CLEVELAND, Ohio - Toledo has been selected to win the MAC regular season and tournament title in the 2022-23 Women's Basketball Preseason Head Coaches Poll. The Rockets received eleven first place votes to win the regular season championship, while grabbing nine votes to win the Tournament title. Ball State was picked to finish second and received one first place vote, as well as three votes to win the Tournament Championship. Bowling Green followed and was picked to finish third. 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.
Toledo returns its entire starting five and nearly all of its reserve contributors from last year's team that turned in one of their best seasons in program history. The Rockets won their 10th MAC regular season title in 2021-22, posting a 29-6 overall record which tied a school record for most wins in a season. Toledo was an astounding 19-1 in MAC play, a league record for most conference wins in a season. The Rockets open their 2022-23 season at home on Monday, Nov. 7 against Wright State at 11:00 a.m. in their annual Education Day game. Toledo's non-conference schedule also includes home contests against NCAA Tournament regulars Duke, Dayton and Missouri State, and road games against Cincinnati and Michigan.
The Cardinals ended last season with a successful run at the 2022 MAC Tournament in Cleveland by knocking off No. 4 seed Northern Illinois and No. 1 seed Toledo to reach the title game where Ball State fell to No. 2 seed Buffalo, 79-75. Ball State also made its seventh WNIT appearance under current head coach
Brady Sallee and 10th overall. The Ball State women's basketball team returns to the court for an exhibition game versus Wheeling University, Nov. 1 in Worthen Arena. The game is slated to begin at 6:30 p.m. ET. After that, the Cardinals officially open their season on the road at Tennessee Tech Nov. 7 at 7 pm ET.
A complete list of the MAC Coaches Preseason Coaches Poll and All-League Team can be found below.
2022-23 MAC Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll
(First Place Votes)
1. Toledo (11) – 143
2. Ball State (1) – 130
3. Bowling Green – 109
4. Kent State – 103
5. Northern Illinois – 99
6. Western Michigan – 91
7. Ohio – 61
8. Akron – 50
9. Eastern Michigan – 46
10. Buffalo – 40
11. Miami – 35
12. Central Michigan – 29
MAC Tournament Champions: Toledo (9), Ball State (3)
2022-23 MAC Women’s Basketball Preseason All-MAC Teams
First Team
Quinesha Lockett, G, Toledo, Sr.
A’Jah Davis, F, Northern Illinois, Sr.
Ally Becki, G, Ball State, So.
Peyton Scott, G, Miami, Sr.
Sophia Wiard, G, Toledo, Sr.
Second Team
Lauren Ross, G, Western Michigan, R-So.
Chelby Koker, G, Northern Illinois, Sr.
Lexi Fleming, G, Bowling Green, Jr.
Reagan Bass, F, Akron, So.
Kadie Hempfling, F, Bowling Green, Sr.
