Contact: Chassidy Holloway, Associate Executive Director, holloway@midwestconference.org
 
GRINNELL, Iowa – Ripon College has been selected as the favorite to win the 2022-23 Midwest Conference (MWC) women’s basketball championship, as voted on by the league’s nine head coaches.
 
The Red Hawks collected eight first-place votes and 64 points for a first-place finish in the poll. Last season, Ripon won its fourth consecutive championship crown and third consecutive outright.
 
Cornell College picked up 50 points for a second-place finish, while Illinois College and Knox College received 46 points to tie for third place. The Lady Blues also earned one first-place vote.
 
Grinnell College was tabbed for fifth place finish with 31 points, just ahead of Monmouth College in sixth place with 29 points.
 
Rounding out the poll, Lake Forest College and Lawrence University tied for seventh with 24 points followed by Beloit College with 10 points.
 
The season gets underway next Tuesday, November 8, with seven league teams taking on a slate of non-conference opponents. 

League play tips off on Tuesday, November 29, and the season culminates February 24-25 with the 2023 MWC Women’s Basketball Tournament. The league’s top seed will host the four-team event to play for the tournament title and the automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.

2022-23 MWC Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll Results
1. Ripon College (8) - 64 points
2. Cornell College - 50 points
T3. Illinois College (1) - 46 points
T3. Knox College - 46 points
5. Grinnell College - 31 points
6. Monmouth College - 29 points
T7. Lake Forest College – 24 points
T7. Lawrence University - 24 points
9. Beloit College - 10 points
 
() – indicates first-place votes
*Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own teams.

Beloit College Buccaneers
Head Coach: Natalie Miller (1^st Season)
2021-22: 4-20 (overall); 0-16 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
Cornell College Rams
Head Coach: Brent Brase (18^th Season)
2021-22: 12-9 (overall); 7-7 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Madison Wauters (Sr)
 
Grinnell College Pioneers
Head Coach: Dana Harrold (10^th Season)
2021-22: 9-13 (overall); 6-9 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Erin Lillis (Jr – 2022 Newcomer of the Year)
 
Illinois College Lady Blues
Head Coach: Jennifer McCormick (7^th Season)
2021-22: 10-11 (overall); 9-6 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Lily Pepper (Sr)
 
Knox College Prairie Fire
Head Coach: Kira Mowen (2^nd Season)
2021-22: 12-13 (overall); 10-6 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
Lake Forest College Foresters
Head Coach: Tamlyn Tills (15^th Season)
2021-22: 8-16 (overall); 5-11 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
Lawrence University Vikings
Head Coach: Riley Woldt (5^th Season)
2021-22: 10-12 (overall); 7-7 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
Monmouth College Scots
Head Coach: Megan Jones (2^nd Season)
2021-22: 14-10 (overall); 10-6 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
Ripon College Red Hawks
Head Coach: Lauren Busalacchi (9^th Season)
2021-22: 18-9 (overall); 15-1 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Kiana Fall (Sr); Bonnie Jensen (Sr); Alison Leslie (Sr – 2020 Newcomer of the Year)