Schoolcraft College women's basketball team picked to repeat as MCCAA Eastern Conference Champions

The Schoolcraft College women's basketball team has been picked by the MCCAA Eastern Conference coaches to repeat as conference champs. The Ocelots won the title last year with 13-3 conference record. They lost in the semi-finals of the NJCAA Great Lakes District B Championship to finish the season 18-7. They picked up four first place votes in the poll. 

SCHOOLCRAFT COLLEGE
HEAD COACH:    Shay Lewis
COACHING RECORD: 31-35 (3 years)
LAST SEASON: 18-7, 13-3 MCCAA Eastern
RETURNING PLAYERS: Returners 8, Starters 3            
TOP RETURNERS
   F: Samantha Smith (All Metro Conference Honorable Mention, all defensive team)
   G: Ruby Garner (3rd team all conference, all freshman team, all defensive team)
   G: Makaiya Thomas
    F: Eve Parrish (3rd team all conference, all freshman, mccaa player of the week)
TOP NEWCOMERS:
   G: Hunter Conway
    F: Taylor Williams
    G: Kyra Brandon
KEY LOSSES:
    G: Catarina Juarez: (2nd Team All-Conference, All-Freshman Team)
    F: Heaven Rogers (3rd Team All-Conference, MCCAA Player of the Week twice)
TOP NON-CONF OPPONENTS
    Bryant & Stratton College
    Owens CC
    Delta College
OUTLOOK:

Oakland Community College, who finished eighth in the Nation, last season are picked to finish second in the poll. The Raiders were fourth in the Eastern Conference last season but won the NJCAA Great Lakes District A Tournament and qualified for the NJCAA Division II National Championship. The Raiders received one first place vote. 

OAKLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE
HEAD COACH: Josh Lees
COACHING RECORD: 59-45 (4 Years)
LAST SEASON: 24-10, 10-6 MCCAA Eastern
RETURNING PLAYERS: Players 5, Starters 2
TOP RETURNERS:
   F:  izzy Dugal
   F:  Taedom Stein
   G: Madison Landschoot
   G:  Hannah Covert
   G:  Mileisha Rodriguez
TOP NEWCOMERS:
   G:  Chloe Gilbert- (Adrian transfer)
   G: Brala Benion- (D1 juco transfer)
   G: Marissa Kintz
Key Losses
   F: Jada Lake
   F:Irelyn Schoof
   G: Emma Delcotto
Top non-conf opponents:
   Owens CC
   Trine University JV
   Sienna Heights University JV
OUTLOOK:
   Four 3 year players on a national team. Starting the year as the 13th ranked team

With conference realignment, Jackson College has moved to the Eastern Conference this year. The Jets tied for the MCCAA Western Conference Title last year with a 15-3 conference record. They finished they year with a 19-7 overall record falling in the semi-finals of the NJCAA Great Lakes District A semi-final. Picked for third in conference this season they did garner one first place vote. 

JACKSON COLLEGE
HEAD COACH:    Heather Brown
COACHING RECORD: 76-87, (7 Years)
LAST SEASON: 19-7, 15-3 Western Conference
RETURNING PLAYER: Players 5, Starters 3
TOP RETURNERS:
   F: Jada Patton
   G: Kaycee Shannon
   G/F: Morgan Morris
TOP NEWCOMERS:
    G: Tyra Ford
    G: Nakiya Sigman
KEY LOSSES:
    G: Zaria Bridgewater
TOP NON-CONF OPPONENTS:
   South Suburban College
   Owens CC
   Lake Michigan College
OUTLOOK:
   Jada Patton is back healthy this season after struggling with injury and Covid last year. She only could give limited
   minutes but still led team in scoring. We also have Kaycee Shannon and Morgan Morris back that were also team
   leaders last year. Newcomers are sophomore transfer from D1 JUCO Nakiya Sigman and IUPUI transfer Tyra
   Ford who redshirted freshman year with seniors staying for Covid. With a much deeper bench and solid recruits
   we are looking to be even stronger this season.

St. Clair County Community College finished tied for second last season in the MCCAA Eastern Conference and are picked fourth this season. The Skippers fell to Delta College in the NJCAA Great Lakes District B Semi-finals. St. Clair also picked up one first place vote. 

