Kent State Picked First in MAC WBB Preseason Poll; Tyler and Babbitt Selected to All-MAC Teams
10/21/2025 12:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
CLEVELAND – Kent State has been voted as the favorite to win both the Mid-American Conference regular season and tournament championships for the upcoming 2025-26 women's basketball season, according to the preseason coaches poll announced by the conference office on Tuesday. Additionally, juniors Janae Tyler and Mya Babbitt were among the 10 student-athletes who received Preseason All-MAC recognition.
The Golden Flashes totaled 133 points in the poll, which was 15 more than Toledo, the team projected to finish second. Kent State also received five first-place and tournament champion votes to lead all teams in both categories.
Kent State was one of three schools with multiple preseason honorees, with Tyler selected to the first team and Babbitt to the second team.
Despite being sidelined for 10 games last season, Tyler was an All-MAC honorable mention selection with averages of 11.6 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. She played her best down the stretch and averaged 14.3 points and 6.3 rebounds over 10 games played in February and March.
Babbitt averaged 11.8 points per contest during a breakout campaign that was highlighted by a program record 83 three-point field goals made, which was seven more than any other MAC shooter. She also led the conference with 41.3% accuracy from behind the arc.
Overall, the Flashes return three starters and seven players who logged at least 10 minutes per games during a 21-win campaign in 2024-25. Senior Dionna Gray (8.5 ppg) and redshirt junior Corynne Hauser (9.8 ppg, 4.2 apg in 2023-24) provide experience at the point guard position with 85 combined starts over the past three seasons. Gray averaged 4.9 assists per game in her first full year as starter to rank third in the MAC last season. Junior Riley Rismiller (7.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg) and senior Tatiana Thomas (5.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg) join Tyler as the top returners inside.
Kent State will play an exhibition contest at the M.A.C. Center on Wednesday, Oct. 29 against Pitt-Johnstown at 7 p.m. The regular season tips with road games at James Madison (Nov. 3) and West Virginia (Nov. 7) prior to hosting Walsh for the home opener as part of a doubleheader at 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 10.
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2025-26 MAC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll (First Place Votes)
1. Kent State - 133 points (5)
2. Toledo - 118 points (2)
3. UMass - 115 points (3)
4. Ball State - 112 points (3)
5. Central Michigan - 105 points
6. Bowling Green - 101 points
7. Miami - 86 points
8. Akron - 51 points
9. Western Michigan - 48 points
10. Ohio - 44 points
11. Buffalo - 42 points
12. Eastern Michigan - 36 points
13. Northern Illinois - 23 points
MAC Tournament Champion: Kent State 5, UMass 3, Toledo 3, Ball State 1, Miami 1
Preseason All-MAC First Team
Janae Tyler, Kent State
Kendall Carruthers, Toledo
Madi Morson, Central Michigan
Paige Kohler, Bowling Green
Sisi Eleko, Eastern Michigan
Preseason All-MAC Second Team
Amber Tretter, Miami
Ayanna-Sarai Darrington, Central Michigan
Megan Olbrys, UMass
Mya Babbitt, Kent State
Yahmani McKayle, UMass
