CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference announced Tuesday, Oct. 27 the 2015-16 Women's Basketball Coaches Preseason Poll and All-MAC Teams as voted on by the 12 head coaches of the league.
The Broncos, who are coming off a 20-13 overall, 11-7 MAC record last season were picked third in the West Division behind Eastern Michigan and Ball State. The 2014-15 campaign was one of Western Michigan's most successful in program history, as the team was one victory shy of tying the school record for wins (21) set in 1978. It just the fourth 20-win season in school history.
Western Michigan finished tied for second in the MAC West in 2015 and fourth overall in the conference, the team's best finish since 2006. The Broncos won two games in the MAC Tournament for first time since 2003, defeating Bowling Green and Central Michigan. WMU also earned just its fourth ever appearance in the WNIT.
The Broncos are under the direction of fourth-year head coach Shane Clipfell, who has increased WMU's win total in each of his first three seasons. After inheriting a program that had only achieved 46 wins combined in the five seasons prior to his arrival, Clipfell has already amassed 44 wins in his first three seasons.
For the second year in a row, Western Michigan senior forward Miracle Woods has been named to the Preseason All-MAC Team. Woods enters her final season at WMU ranked 15th in career points (1,171), fifth in blocked shots (106) and eighth for career field goal percentage (49.8 percent), as well as free throws made (294). She has been a Second Team All-MAC selection at the season's end each of the past two years and was Honorable Mention All-MAC as a freshman. Woods averaged 15.4 points and 7.7 rebounds per game during conference play a year ago.
Defending regular season and MAC Tournament champion Ohio was the favorite to win the East Division, as well repeat as the tournament champion. The Bobcats posted a 27-5 overall and 16-2 MAC record last year and boast two Preseason All-MAC Team players in senior guard Kiyanna Black and junior guard Quiera Lampkins. Western Michigan was one of only two teams to hand Ohio a conference loss in 2014-15, defeating the Bobcats in Kalamazoo on Jan. 7, 61-51.
Akron was picked second in the East, followed by Bowling Green and Miami. Buffalo and Kent State tied for fifth.
West favorite Eastern Michigan returns nine letterwinners, including Preseason All-MAC player, junior guard Cha Sweeney. Sweeney averaged 17.2 points last year and led the Eagles to the MAC Tournament Championship game where they fell to Ohio. EMU had a 24-13 overall record in 2014-15 and tied with WMU for second in the West with an 11-7 MAC record. Western Michigan and Eastern Michigan split their two meetings last year, with each team winning on its home floor.
Ball State, which had the second best conference record last year at 13-5 and won the West Division, was voted to finish second in the West ahead of Western Michigan. The Cardinals return three-time All-MAC forward Nathalie Fontaine and Third Team All-MAC selection Jill Morrison. Both were named to the Preseason All-MAC Team.
Following Western Michigan in the West poll was Toledo in fourth, Central Michigan in fifth and Northern Illinois in sixth.
Western Michigan opens the 2015-16 schedule with an exhibition against Lake Erie College on Sunday, Nov. 8, then hosts UW-Parkside in its first official game, Friday, Nov. 13. MAC play begins Jan. 2, with the Broncos facing Ohio on the road. WMU welcomes Bowling Green Jan. 6 for its first home MAC contest. All home Western Michigan games this season will be streamed live on ESPN3.
2015-16 MAC East Predicted Order of Finish
1. Ohio (12 First Place Votes)
2. Akron
3. Bowling Green
4. Miami
T5. Buffalo
T5. Kent State
2015-16 MAC West Predicted Order of Finish
1. Eastern Michigan (4)
2. Ball State (8)
3. Western Michigan
4. Toledo
5. Central Michigan
6. Northern Illinois
2016 MAC Regular Season Predicted Champion
Ohio (10)
Ball State & Eastern Michigan (1)
2016 MAC Tournament Predicted Champion
Ohio (5)
Ball State & Eastern Michigan (3)
Buffalo (1)
Preseason All-MAC East Team
Kiyanna Black, Ohio
Anita Brown, Akron
Quiera Lampkins, Ohio
Erica Donovan, Bowling Green
Hannah Plybon, Akron
Preseason All-MAC West Team
Nathalie Fontaine, Ball State
Cha Sweeney, Eastern Michigan
Miracle Woods, Western Michigan
Jill Morrison, Ball State
Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott, Toledo
