Watson, Lewis-Williams Earn Preseason All-MAC Honors

BUFFALO, NY – The Mid-American Conference announced their preseason women's basketball honors on Tuesday afternoon with fifth year guard Chellia Watson and sophomore guard Kirsten Lewis-Williams earning a spot on the preseason All-MAC First Team. As a team, Buffalo was picked third in the preseason poll. The poll was voted on by the league's 12 head coaches.

Watson was named to the All-MAC First Team and became the fifth Bull in program history to earn postseason All-America status after putting together a prolific scoring season in which she averaged 23.0 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists while shooting 43% from the floor. The Winder, GA native scored in double figures in 31 of 33 games, including 23 20+ point performances, three 30-point efforts and a school-record setting 47-point performance. She led the MAC and ranked fourth in the nation in scoring (23.0 ppg) while also ranking in the top 10 nationally in total points (759), field goals (297) and field goals made per game (9.0).

Lewis-Williams earned MAC Freshman of the Year honors after putting together a fantastic rookie campaign in which she averaged 11.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game while shooting 46% from the floor in 33 starts. The Mooresville, NC native scored in double figures 20 times, including three 20+ point performances, and was second on the team in scoring and third in assists (83). Lewis-Williams ranked 12^th in the MAC in scoring and 17^th in rebounding, which was first and third, respectively, among all rookies in the league in those categories. She also ranked second in the MAC in free throw attempts (163) and third in free throws made (119).

Ball State was picked as the preseason favorite, receiving 10 first place votes and 120 points, followed by Kent State (104), Buffalo (98), Bowling Green (96) and Toledo (82).

A complete list of the MAC Coaches Preseason Coaches Poll and All-League Team can be found below.

2024-25 MAC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
(First Place Votes)

1. Ball State (10) – 120 points
2. Kent State (2) – 104 points
3. Buffalo – 98 points
4. Bowling Green – 96 points
5. Toledo – 82 points
T-6. Northern Illinois – 64 points
T-6. Ohio – 64 points
8. Miami – 44 points
9. Akron – 43 points
10. Western Michigan – 34 points
11. Eastern Michigan – 23 points
12. Central Michigan – 20 points

Tournament Champion: Ball State- 8, Bowling Green- 1, Buffalo- 1, Kent State- 1, Toledo- 1

2024-25 MAC Women's Basketball Preseason All-MAC Teams

First Team
Ally Becki, Ball State, Senior
Amy Velasco, Bowling Green, Senior
Chellia Watson, Buffalo, Fifth Year
Jenna Batsch, Kent State, Senior
Kirsten Lewis-Williams, Buffalo, Sophomore

Second Team
Brooke Stonebraker, Northern Illinois, Graduate Student
Erika Porter, Bowling Green, Fifth Year
Jaya McClure, Ohio, Junior
Madelyn Bischoff, Ball State, Senior
Sammi Mikonowicz, Toledo, Graduate Student

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Calendar

Watson, Lewis-Williams Earn Preseason All-MAC Honors

Players Mentioned

Kirsten Lewis-Williams

Chellia Watson