Women's basketball earns first seed, will play Akron or EMU in MAC Tournament quarterfinals
Central Michigan coach Sue Guevara celebrates with her team after claiming the Mid-American Conference title with a win over Toledo on March 9 at McGuirk Arena.
For three consecutive years, the Central Michigan women's basketball team has come out on top in the Mid-American Conference regular season.
Now, the Chippewas aim to repeat as MAC Tournament champions.
Led by 12th-year coach Sue Guevara, CMU (24-6, 15-3 MAC) secured the first seed in the tournament with a 78-45 blowout victory against Toledo on March 9.
Teams ranked in the top four earn an automatic bid to the quarterfinals at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Those ranked from fifth to 12th are subject to a first-round game, with the higher seed hosting the event.
For CMU, it means four days of preparation, but it also comes with being unaware of the upcoming opponent in the quarterfinals until late Monday night. The Chippewas will see either No. 8 Akron or No. 9 Eastern Michigan at noon on March 13.
The Zips finished 16-13 overall and 7-11 in the MAC, while EMU was 13-16 throughout the season with a 6-12 mark in conference play. CMU hasn't played Akron since its 94-71 win to open MAC play on Jan. 5. However, the Chippewas have slaughtered EMU twice – 71-61 at home and 87-60 on the road.
Whoever comes out on top between CMU, EMU and Akron will advance to the MAC Tournament semifinals at 11 a.m. on March 15, which means a date with one of three opponents – No. 4 Buffalo, No. 5 Kent State or No. 12 Bowling Green.
The MAC Tournament championship tips off at 11 a.m. on March 16, and it will be broadcasted live on the CBS Sports Network. On the other side of the bracket, No. 2 Ohio and No. 3 Miami (Ohio) are the top seeds.
Dating back to 2015, Ohio, Buffalo, Toledo and CMU all stole MAC Tournament titles. There has not been a repeat winner since Bowling Green in the 2009-10, 2010-11 seasons, but that could change this time around.
The Chippewas have two MAC Tournament championships in the last six years, which occurred in 2013 and 2018. Senior forward Reyna Frost also has an opportunity to become the first player since Bowling Green's Lauren Prochaska (2010, 2011) to take home back-to-back MAC Tournament Most Valuable Player awards.
Full MAC Tournament seedings:
1. Central Michigan (15-3 MAC)
2. Ohio (14-4 MAC)
3. Miami (Ohio) (13-5 MAC)
4. Buffalo (12-6 MAC)
5. Kent State (11-7 MAC)
6. Toledo (11-7 MAC)
7. Northern Illinois (10-8 MAC)
8. Akron (7-11 MAC)
9. Eastern Michigan (6-12 MAC)
10. Western Michigan (4-14 MAC)
11. Ball State (3-15 MAC)
12. Bowling Green (2-16 MAC)
MAC Tournament matchups:
No. 8 Akron vs. No. 9 Eastern Michigan – March 11 (5 p.m.)
No. 5 Kent State vs. No. 12 Bowling Green – March 11 (7 p.m.)
No. 7 Northern Illinois vs. No. 10 Western Michigan – March 11 (6:30 p.m.)
No. 6 Toledo vs. No. 11 Ball State – March 11 (7 p.m.)
No. 1 Central Michigan vs. Akron/EMU – March 13 (Noon)
No. 4 Buffalo vs. Kent State/BGSU – March 13 (TBA)
No. 2 Ohio vs. NIU/WMU – March 13 (TBA)
No. 3 Miami (Ohio) vs. Toledo/Ball State – March 13 (TBA)
