Eastern Michigan Athletics
Women's Basketball Team Picked Fifth in the MAC West
10/30/2008 10:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Ball State and Bowling Green tabbed in preseason poll to win respective divisions
CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball team was picked to finish fifth in the West Division according to the 2008-09 Mid American Conference preseason poll by the voting members of the MAC News Media Association. The announcement was made in Cleveland today as part of the conference’s women’s basketball Media Day at Quicken Loans Arena.
Head coach AnnMarie Gilbert directed the 2007-08 Eagles to a 17-12 overall record and an 11-5 conference mark. For the team’s efforts, Eastern claimed a share of the West Division title, its third division title in the past five seasons. Repeating last year’s success will be a challenging endeavor for Gilbert and her staff, as the Eagles return just one starter to the lineup in 2008-09. Six letterwinners return to the equation for EMU, while 10 newcomers will don the Green and White jersey for the first time.
Ball State University was picked to win the West Division with 129 points, including 20 first-place votes. Northern Illinois University is expected to finish second with 89 points and Central Michigan University third with 76 points. Rounding out the West Division were Western Michigan University (75 points), EMU (51) and the University of Toledo (47). Bowling Green State University was tabbed as the preseason favorite in the East with 132 points including 19 first place votes.
The Falcons were also selected to win the 2009 MAC Women’s Basketball Tournament, which takes place at Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena, March 11-15, earning 24 votes.
Eastern returns just one starter to this season’s lineup, sophomore guard Cassie Schrock (Wadsworth,Ohio-Wadsworth). Schrock had a solid first season wearing the Green and White jersey, ranking among the league’s top freshmen and nearly garnering All-Freshman accolades. The Wadsworth, Ohio native averaged 6.9 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game and ranked 13th in the MAC in steals.
In just 10 days the EMU men’s and women’s basketball teams take to the court for the first exhibition games of the 2008-09 campaign. The women’s team plays host to Marygrove College, Nov. 9, at 2 p.m. prior to the men’s team taking the court at 4 p.m. versus Alma College. Season and single-game tickets are on sale at the EMU Ticket Office by calling, 734.487.2282
2008-09 MAC Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll
East Division
1. Bowling Green (19) 132
2. Miami (15) 109
3. Ohio (10) 89
4. Kent State (4) 79
5. Buffalo 42
6. Akron 26
West Division
1. Ball State (20) 129
2. Northern Illinois (14) 89
3. Central Michigan (5) 76
4. Western Michigan (4) 75
5. Eastern Michigan 51
6. Toledo 47
