clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

2021 MAC Women’s Basketball Championship Tournament preview: Semifinals

The top four seeds advanced, giving some delicious potential matchups.

Notre Dame v Ohio
Cece Hooks had a big game against Ball State, can she repeat?
Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images

So the top four seeds advanced, even if it wasn’t quite in the ways we would have

When the action resumes on Friday, we’ll have the #1 vs. #4 matchup when Bowling Green meets the Buffalo Bulls, while the #2 vs. #3 matchup will feature Central Michigan vs. Ohio. Most of these programs have been paragons of the MAC women’s basketball world over the last several years, while BGSU has proven to be the most promising team of the 2021 season. It shouldn’t be a terrible surprise the cream rose to the top in this instance.

As for predictions, here goes.

Buffalo beat Bowling Green in both of their regular season games. In their first matchup, Buffalo beat the Falcons by a score of 82 to 74. In that game, Dyaisha Fair got eight 3 pointers as she scored 36 points. Kadie Hempfling led the Falcons with 20 points. In the next matchup which was the last game of the season, the Bulls pulled off the close victory by winning 69 to 68. Dyaisha Fair would score 16 of those points for the Bulls and Kadie Hempfling would sink 20 of the points for the Falcons. It is usually tough for a team to win three games in a season, so I am going to say that the third game will be a charm for Bowling Green and they will defeat the Bulls.

Central Michigan and Ohio split their regular season games. If you average up the scores, both games would be pretty close. The Chippewas won the first matchup 90 to 87. Micaela Kelly would get 28 points for the Chippewas. Molly Davis would score 23 and get 10 rebounds to record the double-double. Cierra Hooks would get 22 points for the Bobcats. Erica Johnson would barely miss the double-double with 21 points and 9 rebounds. The Chippewas dropped the next game to the Bobcats by a score of 84 to 93. Erica Johnson and Cece Hooks would each score 26 points for the Bobcats. Micaela Kelly would end up putting up 36 points. Jahari Smith would get 11 points and 12 rebounds for the double-double. If I had to make a prediction, I would give the edge to the Chippewas but this so close, I hate to do that.

Both games will be featured on ESPN+, with BGSU vs. Buffalo starting at 10 a.m., with the CMU vs. Ohio game starting 30 minutes after the conclusion of the previous game.