.png&width=22&height=22&type=webp)
Bulls Picked as Favorites to Win 2022 MAC Tournament, Fair Named Preseason All-MAC
11/4/2021 10:12:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo women's basketball team has been named the preseason favorite to win the 2022 Mid-American Conference Tournament as the Bulls received five votes in the poll voted on by the league's 12 head coaches. UB was picked to finish third in the preseason poll, receiving three first place votes while junior guard Dyaisha Fair was named to the preseason All-MAC First Team for the second straight season.
Buffalo returns nine scholarship players from last year's squad that went 15-9 and advanced to the semifinals of the MAC Tournament.
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 to the All-MAC First Team and All Defensive Team a season ago after averaging 24.1 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game. She became the fastest player in program history and 14th fastest in Division I women's basketball history to score 1,000 career points, doing so in her 44th career game, and recorded the program's first triple double in nearly 20 years with 28 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in a win over Akron. Fair finished the season ranked sixth in the nation in scoring (24.1) while also ranking in the top 25 in free throws made (145), free throws attempted (179), final points (579), steals (70), field goals made (187), field goals attempted (513) and assists (120).
Ohio was picked as the preseason favorite, receiving four first place votes and 132 points, followed by Bowling Green (124), Buffalo (123), Kent State (102) and Eastern Michigan (83). UB received five votes to win the 2022 MAC Tournament with Ohio receiving three votes, Bowling Green earning two votes and Ball State and Eastern Michigan garnering one vote each.
A complete list of the MAC Coaches Preseason Coaches Poll and All-League Team can be found below.
2021-22 MAC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll (First Place Votes)
1. Ohio (4) – 132 points
2. Bowling Green (3) – 124 points
3. Buffalo (3) – 123 points
4. Kent State – 102 points
5. Eastern Michigan (1) – 83 points
6. Central Michigan – 80 points
7. Northern Illinois – 79 points
8. Toledo – 67 points
9. Ball State (1) – 65 points
10. Western Michigan – 31 points
11. Miami (OH) – 27 points
12. Akron - 23 points
Tournament Champion: Buffalo (5), Ohio (3), Bowing Green (2), Ball State (1), EMU (1)
Preseason All-MAC First Team
Dyaisha Fair, Buffalo, Junior, Guard
Molly Davis, Central Michigan, Junior, Guard
Areanna Combs, Eastern Michigan, R-Senior, Guard
Cierra (CeCe) Hooks, Ohio, Senior, Guard
Erica Johnson, Ohio, R-Junior, Forward
Preseason All-MAC Second Team
Lexi Fleming, Bowling Green, Sophomore, Guard
Nila Blackford, Kent State, Junior, Forward
Peyton Scott, Miami (OH), Junior, Guard
Chelby Koker, Northern Illinois, Junior, Guard
Quinesha Lockett, Toledo, Junior, Guard/Forward
Buffalo returns nine scholarship players from last year's squad that went 15-9 and advanced to the semifinals of the MAC Tournament.
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 to the All-MAC First Team and All Defensive Team a season ago after averaging 24.1 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game. She became the fastest player in program history and 14th fastest in Division I women's basketball history to score 1,000 career points, doing so in her 44th career game, and recorded the program's first triple double in nearly 20 years with 28 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in a win over Akron. Fair finished the season ranked sixth in the nation in scoring (24.1) while also ranking in the top 25 in free throws made (145), free throws attempted (179), final points (579), steals (70), field goals made (187), field goals attempted (513) and assists (120).
Ohio was picked as the preseason favorite, receiving four first place votes and 132 points, followed by Bowling Green (124), Buffalo (123), Kent State (102) and Eastern Michigan (83). UB received five votes to win the 2022 MAC Tournament with Ohio receiving three votes, Bowling Green earning two votes and Ball State and Eastern Michigan garnering one vote each.
A complete list of the MAC Coaches Preseason Coaches Poll and All-League Team can be found below.
2021-22 MAC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll (First Place Votes)
1. Ohio (4) – 132 points
2. Bowling Green (3) – 124 points
3. Buffalo (3) – 123 points
4. Kent State – 102 points
5. Eastern Michigan (1) – 83 points
6. Central Michigan – 80 points
7. Northern Illinois – 79 points
8. Toledo – 67 points
9. Ball State (1) – 65 points
10. Western Michigan – 31 points
11. Miami (OH) – 27 points
12. Akron - 23 points
Tournament Champion: Buffalo (5), Ohio (3), Bowing Green (2), Ball State (1), EMU (1)
Preseason All-MAC First Team
Dyaisha Fair, Buffalo, Junior, Guard
Molly Davis, Central Michigan, Junior, Guard
Areanna Combs, Eastern Michigan, R-Senior, Guard
Cierra (CeCe) Hooks, Ohio, Senior, Guard
Erica Johnson, Ohio, R-Junior, Forward
Preseason All-MAC Second Team
Lexi Fleming, Bowling Green, Sophomore, Guard
Nila Blackford, Kent State, Junior, Forward
Peyton Scott, Miami (OH), Junior, Guard
Chelby Koker, Northern Illinois, Junior, Guard
Quinesha Lockett, Toledo, Junior, Guard/Forward
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Women's BasketballWomen's Basketball Staff Walk & Talk - Summer Hemphill
Friday, May 22
Women's Basketball Staff Walk & Talk - Ella Unger
Friday, May 22
Women's Basketball Walk & Talk with the Coaches - JoAnna Smith
Friday, May 22
SPORTSCENTER TOP 10! Paula Lopez hits a half court buzzer beater to end the 3rd!
Tuesday, March 03
