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Fair and Hemphill Earn Preseason All-MAC Honors
11/19/2020 1:57:00 PM | Women's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY – The Mid-American Conference announced their preseason women's basketball honors on Thursday afternoon with sophomore guard Dyaisha Fair named to the preseason All-MAC First Team, while redshirt senior Summer Hemphill was named to the second team. As a team, Buffalo was picked fourth in the preseason poll. The poll was voted on by the league's 12 head coaches.
Fair continues to see the preseason honors pile up after already being named to the Nancy Lieberman and Becky Hammon Award watch lists. The Rochester, NY native was named MAC Freshman of the Year and was a Second Team All-MAC selection last season after putting together one of the most impressive rookie campaigns in program history in which she finished the season ranked fourth in the nation in scoring (22.0 ppg), while also ranking third in final points (660), 20th in steals per game (2.8) and 21st in total steals (83). Additionally, she finished in the top 10 in nine statistical categories on UB's single-season records list.
She is joined on the first team by Oshlynn Brown of Ball State, Micaela Kelly of Central Michigan and Ohio's Erica Johnson and Cece Hooks.
After being named to the Cheryl Miller Award watch list earlier this month, this is Hemphill's third straight preseason All-MAC honor. She returns to the floor after sitting out last season due to injury. The Buffalo, NY native is currently tied for 10th on UB's all-time rebounding list with 759 rebounds and is just 81 points away from becoming Buffalo's 27th 1,000 point scorer. She is also looking to become just the second player in program history to record 1,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds.
Hemphill is joined on the second team by Jordyn Dawson of Akron, Central Michigan's Molly Davis and Kyra Bussell and Eastern Michigan's Areanna Combs.
With the elimination of divisions for the 2020-21 season, the 12 teams were ranked from top to bottom led by Central Michigan who received 10 first place votes and 142 points. Ohio was picked to finish second, and Ball State third, while the Bulls were picked fourth, garnering 108 points. Eastern Michigan rounded out the top five with 94 points.
Buffalo will welcome the Gannon Golden Knights to Alumni Arena for an exhibition game on Wednesday, November 25. Tip is set for 1:00 pm and the game will air live on ESPN+.
2020-21 MAC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll (First Place Votes)
1. Central Michigan (10) – 142 points
2. Ohio – 128 points
3. Ball State (1) – 119 points
4. Buffalo (1) – 108 points
5. Eastern Michigan – 94 points
6. Kent State – 88 points
7. Toledo – 71 points
8. Northern Illinois – 42 points
9. Miami – 41 points
10. Akron – 39 points
11. Bowling Green – 38 points
12. Western Michigan - 28 points
Tournament Champion: Central Michigan (6), Ohio (3), Buffalo (1), Ball State (1), EMU (1)
Preseason All-MAC First Team
Oshlynn Brown, Ball State, Senior, Forward
Dyaisha Fair, Buffalo, Sophomore, Guard
Micaela Kelly, Central Michigan, Senior, Guard
Erica Johnson, Ohio, R-Junior, Forward
Cierra (CeCe) Hooks, Ohio, Senior, Guard
Preseason All-MAC Second Team
Jordyn Dawson, Akron, Senior, Forward
Summer Hemphill, Buffalo, R-Senior, Forward
Molly Davis, Central Michigan, Sophomore, Guard
Kyra Bussell, Central Michigan, Senior, Forward
Areanna Combs, Eastern Michigan, R-Senior, Guard
Fair continues to see the preseason honors pile up after already being named to the Nancy Lieberman and Becky Hammon Award watch lists. The Rochester, NY native was named MAC Freshman of the Year and was a Second Team All-MAC selection last season after putting together one of the most impressive rookie campaigns in program history in which she finished the season ranked fourth in the nation in scoring (22.0 ppg), while also ranking third in final points (660), 20th in steals per game (2.8) and 21st in total steals (83). Additionally, she finished in the top 10 in nine statistical categories on UB's single-season records list.
She is joined on the first team by Oshlynn Brown of Ball State, Micaela Kelly of Central Michigan and Ohio's Erica Johnson and Cece Hooks.
After being named to the Cheryl Miller Award watch list earlier this month, this is Hemphill's third straight preseason All-MAC honor. She returns to the floor after sitting out last season due to injury. The Buffalo, NY native is currently tied for 10th on UB's all-time rebounding list with 759 rebounds and is just 81 points away from becoming Buffalo's 27th 1,000 point scorer. She is also looking to become just the second player in program history to record 1,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds.
Hemphill is joined on the second team by Jordyn Dawson of Akron, Central Michigan's Molly Davis and Kyra Bussell and Eastern Michigan's Areanna Combs.
With the elimination of divisions for the 2020-21 season, the 12 teams were ranked from top to bottom led by Central Michigan who received 10 first place votes and 142 points. Ohio was picked to finish second, and Ball State third, while the Bulls were picked fourth, garnering 108 points. Eastern Michigan rounded out the top five with 94 points.
Buffalo will welcome the Gannon Golden Knights to Alumni Arena for an exhibition game on Wednesday, November 25. Tip is set for 1:00 pm and the game will air live on ESPN+.
2020-21 MAC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll (First Place Votes)
1. Central Michigan (10) – 142 points
2. Ohio – 128 points
3. Ball State (1) – 119 points
4. Buffalo (1) – 108 points
5. Eastern Michigan – 94 points
6. Kent State – 88 points
7. Toledo – 71 points
8. Northern Illinois – 42 points
9. Miami – 41 points
10. Akron – 39 points
11. Bowling Green – 38 points
12. Western Michigan - 28 points
Tournament Champion: Central Michigan (6), Ohio (3), Buffalo (1), Ball State (1), EMU (1)
Preseason All-MAC First Team
Oshlynn Brown, Ball State, Senior, Forward
Dyaisha Fair, Buffalo, Sophomore, Guard
Micaela Kelly, Central Michigan, Senior, Guard
Erica Johnson, Ohio, R-Junior, Forward
Cierra (CeCe) Hooks, Ohio, Senior, Guard
Preseason All-MAC Second Team
Jordyn Dawson, Akron, Senior, Forward
Summer Hemphill, Buffalo, R-Senior, Forward
Molly Davis, Central Michigan, Sophomore, Guard
Kyra Bussell, Central Michigan, Senior, Forward
Areanna Combs, Eastern Michigan, R-Senior, Guard
Players Mentioned
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