ST. CLAIR COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
HEAD COACH: Craig Archer
COACHING RECORD:  19-11  (1 Year)
LAST SEASON: 19-11, 11-5 MCCAA Eastern
RETURING PLAYERS: Players 3, Starters 1
TOP RETURNERS:
   G: Morgan McConnell
   F: Kayla Rossen (2022 MCCAA Honorable Mention All-Eastern Conference)
TOP NEWCOMERS
   C: Dareonna Little
   G: Arlonna Twitty
KEY LOSSES:
   G: Brooklyn Taylor (2022 ALL-Region, ALL-MCCAA)
   F: Lily Connelly (2022 MCCAA Third Team All-Eastern Conference)
   G: Janae Smith (2022 MCCAA Honorable Mention All-Eastern Conference)
TOP NON-CONF OPPONENTS:
   Lakeland CC
   Bryant and Stratton College
OUTLOOK:
   Young back court. Hoping for playoffs.

Macomb Community College is picked for fifth in this year's pre-season poll. The Monarchs finished sixth last year and fell in the NJCAA Great Lakes District B Quarterfinals. The Monarchs picked up the final first place vote. 

MACOMB COMMUNITY COLLEGE
HEAD COACH: Jay Ritchie
COACHING RECORD 267-94 (14 years)
LAST SEASON: 15-13, 8-8 MCCAA Eastern
RETURNING PLAYERS: Players 4, Starters 3
TOP RETURNERS:
   G: Ray Armstrong (All-Region, All-MCCAA and First Team All-Conference in 2020-21, injured last season)
    F: Amy Jackson (Two-time All-Conference performer, single season 3-point record holder at Macomb)
    F: Valina Hudgins
    G: Rylee Thomas
TOP NEWCOMERS:
     F: Tamia Tounsel (All-MAC)
    G: Talia Krause (All-MAC)
    G: Kamryn Richards  (Free Press Dream Team, All-MAC)
KEY LOSSES:
    G: DeBraya Edwards (All-Region, All-MCCAA in 2021-22)
TOP NON-CONF OPPONENTS:
    Lake Michigan College
    Bryant & Stratton (OH) Colllege
    Kalamazoo Valley CC
OUTLOOK:
    Improved team from a season ago. Work ethic has been sound and the team is learning to play together better
    every day.

Wayne County Community College District with first year coach Eric Sharps is picked to finish sixth in conference this season. The Wildcats finished eighth last season. 

WAYNE COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
HEAD COACH:    Eric Sharps
COACHING RECORD: 0-0, 1^st Year
Last Season:4-19, 4-12 MCCAA Eastern
RETURNING PLAYERS: 3
TOP RETURNERS
   Keairra Jennings
   Taylor Walton
   Jada Parker    
TOP NEWCOMERS:
   Monica Williams
   Josalynn Norris
   Jada Williams
KEY LOSSES:
   None
TOP NON-CONF OPPONENTS:
   Indian River Community College
   Southwest Florida Community College
   Vincennes University
OUTLOOK:
   Solid overall team looking to have a great season, a couple of new faces that will do well

Mott Community College is picked to finish seventh in this year's poll. The Bears finished seventh last season. 

MOTT COMMUNITY COLLEGE
HEAD COACH: Letitia Hughley
COACHING RECORD: 271-181 (16 years)
LAST SEASON: 9-16, 6-9 MCCAA Eastern
RETURNING PLAYERS: Players 2, Starters 1
Top Returners:
   G: Madison Byrd
Top Newcomers:
    G/F: Leah Lappin
     C: asmine Hadley
Key Losses:
      G: Xeriya Tartt (Third Team All-American)
Top non-conf opponents:
      Owens CC
      Cuyahoga CC
       Muskegon CC
Outlook:

Finally, Henry Ford College is picked for eighth place in the poll. Henry Ford finished ninth last year. 

HENRY FORD COLLEGE
HEAD COACH:    Briana Johnson 
COACHING RECORD: 0-0  (1^st Year)
LAST SEASON: 2-26, 0-16 MCCAA Eastern
RETURNING PLAYERS: Players 1
TOP RETURNERS:
   C: Faith Plummer
TOP NEWCOMERS:
    SF: Tamia French
    PG: Dajia Tyson (3 time State Champion at DEPSA)
KEY LOSSES:
    SF: Briana Ward
    PG: Monica Williams
TOP NON-CONF OPPONENTS:
    Bryant and Stratton College (WI)
    Marian University's Ancilla College
    Niagara County CC
OUTLOOK: