Golden Flashes Projected Fourth in MAC Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll
10/31/2018 10:19:00 AM | Women's Basketball
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Kent State has been picked to finish fourth in the Mid-American Conference East Division in the 2018-19 MAC Women's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Poll, which was announced by the conference office Wednesday (Oct. 31) morning.
Kent State received 28 points overall to finish ahead of Bowling Green and Akron. Buffalo, one of two MAC teams that advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, is picked to win the East Division with 62 points. Miami received the most first-place votes (five) and finished one point behind the Bulls.
Defending regular season and tournament champion Central Michigan received all 12 first-place votes to win the West Division. The Chippewas are also the favorite to capture the regular season and tournament titles, receiving nine and eight votes, respectively. Toledo (52 points) and Eastern Michigan (41 points) are also expected to contend in the West Division.
Guards Megan Carter (10.2 ppg), Ali Poole (7.1 ppg) and Alexa Golden (6.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg, team-leading 44) provide a veteran presence on the perimeter. Center Merissa Barber-Smith (2.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg) returns after being sidelined for the final 17 games last season.
Kent State hosts Slippery Rock for an exhibition contest on Sunday, Nov. 4 at 2 p.m. The Kent State Classic begins the regular season home schedule with games against Northern Kentucky on Saturday, Nov. 17 and Oakland on Sunday, Nov. 18.
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 - 62 points (4)
2. Miami - 61 points (5)
3. Ohio - 57 points (3)
4. Kent State - 28 points
5. Bowling Green - 27 points
6. Akron - 17 points
West Division Predicted Order of Finish (1st place votes)
1. Central Michigan - 72 points (12)
2. Toledo - 52 points
3. Eastern Michigan - 41 points
4. Northern Illinois - 38 points
5. Ball State - 34 points
6. Western Michigan - 15 points
Regular Season Champion: Central Michigan (9), Miami (2), Ohio (1)
Tournament Champion: Central Michigan (8), Buffalo (3), Northern Illinois (1)
