CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Mid-American Conference announced its annual women's basketball preseason poll today with Toledo being selected to finish third in the West Division, according to a vote of the league's 12 head coaches. 

Additionally, junior Nakiah Black was tabbed to the Preseason All-MAC West Division Team. 

Joining Black on the West Division squad were Ball State's Oshlynn Brown, Central Michigan's Micaela Kelly, Eastern Michigan's Corrione Cardwell, Northern Illinois' Courtney Woods and Western Michigan's Breanna Mobley.

The Rockets received 50 points, trailing three-time reigning MAC West Division champion Central Michigan and Northern Illinois in the division voting with 60 and 59 points, respectively. Eastern Michigan (35 pts.) was tabbed fourth in the MAC West, while Ball State (30) and Western Michigan (18) round out the division.

The Chippewas and Huskies also each received four of the 12 first-place votes, while the Rockets collected two votes and the Eagles and Cardinals collected one first-place tally a piece.
 
Ohio (72 pts., 12 first place votes) was picked to capture to East Division crown, followed by 2019 MAC Champion Buffalo (56), Kent St. (50), Akron (28) and Bowling Green (14). The East Division squad is made up of Ohio's Cierra Hooks and Erica Johnson, Buffalo's Summer Hemphill, Kent State's Megan Carter and Miami's Lauren Dickerson.

Three different schools also garnered votes to capture the MAC Tournament in Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, led by Ohio with 10. Buffalo and Northern Illinois also collected one vote each.

Black, a 5-foot-10 guard, averaged 10.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.0 steals in 29.1 minutes per contest in 2018-19. She ranked ninth in the MAC in three-point field-goal percentage (.358, 54-of-151) and tied for 17th in three-point field-goals made (1.7). The Concord, N.C. native started the final 24 games and scored in double figures 18 times in her first year wearing the Midnight Blue & Gold.

Black and the Rockets will host NCAA Division II member Findlay on Saturday, Nov. 2 for their second and final exhibition game. The contest is scheduled to tip off at 2:00 p.m. in Savage Arena. Toledo's regular season begins three days later at Georgia State on Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 6:00 p.m. in the GSU Sports Arena. 

2019-20 MAC PRESEASON PREDICTIONS
WEST DIVISION
1. Central Michigan – 60 Points (4 First Place Votes)
2. Northern Illinois - 59 (4)
3. TOLEDO - 50 (2)
4. Eastern Michigan - 35 (1)
5. Ball State - 30 (1)
6. Western Michigan - 18
 
EAST DIVISION
1. Ohio (1) – 72 Points (12 First Place Votes)
2. Buffalo – 56
3. Kent State – 50
4. Miami – 32
5. Akron – 28
6. Bowling Green – 14

MAC TOURNAMENT WINNER
Ohio (10), Buffalo (1), Northern Illinois (1)

MAC REGULAR-SEASON CHAMPION
Ohio (12)
 
PRESEASON ALL-MAC WEST TEAM
Oshlynn Brown, Ball State
Micaela Kelly, Central Michigan
Corrione Cardwell, Eastern Michigan
Courtney Woods, Northern Illinois
NAKIAH BLACK, TOLEDO
Breanna Mobley, Western Michigan
 
PRESEASON ALL-MAC EAST TEAM
Summer Hemphill, Buffalo
Megan Carter, Kent State
Lauren Dickerson, Miami
Cierra (Cece) Hooks, Ohio
Erica Johnson, Ohio