The 2023–24 Mid-American Conference women's basketball season was the season for Mid-American Conference women's basketball teams. It began with practices in October 2023, followed by the start of the 2023–24 NCAA Division I women's basketball season in November. Conference play began in January 2024 and concluded in March 2024. The 2024 MAC tournament was held at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio for the 24th consecutive season.
Toledo won the regular season championship with a 17–1 record Sophia Wiard of Toledo won player of the year. In the 2024 MAC women's basketball tournament, Kent State defeated Northern Illinois, Ball State, and Buffalo to win their fourth MAC tournament title and first since 2002, and advance to the 2024 NCAA tournament. Katie Shumate was the tournament MVP.
Head coaches Coaching changes
Akron On February 21, 2023 Akron announced that Melissa Jackson's contract would not be renewed at the end of the season. On March 29, 2023, Illinois assistant Ryan Gensler was named as the next head coach.
Bowling Green On March 31, 2023, Robyn Fralick left the head coaching position at Bowling Green after a 31 win season to become the head coach at Michigan State On April 8, 2023, South Carolina assistant Fred Chmiel was named as the new head coach.
Central Michigan Central Michigan fired Heather Oesterle on April 6, 2023, after win totals of four and six in her last two seasons. On April 20, 2023, they hired Michigan State assistant coach Kristin Haynie who, like Oesterle, had been an assistant at Central Michigan under head coach Sue Guevara when she retired in 2019.
Miami (OH) On April 26, 2023 DeUnna Hendrix resigned after four seasons at Miami having posted a 35–80 record with the RedHawks after text messages led to allegations that she was in a relationship with a player. On May 8, 2023, Indiana associate head coach Glenn Box was announced as the new head coach.
Eastern Michigan On December 11, 2023 Fred Castro was fired as Eastern Michigan's head coach after a 1–7 start. Assistant coach Ke'Sha Blanton was named as interim coach.
Coaches Team Head coach Previous job Years at school Overall record School record MAC record MAC titles MAC Tournament titles NCAA Tournaments NCAA Final Fours NCAA ChampionshipsAkron Ryan Gensler Illinois (Asst.)1 0 0 0 0 0Ball State Brady Sallee 12 0 0 0 0 0Bowling Green Fred Chmiel South Carolina (Asst.)1 † 0 0 0 0 0Buffalo Becky Burke USC Upstate2 0 0 0 0 0Central Michigan Kristin Haynie Michigan State (Asst.)1 0 0 0 0 0Eastern Michigan Fred Castro Washington (Asst.)8 0 0 0 0 0Kent State Todd Starkey Indiana (Asst.)8 0 0 0 0 0Miami Glenn Box Indiana (Assoc HC.) 1 0 0 0 0 0Northern Illinois Lisa Carlsen Lewis 9 0 0 0 0 0Ohio Bob Boldon Youngstown State 11 2 1 1 0 0Toledo Tricia Cullop Evansville 16 3 2 2 0 0Western Michigan Shane Clipfell 12 0 0 0 0 0 Notes: Appearances, titles, etc. are from time with current school only. Years at school includes 2023–24 season. MAC records are from time at current school only. All statistics and records are through the beginning of the season. Chmiel's overall record does not include his coaching record at Feather River College and Lassen College because it is unknown to the author
Preseason The preseason coaches' poll and league awards were announced by the league office on November 2, 2023. Defending 2022–23 regular season champion Toledo was named the favorite.
