Contact: Chassidy Holloway, Associate Executive Director, holloway@midwestconference.org
 
GRINNELL, Iowa – The Midwest Conference (MWC) women’s basketball coaches have tabbed the Red Hawks of Ripon College to repeat as champions in the 2023-24 preseason poll, announced Monday morning.
 
The five-time defending champion Red Hawks received 64 points and eight first-place votes to finish first in the poll. Last season, Ripon shared the regular season title with Knox College after they both went 15-1 against conference opponents. 
 
Cornell College finished second in the poll, picking up 55 points and one first-place vote, while Illinois College claimed third place with 49 points.
 
Grinnell College (38) and Knox College (33) round out the top five, ranked fourth and fifth, respectively. The Prairie Fire’s share of last season’s MWC Championship and their MWC Tournament title marked two program firsts.
 
Lake Forest College (27), Monmouth College (24), Beloit College (18), and Lawrence University (16) close out the remaining spots in the poll.
 
The 2023-24 season gets underway this Wednesday, November 8, with five teams in non-conference action. League play begins Saturday, November 25, as Grinnell hosts Lake Forest.
 
The 2024 MWC Women’s Basketball Tournament is scheduled for Friday, February 23, through Saturday, February 24, 2024. The top four teams in the final standings will qualify, and the winner will be named tournament champion and receive the automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournament. 
 
Full preseason poll results and quick facts for all nine league teams can be found below:
 
2023-24 MWC Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll Results
1. Ripon College (8) - 64 points
2. Cornell College (1) - 55 points
3. Illinois College - 49 points
4. Grinnell College - 38 points
5. Knox College - 33 points
6. Lake Forest College - 27 points
7. Monmouth College - 24 points
8. Beloit College - 18 points
9. Lawrence University - 16 points
 
() – indicates first-place votes
*Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own teams.
 
Beloit College Buccaneers
Head Coach: Natalie Miller (2^nd Season)
2022-23: 8-16 (overall); 4-12 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
Cornell College Rams
Head Coach: Brent Brase (19^th Season)
2022-23: 10-14 (overall); 9-7 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees:
 
Grinnell College Pioneers
Head Coach: Dana Harrold (11^th Season)
2022-23: 10-13 (overall); 7-9 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Erin Lillis (Sr, Guard)
 
Illinois College Lady Blues
Head Coach: Jennifer McCormick (8^th Season)
2022-23: 11-15 (overall); 8-8 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Maya Smith (Sr, Guard)
 
Knox College Prairie Fire
Head Coach: Seth McDowell (1^st Season)
2022-23: 22-6 (overall); 15-1 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
Lake Forest College Foresters
Head Coach: Tamlyn Tills (16^th Season)
2022-23: 9-15 (overall); 5-11 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
Lawrence University Vikings
Head Coach: Riley Woldt (6^th Season)
2022-23: 7-18 (overall); 3-13 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
Monmouth College Scots
Head Coach: Michelle DeCoud (1^st Season)
2022-23: 10-15 (overall); 6-10 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
Ripon College Red Hawks
Head Coach: Lauren Busalacchi (10^th Season)
2022-23: 20-7 (overall); 15 -1 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Bonnie Jensen (Sr, Forward)