2023–24 Mid-American Conference women's basketball season

2023–24 Mid-American Conference women's basketball season
LeagueNCAA Division I
SportBasketball
Number of teams12
Regular season
League championsToledo
  Runners-upBall State
Season MVPSophia Wiard
2024 MAC tournament
Tournament
ChampionsKent State
  Runners-upBuffalo
Finals MVPKatie Shumate
Mid-American women's basketball seasons
2023–24 Mid-American Conference women's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Toledo 17 – 1   .944 28 – 6   .824
Ball State 16 – 2   .889 28 – 6   .824
Kent State † 13 – 5   .722 21 – 12   .636
Buffalo 10 – 8   .556 19 – 14   .576
Bowling Green 10 – 8   .556 16 – 15   .516
Northern Illinois 8 – 10   .444 15 – 16   .484
Ohio 8 – 10   .444 11 – 19   .367
Western Michigan 7 – 11   .389 12 – 18   .400
Miami (OH) 6 – 12   .333 9 – 20   .310
Akron 6 – 12   .333 11 – 18   .379
Central Michigan 4 – 14   .222 6 – 22   .214
Eastern Michigan 3 – 15   .167 7 – 22   .241
† 2024 MAC tournament winner

The 2023–24 Mid-American Conference women's basketball season was the season for Mid-American Conference women's basketball teams. It began with practices in October 2023, followed by the start of the 2023–24 NCAA Division I women's basketball season in November. Conference play began in January 2024 and concluded in March 2024. The 2024 MAC tournament was held at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio for the 24th consecutive season.[1]

Toledo won the regular season championship with a 17–1 record[2] Sophia Wiard of Toledo won player of the year. In the 2024 MAC women's basketball tournament, Kent State defeated Northern Illinois, Ball State, and Buffalo to win their fourth MAC tournament title and first since 2002, and advance to the 2024 NCAA tournament. Katie Shumate was the tournament MVP.[3]

Head coaches

Coaching changes

Akron

On February 21, 2023 Akron announced that Melissa Jackson's contract would not be renewed at the end of the season.[4] On March 29, 2023, Illinois assistant Ryan Gensler was named as the next head coach.[5]

Bowling Green

On March 31, 2023, Robyn Fralick left the head coaching position at Bowling Green after a 31 win season to become the head coach at Michigan State[6] On April 8, 2023, South Carolina assistant Fred Chmiel was named as the new head coach.[7]

Central Michigan

Central Michigan fired Heather Oesterle on April 6, 2023, after win totals of four and six in her last two seasons.[8] On April 20, 2023, they hired Michigan State assistant coach Kristin Haynie who, like Oesterle, had been an assistant at Central Michigan under head coach Sue Guevara when she retired in 2019.[9]

Miami (OH)

On April 26, 2023 DeUnna Hendrix resigned after four seasons at Miami having posted a 35–80 record with the RedHawks after text messages led to allegations that she was in a relationship with a player.[10][11] On May 8, 2023, Indiana associate head coach Glenn Box was announced as the new head coach.[12]

Eastern Michigan

On December 11, 2023 Fred Castro was fired as Eastern Michigan's head coach after a 1–7 start. Assistant coach Ke'Sha Blanton was named as interim coach.[13]

