Junior Lexi Lance and the Rockets have been picked to finish seventh in the MAC Preseason Poll, according to a vote of the league’s head coaches.
Photo by: Toledo Athletics
Toledo Predicted to Finish Seventh in MAC Standings
11/18/2020 1:31:00 PM | Women's Basketball
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Mid-American Conference announced its annual women's basketball preseason poll today with Toledo being selected to finish seventh out of 12 teams, according to a vote of the league's 12 head coaches. This year will mark the first time since 1996-97 that the MAC will not have divisional play for basketball.Â
The Rockets received 71 points, finishing ahead of Northern Illinois (42 pts.), Miami (41), Akron (39), Bowling Green (38) and Western Michigan (28) in the voting.
Central Michigan (142 pts.) was selected to finish the 2020-21 season on top of the MAC, followed by Ohio (128), Ball State (119), Buffalo (108), Eastern Michigan (94) and Kent State (88).
The Chippewas also received 10 of the 12 first-place votes, while the Cardinals and Bulls collected one first-place tally each.
In addition, five different schools garnered votes to capture the MAC Tournament in Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, led by CMU with six. Ohio also notched three votes, while UB, BSU and EMU collected one vote a piece.
Head Coach Tricia Cullop enters her 12th season with the Rockets, who return eight letterwinners from last season. Leading the way for Toledo in 2020-21 will be sophomore captains Quinesha Lockett, Mali Morgan-Elliott and Sophia Wiard. The Rockets also have seniors Mariah Copeland and Tatyana Davis, junior Lexi Lance and sophomores Soleil Barnes and Jaela Johnson returning to the fold.
2020-21 MAC PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
1.   Central Michigan (10 first-place votes) – 142 points
2.   Ohio – 128 pointsÂ
3.   Ball State (1 first-place vote) – 119 points
4.   Buffalo (1 first-place vote) – 108 points
5.   Eastern Michigan – 94 pointsÂ
6.   Kent State – 88 pointsÂ
7.   TOLEDO – 71 pointsÂ
8.   Northern Illinois – 42 pointsÂ
9.   Miami – 41 pointsÂ
10.   Akron – 39 pointsÂ
11.   Bowling Green – 38 pointsÂ
12.   Western Michigan - 28 pointsÂ
MAC TOURNAMENT WINNER
Central Michigan (6), Ohio (3), Buffalo (1), Ball State (1), Eastern Michigan (1)
PRESEASON ALL-MAC FIRST TEAM
Oshlynn Brown, Ball State, Senior, Forward
Dyaisha Fair, Buffalo, Sophomore, Guard
Micaela Kelly, Central Michigan, Senior, GuardÂ
Erica Johnson, Ohio, Junior, Forward
Cierra (CeCe) Hooks, Ohio, Senior, Guard
PRESEASON ALL-MAC SECOND TEAM
Jordyn Dawson, Akron, Senior, ForwardÂ
Summer Hemphill, Buffalo, Senior, ForwardÂ
Molly Davis, Central Michigan, Sophomore, Guard
Kyra Bussell, Central Michigan, Senior, Forward
Areanna Combs, Eastern Michigan, Senior, Guard
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The Rockets received 71 points, finishing ahead of Northern Illinois (42 pts.), Miami (41), Akron (39), Bowling Green (38) and Western Michigan (28) in the voting.
Central Michigan (142 pts.) was selected to finish the 2020-21 season on top of the MAC, followed by Ohio (128), Ball State (119), Buffalo (108), Eastern Michigan (94) and Kent State (88).
The Chippewas also received 10 of the 12 first-place votes, while the Cardinals and Bulls collected one first-place tally each.
In addition, five different schools garnered votes to capture the MAC Tournament in Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, led by CMU with six. Ohio also notched three votes, while UB, BSU and EMU collected one vote a piece.
Head Coach Tricia Cullop enters her 12th season with the Rockets, who return eight letterwinners from last season. Leading the way for Toledo in 2020-21 will be sophomore captains Quinesha Lockett, Mali Morgan-Elliott and Sophia Wiard. The Rockets also have seniors Mariah Copeland and Tatyana Davis, junior Lexi Lance and sophomores Soleil Barnes and Jaela Johnson returning to the fold.
2020-21 MAC PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
1.   Central Michigan (10 first-place votes) – 142 points
2.   Ohio – 128 pointsÂ
3.   Ball State (1 first-place vote) – 119 points
4.   Buffalo (1 first-place vote) – 108 points
5.   Eastern Michigan – 94 pointsÂ
6.   Kent State – 88 pointsÂ
7.   TOLEDO – 71 pointsÂ
8.   Northern Illinois – 42 pointsÂ
9.   Miami – 41 pointsÂ
10.   Akron – 39 pointsÂ
11.   Bowling Green – 38 pointsÂ
12.   Western Michigan - 28 pointsÂ
MAC TOURNAMENT WINNER
Central Michigan (6), Ohio (3), Buffalo (1), Ball State (1), Eastern Michigan (1)
PRESEASON ALL-MAC FIRST TEAM
Oshlynn Brown, Ball State, Senior, Forward
Dyaisha Fair, Buffalo, Sophomore, Guard
Micaela Kelly, Central Michigan, Senior, GuardÂ
Erica Johnson, Ohio, Junior, Forward
Cierra (CeCe) Hooks, Ohio, Senior, Guard
PRESEASON ALL-MAC SECOND TEAM
Jordyn Dawson, Akron, Senior, ForwardÂ
Summer Hemphill, Buffalo, Senior, ForwardÂ
Molly Davis, Central Michigan, Sophomore, Guard
Kyra Bussell, Central Michigan, Senior, Forward
Areanna Combs, Eastern Michigan, Senior, Guard
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