# 2016–17 Mid-American Conference women's basketball season

The 2016–17 Mid-American Conference women's basketball season began with practices in October 2016, followed by the start of the 2016–17 NCAA Division I women's basketball season in November. Conference play began in January 2017 and concluded in March 2017. Central Michigan won the regular season title with a record of 15–3 by one game over Ball State. Larissa Lurken of Kent State was named MAC Player of the Year.
Sixth-seeded Toledo won the MAC tournament by beating fourth-seeded Northern Illinois in the final. Toledo was placed as the #10 seed in the Stockton Region of the NCAA tournament. They lost to Creighton. Central Michigan, Ball State, Kent State, Ohio, and Northern Illinois all qualified for the WNIT.

## Preseason awards

The preseason coaches' poll and league awards were announced by the league office on October 27, 2016.

### Preseason women's basketball coaches poll

(First place votes in parentheses)

#### East Division

* Ohio (9) 69
* Buffalo (3) 60
* Akron 48
* Bowling Green 30
* Miami 27
* Kent State 18

#### West Division

* Central Michigan (12) 72
* Ball State 53
* Toledo 53
* Western Michigan 34
* Northern Illinois 25
* Eastern Michigan 15

#### Regular Season Champion

Central Michigan (6), Ohio (5), Buffalo (1)

#### Tournament champs

Central Michigan (7), Ohio (4), Buffalo (1)

### Honors

| Honor | Recipient |
| Preseason All-MAC East | Jordan Korinek, Kent State |
| Preseason All-MAC East | Quiera Lampkins, Ohio |
| Preseason All-MAC East | Hannah Plybon, Akron |
| Preseason All-MAC East | Stephanie Reid, Buffalo |
| Preseason All-MAC East | JoAnna Smith, Buffalo |
| Preseason All-MAC West | Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott, Toledo |
| Preseason All-MAC West | Presley Hudson, Central Michigan |
| Preseason All-MAC West | Ally Lehman, Northern Illinois |
| Preseason All-MAC West | Janice Monakana, Toledo |
| Preseason All-MAC West | Tinara Moore, Central Michigan |

## Postseason
### Postseason awards

* Coach of the Year: Todd Starkey, Kent State
* Player of the Year: Larissa Lurken, Kent State
* Freshman of the Year: Lauren Dickerson, Miami
* Defensive Player of the Year: Tinara Moore, Central Michigan
* Sixth Man of the Year: Destiny Washington, Ball State

### Honors

| Honor | Recipient |
| Postseason All-MAC First Team | Renee Bennett, Ball State |
| Postseason All-MAC First Team | Presley Hudson, Central Michigan |
| Postseason All-MAC First Team | Tinara Moore, Central Michigan |
| Postseason All-MAC First Team | Larissa Lurken, Kent State |
| Postseason All-MAC First Team | Ally Lehman, Northern Illinois |
| Postseason All-MAC Second Team | Moriah Monaco, Ball State |
| Postseason All-MAC Second Team | JoAnna Smith, Buffalo |
| Postseason All-MAC Second Team | Jordan Korinek, Kent State |
| Postseason All-MAC Second Team | Quiera Lampkins, Ohio |
| Postseason All-MAC Second Team | Janice Monakana, Toledo |
| Postseason All-MAC Third Team | Jewel Cotton, Central Michigan |
| Postseason All-MAC Third Team | Reyna Frost, Central Michigan |
| Postseason All-MAC Third Team | Mikaela Boyd, Toledo |
| Postseason All-MAC Third Team | Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott, Toledo |
| Postseason All-MAC Third Team | Breanna Mobley, Western Michigan |
| Postseason All-MAC Third Team | Meredith Shipman, Western Michigan |
| Postseason All-MAC Honorable Mention | Hannah Plybon, Akron |
| Postseason All-MAC Honorable Mention | Carmen Grande, Ball State |
| All-MAC Defensive Team | Calyn Hosea, Ball State |
| All-MAC Defensive Team | Stephanie Reid, Buffalo |
| All-MAC Defensive Team | Tinara Moore, Central Michigan |
| All-MAC Defensive Team | Jasmine Weatherspoon, Ohio |
| All-MAC Defensive Team | Deja Wimby, Western Michigan |
| All-MAC Freshman Team | Summer Hemphill, Buffalo |
| All-MAC Freshman Team | Lauren Dickerson, Miami |
| All-MAC Freshman Team | Janae Poisson, Northern Illinois |
| All-MAC Freshman Team | Amani Burke, Ohio |
| All-MAC Freshman Team | Mariella Santucci, Toledo |