Coaches

Team Head coach Previous job Years at school Overall record School record MAC record MAC titles MAC Tournament titles NCAA Tournaments NCAA Final Fours NCAA Championships
Akron Ryan Gensler Illinois (Asst.) 1 0–0 (–) 0–0 (–) 0–0 (–) 0 0 0 0 0
Ball State Brady Sallee Eastern Illinois 12 345–250 (.580) 209–140 (.599) 127–72 (.638) 0 0 0 0 0
Bowling Green Fred Chmiel South Carolina (Asst.) 1 0–0 (–)† 0–0 (–) 0–0 (–) 0 0 0 0 0
Buffalo Becky Burke USC Upstate 2 125–71 (.638) 12–16 (.429) 7–11 (.389) 0 0 0 0 0
Central Michigan Kristin Haynie Michigan State (Asst.) 1 0–0 (–) 0–0 (–) 0–0 (–) 0 0 0 0 0
Eastern Michigan Fred Castro Washington (Asst.) 8 79–121 (.395) 79–121 (.395) 40–84 (.323) 0 0 0 0 0
Kent State Todd Starkey Indiana (Asst.) 8 276–183 (.601) 122–88 (.581) 72–54 (.571) 0 0 0 0 0
Miami Glenn Box Indiana (Assoc HC.) 1 64–31 (.674) 0–0 (–) 0–0 (–) 0 0 0 0 0
Northern Illinois Lisa Carlsen Lewis 9 303–286 (.514) 119–122 (.494) 69–77 (.473) 0 0 0 0 0
Ohio Bob Boldon Youngstown State 11 283–210 (.574) 185–122 (.603) 106–74 (.589) 2 1 1 0 0
Toledo Tricia Cullop Evansville 16 448–273 (.621) 325–163 (.666) 177–87 (.670) 3 2 2 0 0
Western Michigan Shane Clipfell Michigan State (Assoc. HC) 12 231–220 (.512) 160–173 (.480) 87–113 (.435) 0 0 0 0 0

Notes:

  • Appearances, titles, etc. are from time with current school only.
  • Years at school includes 2023–24 season.
  • MAC records are from time at current school only.
  • All statistics and records are through the beginning of the season.
  • †Chmiel's overall record does not include his coaching record at Feather River College and Lassen College because it is unknown to the author

Preseason

The preseason coaches' poll and league awards were announced by the league office on November 2, 2023.[14] Defending 2022–23 regular season champion Toledo was named the favorite.

Preseason women's basketball coaches poll

Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
Place Team Points First place votes
1. Toledo 121 11
2. Ball State 110 1
3. Kent State 102 --
4. Bowling Green 77 --
5. Northern Illinois 72 --
6. Akron 69 --
7. Eastern Michigan 66 --
8. Buffalo 50 --
9. Ohio 40 --
10. Western Michigan 38 --
11. Central Michigan 24 --
12. Miami 23 --

MAC Tournament champions: Toledo (10), Ball State (2)

MAC Preseason All-Conference

Honor Recipient
Preseason All-MAC First Team Ally Becki, Forward, Ball State, Junior
Chelby Koker, Guard, Northern Illinois, Fifth Year
Katie Shumate, Guard, Kent State, Redshirt Senior
Quinesha Lockett, Guard, Toledo, Fifth Year
Reagan Bass, Forward, Akron, Junior
Preseason All-MAC Second Team Lachelle Austin, Guard, Eastern Michigan, Junior
Lexi Fleming, Guard, Bowling Green, Senior
Nyla Hampton, Guard, Ball State, Junior
Sammi Mikonowicz, Guard/Forward, Toledo, Senior
Sophia Wiard, Guard, Toledo, Fifth Year

Rankings

Main article: 2023–24 NCAA Division I women's basketball rankings
  Pre Wk
2		 Wk
3		 Wk
4		 Wk
5		 Wk
6		 Wk
7		 Wk
8		 Wk
9		 Wk
10		 Wk
11		 Wk
12		 Wk
13		 Wk
14		 Wk
15		 Wk
16		 Wk
17		 Wk
18		 Wk
19		 Final
Akron AP
C
Ball State AP
C RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV
Bowling Green AP
C
Buffalo AP
C
Central Michigan AP
C
Eastern Michigan AP
C
Kent State AP
C
Miami AP
C
Northern Illinois AP
C
Ohio AP
C
Toledo AP RV RV
C RV RV RV
Western Michigan AP
C
Legend
    Improvement in ranking
  Drop in ranking
  Not ranked previous week
  No change in ranking from previous week
RV Received votes but were not ranked in Top 25 of poll
т Tied with team above or below also with this symbol

Source - AP:[15] [16] [17] [18]

Coaches:[19] [20] [21] [22]

All-MAC Awards

Mid-American women's basketball weekly awards

[23]

