CLEVELAND, Ohio – On Tuesday the Mid-American Conference announced the 2020-21 Player, Coach and Freshman of the Year, as voted by the head coaches, of the Mid-American Conference.
The conference office also released the 2020-21 All-MAC Teams, All-Freshman Team, All-Defensive Team, Defensive Player of the Year and Sixth Player of the Year awards.
Ohio guard Cece Hooks received multiple top honors being named the 2021 MAC Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, earning a spot on the All-MAC First Team, and All-Defensive Team. The senior from Dayton, Ohio put together one of the most impressive seasons in Ohio women’s program history, averaging just over 26 points per game which ranks 3rd in the NCAA and first overall in the MAC.
Hooks also received the MAC Defensive Player of the Year honor for the third straight season after capturing the award in both 2019 and 2020. The Bobcat guard is the MAC’s leader, and ranks 5th in the entire nation in steals with 73 this season, and her 3.65 steals per game ranks 3rd in the nation.
Bowling Green Head Coach Robyn Fralick earned Coach of the Year honors after guiding the Falcons to a 18-5 (14-4 MAC) mark and a league-record 15th regular season MAC title! Fralick becomes fifth different BGSU coach to lead the program to a conference regular-season crown. The Falcons ended the regular season by winning nine of 11 games, with the two losses in that time coming by one point apiece.
The Falcons Lexi Fleming is the recipient of the 2021 MAC Freshman of the Year Award. The Cincinnati, Ohio native is currently ranked 10th in the MAC in scoring at 16.9 points per game and also ranks 5th in steals (2.57 per game). Fleming was one of 15 players, but the only freshman, named to the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Midseason Watch List on Jan. 6.
Joining Hooks on the All-MAC First Team 2020 MAC Player of the Year Micaela Kelly, Ball State’s Oshlynn Brown, 2020 Freshman of the Year Dyaisha Fair, and Central Michigan sophomore Molly Davis.
Three sophomores highlight the All-MAC Second Team which includes Kent State's Nila Blackford, Miami's Peyton Scott, NIU's Chelby Koker, Freshman of the Year Lexi Fleming and Eastern Michigan Redshirt Senior Areanna Combs.
Receiving third-team honors is Akron’s Jordyn Dawson, Bowling Green's Kadie Hempfling, Eastern Michigan's Ce'Nara Skanes, 2020 First Team All-MAC member Erica Johnson, and Toledo sophomore Quinesha Lockett.
Ohio’s Gabby Burris, Ball State's Sydney Freeman, Kent State duo Katie Shumate and Lindsey Thall along with the Western Michigan duo of Reilly Jacobson and Taylor Williams all were selected for honorable mention recognition.
Bowling Green freshman Nyla Hampton accompanies Combs, Kelly, Fair, Thall, and Hooks on the MAC’s All-Defensive Team.
The Falcon tandem of Lexi Fleming and Nyla Hampton along with Buffalo's Cheyenne McEvans, Ohio's, Madi Mace and Western Michigan's Taylor Williams make up the All-Freshman Team to round out the 2020-21 postseason award lists.
MACtion moves to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio beginning Wednesday, March 10th at 11 AM EST when #8 Eastern Michigan faces #1 Bowling Green. Visit
MAC Tournament Central for a complete bracket.
MAC Women's Basketball Player of the Year
Cece Hooks, Ohio, Sr. Guard
MAC Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year
Robyn Fralick, Bowling Green
MAC Women’s Basketball Freshman of the Year
Lexi Fleming, Bowling Green, Fr., Guard
MAC Women’s Basketball Sixth Player of the Year
Janae Poisson, NIU, R-Jr. Guard
MAC Women’s Basketball Defensive Player of the Year
Cece Hooks, Ohio, Sr. Guard
Women’s Basketball All-MAC First Team
Oshlynn Brown, Ball State, Sr. Forward
Dyaisha Fair, Buffalo, So. Guard
Micaela Kelly, Central Michigan, Sr. Guard
Molly Davis, Central Michigan, So. Guard
Cece Hooks, Ohio, Sr. Guard
Women’s Basketball All-MAC Second Team
Lexi Fleming, Bowling Green, Fr., Guard
Areanna Combs, Eastern Michigan, R-Sr. Guard
Nila Blackford, Kent State, So. Forward
Peyton Scott, Miami, So. Guard
Chelby Koker, NIU, So. Guard
Women’s Basketball All-MAC Third Team
Jordyn Dawson, Akron, Sr. Forward
Kadie Hempfling, Bowling Green, Jr. Guard
Ce'Nara Skanes, Eastern Michigan, R-So. Forward
Erica Johnson, Ohio, R-Jr. Guard
Quinesha Lockett, Toledo, Sophomore, G/F
Women’s Basketball All-MAC Honorable Mention (6 Players due to ties)
Sydney Freeman, Ball State, So. Guard
Katie Shumate, Kent State, So. Guard
Lindsey Thall, Kent State, Jr. Forward
Gabby Burris, Ohio, Sr. Forward
Reilly Jacobson, Western Michigan, R-Sr. Forward
Taylor Williams, Western Michigan, Fr. Forward
Women’s Basketball MAC All-Defensive Team (6 Players due to ties)
Nyla Hampton, Bowling Green, Fr. Guard
Dyaisha Fair, Buffalo, So. Guard
Micaela Kelly, Central Michigan, Sr. Guard
Areanna Combs, Eastern Michigan
Lindsey Thall, Kent State
Cece Hooks, Ohio, Sr. Guard
Women’s Basketball MAC All-Freshman Team
Lexi Fleming, Bowling Green, Fr., Guard
Nyla Hampton, Bowling Green, Fr. Guard
Cheyenne McEvans, Buffalo, Fr. Guard
Madi Mace, Ohio, Fr. Guard
Taylor Williams, Western Michigan, Fr. Forward
