Rockets Picked to Finish First in MAC Preseason Coaches Poll

TOLEDO, Ohio – The Toledo women's basketball team was picked to win its third-straight Mid-American Conference title in the annual preseason coaches poll released on Thursday morning. In addition, fifth-year senior Quinesha Lockett was named to the Preseason First-Team All-MAC squad and fifth-year senior Sophia Wiard and senior Sammi Mikonowicz were both named to the second team.

The league's 12 head coaches picked the Rockets to win the league for the second straight preseason poll, with 11 of 12 votes going to UT. Ball State picked up the other first-place vote. Toledo also claimed 10 of 12 votes to win the MAC Tournament in March, with Ball State receiving the other two votes.

The top five was comprised of Toledo (121 points), Ball State (110), Kent State (102), Bowling Green (77), and Northern Illinois (72).

The Rockets and Cardinals were the only two teams with multiple preseason all-conference honorees.

Lockett, the reigning MAC Player of the Year and MAC Tournament MVP, has also been named to preseason watch lists for the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award and the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award. Lockett averaged 17.9 PPG last season, second in the MAC, and 4.9 RPG and 3.6 APG. The Omaha, Neb. native stood tall when it mattered most, leading the Rockets to a MAC Tournament title and tallying a double-double (24 points and 13 rebounds) in Toledo's NCAA Tournament win vs. No. 5 seed Iowa State.

Wiard was a Third-Team All-MAC honoree last season. She started all 34 games a year ago, averaging 10.0 PPG, 4.0 APG, and 5.1 RPG while ranking seventh in the nation in assist/turnover ratio (2.72). She also eclipsed both 1,000 career points and 400 career assists last season, the eighth Rocket to reach both benchmarks.

Mikonowicz was named to the MAC All-Tournament Team last season after averaging 10.7 PPG and 13.3 RPG across three contests. She ranked fourth in the MAC in rebounding, averaging 8.2 per game, and posted 16 double-digit rebounding efforts. The Rossford, Ohio native has been a steady contributor since stepping foot on campus, having started all 93 games in her Rocket career.

The Rockets begin their regular season on the road at James Madison on Wednesday, Nov. 8. Highlighting Toledo's non-conference slate are four matchups against 2023 NCAA Tournament teams: James Madison, Gonzaga, Michigan, and Duke. Toledo will host Michigan in Savage Arena on Wednesday, Dec. 6 in a nationally televised game on the CBS Sports Network, and also a rematch of last season's upset victory in Ann Arbor. The Rockets also host Cincinnati on Sunday, Nov. 19 in their home opener.

Season and individual game tickets for the women's basketball program are on sale now. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the Rocket Athletic Ticket Office at the Sullivan Athletic Complex in Savage Arena, contact the Rocket Athletic Ticket Office at 419-530-GOLD (4653) or go online to UTRockets.com/tix.

2023-24 MAC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
(First Place Votes)

Toledo (11)- 121
Ball State (1)- 110
Kent State- 102
Bowling Green- 77
Northern Illinois- 72
Akron- 69
Eastern Michigan- 66
Buffalo- 50
Ohio- 40
Western Michigan- 38
Central Michigan- 24
Miami- 23

Tournament Champion: Toledo- 10, Ball State- 2

2023-24 MAC Women's Basketball Preseason All-MAC Teams
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

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

Rockets Picked to Finish First in MAC Preseason Coaches Poll

Players Mentioned

Quinesha Lockett

Sammi Mikonowicz

Sophia Wiard

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