Week Player(s) of the Week School
Nov 13[24] Reagan Bass Akron
Nov 20[25] Reagan Bass (2) Akron
Nov 27[26] Reagan Bass (3) Akron
Dec 4[27] Reagan Bass (4) Akron
Dec 11[28] Corynne Hauser Kent State
Dec 18[29] Morgan Sharps Bowling Green
Dec 25[30] Ally Becki Ball State
Jan 1[31] Chellia Watson Buffalo
Jan 8[32] Ally Becki (2) Ball State
Jan 15[33] Chellia Watson (2) Buffalo
Jan 22[34] Ally Becki (3) Ball State
Jan 29[35] Chellia Watson (3) Buffalo
Feb 5[36] Chellia Watson (4) Buffalo
Feb 12[37] Chellia Watson (5) Buffalo
Feb 19[38] Quinesha Lockett Toledo
Feb 26[39] Amy Velasco Bowling Green
Mar 4[40] Katie Shumate Kent State
Mar 11[41] Alex Richard Ball State

Postseason

Mid–American Tournament

Main article: 2024 MAC women's basketball tournament

Kent State defeated Northern Illinois, Ball State, and Buffalo to win their fourth MAC tournament title and first since 2002

NCAA tournament

Main article: 2024 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament

Kent State was seeded 15th in the Albany 1 region and fell to second-seeded Notre Dame in the first round to finish the season at 21–11.[42]

Women's National Invitation Tournament

Main article: 2024 Women's National Invitation Tournament

Buffalo and Bowling Green accepted bids and both lost in the first round

Postseason Awards

[43]

  1. Coach of the Year: Tricia Cullop, Toledo
  2. Player of the Year: Sophia Wiard, 5th, Guard, Toledo
  3. Freshman of the Year: Kirsten Lewis-Williams, Guard, Buffalo
  4. Defensive Player of the Year: Nyla Hampton, Junior, Guard, Ball State
  5. Sixth Player of the Year: Annie Rauch, Senior, Forward, Ball State

Honors

Honor Recipient
Postseason All-MAC First Team Ally Becki, Junior, Guard, Ball State
Chellia Watson, Redshirt Senior, Guard, Buffalo
Katie Shumate, Redshirt Senior, Guard, Kent State
Sophia Wiard, Fifth-Year, Guard, Toledo
Quinesha Lockett, Fifth-Year, Guard, Toledo
Postseason All-MAC Second Team Reagan Bass, Junior, Forward, Akron
Nyla Hampton, Junior, Guard, Ball State
Amy Velasco, Junior, Guard, Bowling Green
Morgan Sharps, Fifth-Year, Guard, Bowling Green
Kaitlyn Zarycki, Graduate, Guard, Western Michigan
Postseason All-MAC Third Team Madelyn Bischoff, Junior, Forward, Ball State
Erika Porter, Senior, Forward, Bowling Green
Jenna Batsch, Junior, Forward, Kent State
Brooke Stonebraker, Senior, Forward, Northern Illinois
Sammi Mikonowicz, Senior, Guard/Forward, Toledo
Postseason All-MAC Honorable Mention Kirsten Lewis-Williams, Freshman, Guard, Buffalo
Amber Tretter, Freshman, Forward, Miami
Taylor Williams, Redshirt Junior, Forward, Western Michigan
Jaya McClure, Sophomore, Guard, Ohio
Kennedi Watkins, Junior, Guard, Ohio
All-MAC Freshman Team Kirsten Lewis-Williams, Guard, Buffalo
Paige Kohler, Guard, Bowling Green
Amber Tretter, Forward, Miami
Janae Tyler, Forward, Kent State
Bailey Tabeling, Guard, Ohio
All-MAC Defensive Team Ally Becki, Junior, Ball State, Guard
Nyla Hampton, Junior, Guard, Ball State
Tayra Eke, Junior, Center, Eastern Michigan
Katie Shumate, Redshirt Senior, Guard, Kent State
Kaitlyn Zarycki, Graduate, Guard, Western Michigan

