffalo (5), Ohio (3), BGSU (2), Ball State (1), EMU (1)
 
Preseason All-MAC First Team
Dyaisha Fair, Buffalo, Junior, Guard
Molly Davis, Central Michigan, Junior, Guard
Areanna Combs, Eastern Michigan, R-Senior, Guard
Cierra (Cece) Hooks, Ohio, Senior, Guard
Erica Johnson, Ohio, R-Junior, Guard
 
Preseason All-MAC Second Team
Lexi Fleming, Bowling Green, Sophomore, Guard
Nila Blackford, Kent State, Junior, Forward
Peyton Scott, Miami, Junior, Guard
Chelby Koker, Northern Illinois, Junior, Guard 
Quinesha Lockett, Toledo, Junior, Guard/Forward