Women's Basketball | October 31

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Senior Courtney Woods (Brisbane, Australia) of the Northern Illinois University women's basketball team was selected to the Preseason All-MAC West Division Team on Wednesday, as the conference released its 2018-19 women's basketball preseason coaches' polls.
 
Woods was named to the Cheryl Miller Award watch list last week. The award recognizes the top small forward in NCAA Division I women's college basketball. Last season, Woods led the MAC in scoring at 22.1 points per game and earned First Team All-MAC honors. Her scoring average was the third-highest in a single season in NIU history. Woods scored over 30 points in six games during the 2017-18 campaign, including a pair of 39-point efforts against Western Illinois and Kent State, and was named the MAC West Player of the Week four times.
 
The Huskies were picked fourth in the west in the MAC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll. NIU had 38 points, three behind third-place Eastern Michigan. The Huskies also garnered a vote to win the 2019 MAC Tournament, one of only three teams picked to win.
 
NIU hosts St. Francis [Ill.] in an exhibition game on Saturday, Nov. 3 at 1 p.m. at the Convocation Center. The Huskies then open the 2018-19 regular season on Thursday, Nov. 6 at 6 p.m. against Yale in the Preseason WNIT.
 
Season tickets for NIU Women's Basketball begin at just $35 for general admission seating. NIU football or women's basketball season ticket holders, faculty/staff, Alumni Association members, Varsity Club members and senior citizens can purchase reserved season tickets for just $40.
 
To purchase season tickets, visit NIUHuskies.com/tickets or call 815-753-PACK (7225).
 
 
2018-19 MAC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
East Division Predicted Order of Finish
1. Buffalo (4 first place votes) – 62 points
2. Miami (5) - 61
3. Ohio (3) – 57
4. Kent State – 28
5. Bowling Green – 27
6. Akron – 17
 
West Division Predicted Order of Finish
1. Central Michigan (12 first place votes) – 72 points
2. Toledo - 52
3. Eastern Michigan - 41
4. NIU - 38
5. Ball State - 34
6. Western Michigan - 15
 
2019 MAC Regular Season Predicted Champion: Central Michigan (9), Miami (2), Ohio (1)
 
2019 MAC Tournament Predicted Champion: Central Michigan (8), Buffalo (3), NIU (1)
 
Preseason All-MAC East Division Team
Cierra Dillard, Buffalo, Senior, Guard
Summer Hemphill, Buffalo, Junior, Forward
Lauren Dickerson, Miami, Junior, Guard
Kendall McCoy, Miami, Senior, Guard/Forward 
Cierra (CeCe) Hooks, Ohio, Sophomore, Guard
 
Preseason All-MAC West Division Team
Reyna Frost, Central Michigan, Senior, Forward
Presley Hudson, Central Michigan, Senior, Guard
Danielle Minnot, Eastern Michigan, R-Senior, Guard 
Courtney Woods, NIU, Senior, Guard/Forward
Kaayla McIntyre, Toledo, Senior, Center
 
--NIU--