Defending MAC East Champs Tabbed Second in Preseason Women’s Basketball Poll
10/25/2017 1:25:00 PM | Women's Basketball
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Kent State has been picked to finish second in the Mid-American Conference East Division in the 2017-18 MAC Women's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Poll, which was announced by the conference office Wednesday (Oct. 25) morning. Additionally, senior Jordan Korinek was named to the five-player Preseason All-MAC East Team. The preseason poll and divisional all-conference teams are both voted on by the league's 12 head coaches
Kent State received one vote to repeat as MAC East champions and 52 points overall to finish just 17 behind favorite Buffalo. The Bulls secured 10 of the 12 first-place votes. The final first-place vote went to Ohio, which is third with 47 points. Miami (40), Bowling Green (23) and Akron (21) round out the poll for the East.
Central Michigan is the favorite to win its third straight West Division crown with 10 first-place votes and 70 points. The Chippewas are also the favorite to repeat as regular season champions and win the MAC Tournament, receiving 10 and nine votes, respectively. Toledo (60 points) and Ball State (46 points) are also expected to contend in the West Division.
Korinek is a two-time All-MAC honoree and the only active MAC player with 1,000 points and 500 rebounds as a collegiate player. She collected CoSIDA Academic All-America® Second Team and All-MAC Second Team recognition after averaging 15.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game while shooting 50-percent from the field during her junior season.
Second-year head coach Todd Starkey has rejuvenated the Golden Flashes' program during his short tenure on the sidelines. While Kent State was projected to finish last in the poll a year ago, Starkey led the team to its first MAC East Division title since the 2004-05 season and 19-13 overall record to receive MAC Coach of the Year honors.
The Flashes return a core of four starters from last season's team. The return of graduate student McKenna Stephens (8.9 ppg, 5.6 rpg) gives Kent State one of the MAC's most experienced frontcourt tandems. Stephens and Korinek are one of only two pairs of teammates who averaged at least 10.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game during the conference season a year ago.
Senior Naddiyah Cross (3.7 ppg, 3.5 apg) and junior Alexa Golden (4.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg, team-leading 47steals) started nearly every game in the backcourt. Redshirt sophomore Megan Carter (5.8 ppg) provided a spark off the bench during her first full season and redshirt junior Tyra James is expected to return after being sidelined last season. James was second on the team in assists (2.5 apg) and third in scoring (9.5 ppg), rebounding (4.4 rpg) and steals (1.3 spg) in 2015-16.
Kent State is slated to begin the regular season at Northern Kentucky on Saturday, Nov. 11. The home opener will be Thursday, November 30 against Detroit Mercy. For the first time, 10 of Kent State's 11 home games are scheduled to be broadcast on ESPN3.
Season tickets are currently on sale and begin as low as less than $5 per game. Fans can purchase tickets by calling the Ticket Office at 330-672-2244.
East Division Predicted Order of Finish (1st place votes)
1. Buffalo - 69 points (10)
2. Kent State - 52 points (1)
3. Ohio - 47 points (1)
4. Miami - 40 points
5. Bowling Green - 23 points
6. Akron - 21 points
West Division Predicted Order of Finish (1st place votes)
1. Central Michigan - 70 points (10)
2. Toledo - 60 points (1)
3. Ball State - 46 points (1)
4. Western Michigan - 32 points
5. Northern Illinois - 29 points
6. Eastern Michigan - 15 points
Regular Season Champion: Central Michigan (10), Ball State (1), Buffalo (1)
Tournament Champion: Central Michigan (9), Ball State (1), Buffalo (1), Western Michigan (1)
Preseason All-MAC East Division Team
Carly Santoro, Bowling Green
Stephanie Reid, Buffalo
Jordan Korinek, Kent State
Lauren Dickerson, Miami
Taylor Agler, Ohio
Preseason All-MAC West Division Team
Moriah Monaco, Ball State
Presley Hudson, Central Michigan
Tinara Moore, Central Michigan
Mikaela Boyd, Toledo
Breanna Mobley, Western Michigan
