Graduate Student forward Brooke Stonebraker (Versailles, Ohio/Versailles) of the Northern Illinois University women’s basketball team was named a Preseason All-MAC selection by the Mid-American Conference on Tuesday as the league released its preseason coaches poll and All-MAC teams.

Stonebraker was selected to the Second Team along with Bowling Green’s Erika Porter, Jaya McClure of Ohio, Madelyn Bischoff of Ball State and Toledo’s Sammi Mikonowicz. Last season Stonebraker led the Huskies in scoring and rebounding at 11.4 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, earning All-MAC Third Team honors. After playing in 43 games over her first three seasons, Stonebraker started all 31 games in the 2023-24 season and averaged nearly 29 minutes per game.

“Last season Brooke emerged as one of the top post players in the MAC,” said head coach Lisa Carlsen. “She was put in a wholly new role and excelled. The way she is able to control the glass and the bottom half of the lane will be a key aspect of our success on both ends of the floor this season.”

Stonebraker had nine double-doubles last season, eight of which came in MAC play. She scored a career-high 20 points twice, once in a 72-55 win over Radford on Nov. 24, 2023 and against Akron on Jan. 27. Stonebraker pulled down a career-high 16 rebounds against Western Michigan on Feb. 14, adding 14 points. In the final game of the regular season Stonebraker had 18 points and 14 rebounds in a 66-64 win at Western Michigan.

The Huskies were picked to finish sixth in the MAC Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll along with Ohio. Ball State was selected as the preseason favorite, garnering 10 of the 12 first place votes. Kent State, the defending MAC Tournament champions, got the two remaining first place votes and are second in the poll. Buffalo, Bowling Green and Toledo round out the top five.

NIU went 15-16 last season and reached the MAC Tournament in Cleveland for the fifth time in six years. The Huskies return seven letterwinners from a year ago, including three of their top five scorers in Stonebraker, Sidney McCrea (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Prairie) and Brooke Blumenfeld (Northbrook, Ill./Glenbrook North). Graduate Student guard Chelby Koker (Racine, Wis./Shoreland Lutheran) is also back after missing last season due to injury.

The Huskies host Benedictine for an exhibition game at the NIU Convocation Center on Sunday, Oct. 27 at 1 p.m.

Women’s basketball season tickets, as well as single-game tickets, are on sale now at NIUHuskies.com and by calling the NIU Athletics Ticket Office at (815) 753-PACK (7225). Pricing starts at just $35 for general admission seats and $50 for reserved tickets located in section 103 as well as 111-113. Courtside seat season tickets for NIU women’s basketball are available for $275 which includes the cost of a season ticket plus a $225 per seat license.

Season passes for the Huskie Athletic Fund Victory Pub are also available for $100 for men’s or women’s basketball, with a combo season pass for both men’s and women’s basketball available for $150. Access to the Victory Pub is included with a women’s basketball courtside season ticket.

For information on suites and all premium experience areas, contact the Huskie Athletic Fund at 815-753-1923 or at HuskieAthleticFund@niu.edu.

2024-25 MAC Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll (First Place Votes)

1. Ball State (10) – 120 points
2. Kent State (2) – 104 Points
3. Buffalo – 98 points
4. Bowling Green – 96 points
5. Toledo – 82 points

T6. NIU – 64 points

T6. Ohio – 64 points

8. Miami – 44 points
9. Akron – 43 points
10. Western Michigan – 34 points
11. Eastern Michigan – 23 points
12. Central Michigan – 20 points

Tournament Champion: Ball State (8), Bowling Green (1), Buffalo (1), Kent State (1), Toledo (1)

2024-25 MAC Women’s Basketball Preseason All-MAC Teams

First Team

Ally Becki – Ball State, Senior

Amy Velasco – Bowling Green, Senior

Chellia Watson – Buffalo, Fifth-Year

Jenna Batsch – Kent State, Senior

Kirsten Lewis-Williams – Buffalo, Sophomore

Second Team

Brooke Stonebraker – NIU, Graduate Student

Erika Porter – Bowling Green, Fifth-Year

Jaya McClure – Ohio, Junior

Madelyn Bischoff – Ball State, Senior

Sammi Mikonowicz – Toledo, Graduate Student