KALAMAZOO, Mich.- Four of Western Michigan's non-conference opponents have a received Top 30 ranking in the USA TODAY Sports preseason women's basketball coaches poll, released on Oct. 29. Two of those opponents will come in WMU's first four games.
Mississippi State and Northwestern both landed in the top 25, with the Bulldogs earning a No. 13 ranking and the Wildcats being voted 24th. Michigan State and Florida Gulf Coast were just out of the top 25, coming in at No. 26 and No. 28, respectively.
Western Michigan opens the 2015-16 regular season at home against UW-Parkside on Friday, Nov. 13 and then faces Michigan State in East Lansing on Sunday, Nov. 15.
The Broncos return home to host Chicago State on Nov. 18 before traveling to Northwestern on Nov. 22.
Western Michigan will face both Mississippi State and Florida Gulf Coast while participating in the Puerto Rico Classic, Dec. 19-21. The Broncos open the classic against Gardner-Webb on Dec. 19 and play Mississippi State and FGCU over the following two days.
Western Michigan is coming off a 20-13 overall, 11-7 Mid-American Conference record last year. It was just the fourth ever 20-win season in WMU history and the team earned a bid to the WNIT for just the fourth time in program history. The Broncos were picked to finish third in the MAC West in 2016.
WMU returns three starting seniors, forward Miracle Woods, forward Jessica Jessing and point guard Alex Morton. Woods has been a Second Team All-MAC selection each of the last two seasons and averaged a team-high 15.0 points and 6.8 rebounds a year ago. Morton averaged 8.0 ppg and dished out 109 assists while Jessing averaged 7.3 ppg and 4.5 rpg.
In addition to the three seniors, Western Michigan returns one junior - Meredith Shipman, five sophomores - LaTondra Brooks, Aneisha Carlisle, Alexis Parks, Teagan Reeves and Najee Smith. Four freshmen - Logan McCane, Meredith Miller, Breanna Mobley and Deja Wimby also join the roster, as well as fifth-year senior Deborah Meeks who will be eligible to compete this season. First-year transfers Marley Hill (Cincinnati) and Asia Robeson (Auburn) will not be eligible until next season.
Michigan State is coming off a 16-15 season and was voted to finish third in the Big Ten preseason coaches' poll. Junior forward Aerial Powers (21.9 ppg, 12.1 rpg) and junior guard Tori Jankoska (17.5, 6.9 rpg) both earned preseason All-Big Ten honors.
Northwestern posted a 23-9 record last year, which marked the program's most victories since the 1995-96 season. The Wildcats return five seniors and their top five scoring contributors from last year's team. Northwestern was picked to finish third in the Big Ten by the media voting panel.
Mississippi State compiled a 27-7 record in 2014-15 and was picked to finish third in the SEC this season. Sophomore forward Victoria Vivians (14.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg) was named to the Preseason All-SEC squad. She was an AP All-America Honorable Mention as a freshman.
Florida Gulf Coast was picked to repeat as the Atlantic Sun Conference champions. FGCU went undefeated in conference play in 2015 and also won the conference tournament on its way to a 31-3 overall record. The Eagles defeated Oklahoma State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament before bowing out against Florida State in the second round. The Eagles return three preseason A-Sun players, including reigning Player of the Year, 6-3 redshirt senior Whitney Knight (15.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg).
WMU WBB Non-Conference Schedule
Date - Opponent - (last year's record)
Nov. 8 - vs. Lake Erie College / Exhibition - (10-18, 5-16 GLIAC - DII)
Nov. 13 vs. UW-Parkside (22-8, 14-4 GLVC - DII)
Nov. 15 at Michigan State (16-15, 7-11 Big Ten)
Nov. 18 vs. Chicago State (4-25, 1-13 WAC)
Nov. 22 at Northwestern (23-9, 12-6 Big Ten)
Nov. 24 at Bradley (6-24, 5-13 MVC)
Nov. 29 at IPFW (9-21, 3-134 Summit)
Dec. 2 at Loyola-Chicago (6-25, 3-15 MVC)
Dec. 12 vs. Detroit (12-18, 7-9 Horizon)
Dec. 19 - Puerto Rico Classic - vs. Gardner-Webb (15-17, 9-11 Big South)
Dec. 20 - Puerto Rico Classic - Mississippi State (27-7, 11-5 SEC)
Dec. 21 - Puerto Rico Classic - Florida Gulf Coast (31-3, 14-0 Atlantic Sun)
Dec. 30 - vs. Ferris State (11-14, 9-13 GLIAC - DII)
