Eastern Michigan Athletics
The 2016-17 Women's Basketball Season Quickly Approaching
10/27/2016 1:09:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Eagles open the Fred Castro era with an exhibition game Monday, Nov. 7
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CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team officially opens the 2016-17 campaign in just 11 days when its hosts Lawrence Technological University in an exhibition game at the Convocation Center, Nov. 7. Another sign that the season is rapidly nearing is the yearly release of the Mid-American Conference Preseason Poll, as the Eagles were picked to finish sixth in the West Division as voted by the league's head coaches.
Under the direction of first-year Head Coach Fred Castro, the Eagles return five letterwinners from a team that advanced to the second round of the 2016 Postseason WNIT. Seniors Phillis Webb (Brooklyn Park, Minn.-Osseo) and Sheyna Deans (Mt. Clemens Mich.-Mt. Clemens-St. Clair County C.C.) will be looked upon to help bring seven newcomers into the mix for a team that last year posted a record of 22-12 overall, including a 10-8 mark in conference play.
Castro comes to Ypsilanti following a three year stint in Seattle as an assistant coach with the University of Washington, in which the Huskies posted a 69-35 record and a trip to the 2016 NCAA Tournament Final Four. He worked with the guards and acted as the team's offensive coordinator as the Huskies defeated 14 top-25 programs during his tenure.
"Our teams will be tough," Castro added. "Our teams will be disciplined. Our teams will be passionate on the floor and we will be incredibly selfless on the offensive end. It will be a brand of basketball that you are incredibly proud to call Eastern Michigan women's basketball."
Defending MAC West Division Champion Central Michigan University received all 12 first-place votes for the West, while Ball State University and the University of Toledo were tied for second. Western Michigan University rounded out the top-four, while Northern Illinois University and EMU closed out the division. Ohio University was picked as the preseason favorite in the East, receiving nine first-place nods, while defending MAC Tournament Champion the University at Buffalo picked up three first-place votes.
CMU was also picked to win the MAC Tournament Championship in the 2017 season while Ohio and UB each received votes.
Eastern Michigan opens the 2016-17 season Saturday, Nov. 12, against Georgia State University at the Donna Murphy Classic in Morehead, Ky. EMU's first regular season home game is Wednesday, Nov. 16, against Ferris State University at 12 p.m.
The MAC portion of the Eagles schedule begins on the heels of the new year when EMU travels to NIU, Saturday, Dec. 31. With all 12 teams participating in the MAC Tournament, the postseason will open with first round games Monday, March 6, at campus sites. The final three rounds of the tournament will be played at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, March 8-11.
Eastern Michigan men's and women's basketball tickets are now available for purchase at EMUEagles.com/tickets, by calling 734.487.2282 or by visiting the EMU Ticket Office daily between 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
2016-17 MAC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll (First-Place votes in parentheses)
East Division
1. Ohio (9 First Place Votes)
2. Buffalo (3)
3. Akron
4. Bowling Green
5. Miami
6. Kent State
West Division
1. Central Michigan (12)
t-2. Ball State
t-2. Toledo
4. Western Michigan
5. Northern Illinois
6. Eastern Michigan
2017 MAC Regular Season Predicted Champion: Central Michigan (6), Ohio (5), Buffalo (1)
2017 MAC Tournament Predicted Champion: Central Michigan (7), Ohio (4), Buffalo (1)
Preseason All-MAC East Team
Jordan Korinek, Kent State
Quiera Lampkins, Ohio
Hannah Plybon, Akron
Stephanie Reid, Buffalo
JoAnna Smith, Buffalo
Preseason All-MAC West Team
Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott, Toledo
Presley Hudson, Central Michigan
Ally Lehman, Northern Illinois
Janice Monakana, Toledo
Tinara Moore, Central Michigan
CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team officially opens the 2016-17 campaign in just 11 days when its hosts Lawrence Technological University in an exhibition game at the Convocation Center, Nov. 7. Another sign that the season is rapidly nearing is the yearly release of the Mid-American Conference Preseason Poll, as the Eagles were picked to finish sixth in the West Division as voted by the league's head coaches.
Under the direction of first-year Head Coach Fred Castro, the Eagles return five letterwinners from a team that advanced to the second round of the 2016 Postseason WNIT. Seniors Phillis Webb (Brooklyn Park, Minn.-Osseo) and Sheyna Deans (Mt. Clemens Mich.-Mt. Clemens-St. Clair County C.C.) will be looked upon to help bring seven newcomers into the mix for a team that last year posted a record of 22-12 overall, including a 10-8 mark in conference play.
Castro comes to Ypsilanti following a three year stint in Seattle as an assistant coach with the University of Washington, in which the Huskies posted a 69-35 record and a trip to the 2016 NCAA Tournament Final Four. He worked with the guards and acted as the team's offensive coordinator as the Huskies defeated 14 top-25 programs during his tenure.
"Our teams will be tough," Castro added. "Our teams will be disciplined. Our teams will be passionate on the floor and we will be incredibly selfless on the offensive end. It will be a brand of basketball that you are incredibly proud to call Eastern Michigan women's basketball."
Defending MAC West Division Champion Central Michigan University received all 12 first-place votes for the West, while Ball State University and the University of Toledo were tied for second. Western Michigan University rounded out the top-four, while Northern Illinois University and EMU closed out the division. Ohio University was picked as the preseason favorite in the East, receiving nine first-place nods, while defending MAC Tournament Champion the University at Buffalo picked up three first-place votes.
CMU was also picked to win the MAC Tournament Championship in the 2017 season while Ohio and UB each received votes.
Eastern Michigan opens the 2016-17 season Saturday, Nov. 12, against Georgia State University at the Donna Murphy Classic in Morehead, Ky. EMU's first regular season home game is Wednesday, Nov. 16, against Ferris State University at 12 p.m.
The MAC portion of the Eagles schedule begins on the heels of the new year when EMU travels to NIU, Saturday, Dec. 31. With all 12 teams participating in the MAC Tournament, the postseason will open with first round games Monday, March 6, at campus sites. The final three rounds of the tournament will be played at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, March 8-11.
Eastern Michigan men's and women's basketball tickets are now available for purchase at EMUEagles.com/tickets, by calling 734.487.2282 or by visiting the EMU Ticket Office daily between 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
2016-17 MAC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll (First-Place votes in parentheses)
East Division
1. Ohio (9 First Place Votes)
2. Buffalo (3)
3. Akron
4. Bowling Green
5. Miami
6. Kent State
West Division
1. Central Michigan (12)
t-2. Ball State
t-2. Toledo
4. Western Michigan
5. Northern Illinois
6. Eastern Michigan
2017 MAC Regular Season Predicted Champion: Central Michigan (6), Ohio (5), Buffalo (1)
2017 MAC Tournament Predicted Champion: Central Michigan (7), Ohio (4), Buffalo (1)
Preseason All-MAC East Team
Jordan Korinek, Kent State
Quiera Lampkins, Ohio
Hannah Plybon, Akron
Stephanie Reid, Buffalo
JoAnna Smith, Buffalo
Preseason All-MAC West Team
Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott, Toledo
Presley Hudson, Central Michigan
Ally Lehman, Northern Illinois
Janice Monakana, Toledo
Tinara Moore, Central Michigan
Players Mentioned
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