Oct. 28, 2009

 

 

CLEVELAND – The Mid-American Conference office released the results of its preseason women’s basketball poll Wednesday morning. The Miami RedHawks were picked to finish third in the East Division, receiving two of the 36 available first place votes. Voting for the teams was conducted among 24 members of the league's media contingent as well as the league's head women's basketball coaches.

Bowling Green was the pick to win the MAC East, receiving 22 first place votes. Kent State finished second in the poll, receiving the other 12 first place votes. The East Division was rounded out by Akron in fourth, Ohio in fifth and Buffalo in sixth.

Toledo was the pick to win the MAC West with 18 first place votes. Ball State was second with 14 first place votes, and Northern Illinois was third with four first place votes. Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan rounded out the West Division.

Bowling Green was the favorite to win the conference tournament, receiving 16 votes.

Miami returns eight letterwinners from last year’s team that went 16-15 overall and 7-9 in the MAC. However this year’s team will be very young as nine of the 12 players are either freshman or sophomores. The RedHawks open the season Saturday, Nov. 14 against Bucknell at 5 p.m. in the Iona Tip-Off Tournament.

MAC Preseason Poll Results (first place votes in parenthesis)

EAST
1. Bowling Green (22)
2. Kent State (12)
3. Miami (2)
4. Akron
5. Ohio
6. Buffalo

EAST DIVISION Preseason Team:
Lauren Prochaska- Bowling Green
Kara Murphy- Akron
Kourtney Brown-Buffalo
Tracy Pontius-Bowling Green
Jennifer Bushby-Ohio

WEST
1. Toledo (18)
2. Ball State (14)
3. Northern Illinois (4)
4. Central Michigan
5. Eastern Michigan
6. Western Michigan

WEST DIVISION Preseason Team:
Tanika Mays-Toledo
Britni Houghton-Central Michigan
Naama Shafir-Toledo
Danielle Gratton-Ball State
Emily Maggert-Ball State

MAC Tournament Winner: Bowling Green (16), Toledo (12), Ball State (6), Kent State (2)

Printer-friendly format	Email this article