Kent State Picked Third in Preseason MAC Women’s Basketball Poll
10/30/2019 2:12:00 PM | Women's Basketball
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Kent State has been picked to finish third in the Mid-American Conference East Division in the 2019-20 MAC Women's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Poll, which was announced by the conference office Wednesday (Oct. 30) afternoon. Additionally, redshirt senior Megan Carter 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
The Golden Flashes are one of four East Division teams that posted 20-win campaigns a year ago and received 50 points. Ohio was unanimously selected to win the overall regular season and East Division titles, while Buffalo placed second in the division with 56 points.
Two-time defending regular season and tournament champion Central Michigan (60 points) edged out Northern Illinois (59 points) as the favorite to win the West Division. Five of the six teams in the division received a first-place vote.
Megan Carter earned a spot on the All-MAC Third Team last season after posting averages of 15.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. Carter was the Flashes' most consistent scoring threat, reaching double-figures in 27 of 33 games on the season.
Kent State returns four starters and 83.6-percent of its scoring from last year's 20-win team. Point guard Asiah Dingle (12.9 ppg) and forward Lindsey Thall (10.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg) were named to the MAC All-Freshman Team. Guard Ali Poole (8.8 ppg) is the team's most experienced player with 92 games in a Flashes uniform.
During a foreign tour to Vancouver in August, the Flashes went 3-0 with an average margin of victory of 37.7 points. Freshmen Nila Blackford, Clare Kelly and Katie Shumate all made major contributions during the trip.
The regular season opens at Duquesne on next Tuesday. Following three additional games on the road, Kent State will host Ohio State in the home opener on Thursday, November 21.
Season tickets are currently on sale and begin as low as less than $3 per game. Fans can purchase tickets by calling the Ticket Office at 330-672-4455.
East Division Predicted Order of Finish (1st place votes)
1. Ohio - 72 points (12)
2. Buffalo - 56 points
3. Kent State - 50 points
4. Miami - 32 points
5. Akron - 28 points
6. Bowling Green - 14 points
West Division Predicted Order of Finish (1st place votes)
1. Central Michigan - 60 points (4)
2. Northern Illinois - 59 points (4)
3. Toledo - 50 points (1)
4. Eastern Michigan - 35 points (1)
5. Ball State - 30 points (1)
6. Western Michigan - 18 points
Regular Season Champion: Ohio (12)
Tournament Champion: Ohio (10), Buffalo (1), Northern Illinois (1)
Preseason All-MAC East Division Team
Megan Carter, Kent State
Lauren Dickerson, Miami
Summer Hemphill, Buffalo
CeCe Hooks, Ohio
Erica Johnson, Ohio
Preseason All-MAC West Division Team
Nakiah Black, Toledo
Oshlynn Brown, Ball State
Corrione Cardwell, Eastern Michigan
Micaela Kelly, Central Michigan
Breanna Mobley, Western Michigan
Courtney Woods, Northern Illinois