Preseason women's basketball coaches poll +Women's Basketball Preseason Poll Place Team Points First place votes 1. Toledo 121 11 2. Ball State 110 1 3. Kent State 102 -- 4. Bowling Green 77 -- 5. Northern Illinois 72 -- 6. Akron 69 -- 7. Eastern Michigan 66 -- 8. Buffalo 50 -- 9. Ohio 40 -- 10. Western Michigan 38 -- 11. Central Michigan 24 -- 12. Miami 23 --
MAC Tournament champions: Toledo (10), Ball State (2)
MAC Preseason All-Conference
Honor Recipient Preseason All-MAC First TeamAlly Becki, Forward, Ball State, JuniorChelby Koker, Guard, Northern Illinois, Fifth YearKatie Shumate, Guard, Kent State, Redshirt Senior Quinesha Lockett, Guard, Toledo, Fifth YearReagan Bass, Forward, Akron, Junior Preseason All-MAC Second TeamLachelle Austin, Guard, Eastern Michigan, JuniorLexi Fleming, Guard, Bowling Green, SeniorNyla Hampton, Guard, Ball State, JuniorSammi Mikonowicz, Guard/Forward, Toledo, SeniorSophia Wiard, Guard, Toledo, Fifth Year
Rankings
Pre Wk2 Wk3 Wk4 Wk5 Wk6 Wk7 Wk8 Wk9 Wk10 Wk11 Wk12 Wk13 Wk14 Wk15 Wk16 Wk17 Wk18 Wk19 Final Akron AP C Ball State AP C RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV Bowling Green AP C Buffalo AP C Central Michigan AP C Eastern Michigan AP C Kent State AP C Miami AP C Northern Illinois AP C Ohio AP C Toledo AP RV RV C RV RV RV Western Michigan AP C
+ Legend Improvement in ranking Drop in ranking Not ranked previous week No change in ranking from previous week RV Received votes but were not ranked in Top 25 of poll т Tied with team above or below also with this symbol
Source - AP:
Coaches:
All-MAC Awards
Mid-American women's basketball weekly awards
WeekPlayer(s) of the WeekSchoolNov 13Reagan BassAkronNov 20Reagan Bass (2)AkronNov 27Reagan Bass (3)AkronDec 4Reagan Bass (4)AkronDec 11Corynne HauserKent StateDec 18Morgan SharpsBowling GreenDec 25Ally BeckiBall StateJan 1Chellia WatsonBuffaloJan 8Ally Becki (2)Ball StateJan 15Chellia Watson (2)BuffaloJan 22Ally Becki (3)Ball StateJan 29Chellia Watson (3)BuffaloFeb 5Chellia Watson (4)BuffaloFeb 12Chellia Watson (5)BuffaloFeb 19Quinesha LockettToledoFeb 26Amy VelascoBowling GreenMar 4Katie ShumateKent StateMar 11Alex RichardBall State
Postseason
Mid–American Tournament
Kent State defeated Northern Illinois, Ball State, and Buffalo to win their fourth MAC tournament title and first since 2002
NCAA tournament
Kent State was seeded 15th in the Albany 1 region and fell to second-seeded Notre Dame in the first round to finish the season at 21–11.
Women's National Invitation Tournament
Buffalo and Bowling Green accepted bids and both lost in the first round
Postseason Awards
Coach of the Year: Tricia Cullop, Toledo Player of the Year: Sophia Wiard, 5th, Guard, Toledo Freshman of the Year: Kirsten Lewis-Williams, Guard, Buffalo Defensive Player of the Year: Nyla Hampton, Junior, Guard, Ball State Sixth Player of the Year: Annie Rauch, Senior, Forward, Ball State
Honors Honor Recipient Postseason All-MAC First TeamAlly Becki, Junior, Guard, Ball StateChellia Watson, Redshirt Senior, Guard, BuffaloKatie Shumate, Redshirt Senior, Guard, Kent StateSophia Wiard, Fifth-Year, Guard, ToledoQuinesha Lockett, Fifth-Year, Guard, Toledo Postseason All-MAC Second TeamReagan Bass, Junior, Forward, AkronNyla Hampton, Junior, Guard, Ball StateAmy Velasco, Junior, Guard, Bowling GreenMorgan Sharps, Fifth-Year, Guard, Bowling GreenKaitlyn Zarycki, Graduate, Guard, Western Michigan Postseason All-MAC Third TeamMadelyn Bischoff, Junior, Forward, Ball StateErika Porter, Senior, Forward, Bowling GreenJenna Batsch, Junior, Forward, Kent StateBrooke Stonebraker, Senior, Forward, Northern IllinoisSammi Mikonowicz, Senior, Guard/Forward, Toledo Postseason All-MAC Honorable MentionKirsten Lewis-Williams, Freshman, Guard, BuffaloAmber Tretter, Freshman, Forward, MiamiTaylor Williams, Redshirt Junior, Forward, Western MichiganJaya McClure, Sophomore, Guard, OhioKennedi Watkins, Junior, Guard, Ohio All-MAC Freshman TeamKirsten Lewis-Williams, Guard, BuffaloPaige Kohler, Guard, Bowling GreenAmber Tretter, Forward, MiamiJanae Tyler, Forward, Kent StateBailey Tabeling, Guard, Ohio All-MAC Defensive TeamAlly Becki, Junior, Ball State, GuardNyla Hampton, Junior, Guard, Ball StateTayra Eke, Junior, Center, Eastern MichiganKatie Shumate, Redshirt Senior, Guard, Kent StateKaitlyn Zarycki, Graduate, Guard, Western Michigan
See also 2023–24 Mid-American Conference men's basketball season
References