See also

2023–24 Mid-American Conference men's basketball season

References

  1. ^ Zarrella, Tony. "MAC Tournament staying in downtown Cleveland through 2030". Cleveland 19 News. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  2. ^ "Toledo Enters 2024 MAC Tournament as No. 1 Seed for Third Consecutive Season".
  3. ^ Mascitti, Carly. "'It still feels unreal': Kent State prepares for first NCAA tournament appearance in decades". News 5 Cleveland. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  4. ^ Ulrich, Nate; Easterling, Chris (February 21, 2023). "University of Akron decides Melissa Jackson won't be back as its women's basketball coach". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  5. ^ Thomas, George (March 29, 2023). "University of Akron chooses Ryan Gensler as next women's basketball coach". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
  6. ^ Paul, Tony. "MSU hires Okemos native Robyn Fralick as women's basketball coach". Detroit News. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  7. ^ Lambdin, Nia (April 8, 2023). "BGSU announces new head coach for women's basketball". WTVG. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
  8. ^ Paul, Tony. "Central Michigan fires women's basketball coach Heather Oesterle after tough 2 years". Detroit News. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
  9. ^ Hotchkiss, Greg (April 20, 2023). "Kristin Haynie Named Head Women's Basketball Coach at Central Michigan". Central Michigan Chippewas. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  10. ^ Jablonski, David. "Miami women's basketball coach resigns after four seasons". Hamilton Journal News. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  11. ^ Greenawalt, Tyler. "Miami (Ohio) women's basketball coach DeUnna Hendrix resigns after texts reportedly show relationship with player". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  12. ^ Jordan, Haley (May 8, 2023). "Indiana Women's Basketball Associate Head Coach Glenn Box Named Head Coach at Miami (OH)". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  13. ^ Paul, Tony (December 11, 2023). "EMU fires women's basketball coach, names Blanton interim coach". The Detroit News. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
  14. ^ "MAC Announces 2023-24 Women's Basketball Preseason Poll & Teams". MAC Conference. November 2, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  15. ^ "AP Top 25 Women's Basketball Poll". apnews.com. The Associated Press. October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  16. ^ "AP Top 25 Women's Basketball Poll". apnews.com. The Associated Press. November 13, 2023. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  17. ^ "AP Top 25 Women's Basketball Poll". apnews.com. The Associated Press. November 20, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  18. ^ "AP Top 25 Women's Basketball Poll". apnews.com. The Associated Press. March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  19. ^ "Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll". USA Today. October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  20. ^ "Women's Basketball Week 2 Coaches Poll". USA Today. November 14, 2023. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  21. ^ "Women's Basketball Week 3 Coaches Poll". USA Today. November 21, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  22. ^ "Women's Basketball Week 18 Coaches Poll". USA Today. March 5, 2024. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  23. ^ "Women's Basketball Players of the Week".
  24. ^ "Akron's Bass Named MAC Women's Basketball Player of the Week".
  25. ^ "Akron's Bass Named MAC Women's Basketball Player of the Week".
  26. ^ "Bass Garners Third-Straight MAC Player of the Week Honor".
  27. ^ "Bass Garners Fourth-Straight MAC Player of the Week Honor".
  28. ^ "Kent State's Hauser Named MAC Women's Basketball Player of the Week".
  29. ^ "Sharps Named MAC Women's Basketball Player of the Week".
  30. ^ "Becki Named MAC Women's Basketball Player of the Week".
  31. ^ "Buffalo's Watson Earns MAC Player of the Week Honors".
  32. ^ "Becki Named MAC Women's Basketball Player of the Week".
  33. ^ "Buffalo's Watson Garners MAC Player of the Week Honors".
  34. ^ "Becki Named MAC Women's Basketball Player of the Week".
  35. ^ "Watson Earns MAC Player of the Week Honors".
  36. ^ "Watson Named MAC Women's Basketball Player of the Week".
  37. ^ "Watson Earns Third-Straight MAC Player of the Week Honor".
  38. ^ "Lockett Named MAC Women's Basketball Player of the Week".
  39. ^ "Velasco Named MAC Women's Basketball Player of the Week".
  40. ^ "Shumate Garners MAC Women's Basketball Player of the Week Honors".
  41. ^ "Richard Earns Final Women's Basketball Player of the Week Honor".
  42. ^ Mascitti, Carly. "'It still feels unreal': Kent State prepares for first NCAA tournament appearance in decades". News 5 Cleveland. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  43. ^ "2022-23 MAC Women's Basketball Postseason Awards Announced". getsomeaction.com. March 12, 2024. Retrieved August 10, 2024.