Oct. 24, 2000

CLEVELAND, Ohio - In a preseason poll released today from the Midwestern Collegiate Conference office in Indianapolis, Mahogany Green (Toledo, Ohio/Bowsher), a 5-9 senior forward from Cleveland State, was selected as the 2000-01 MCC Preseason Player of the Year, while UW-Green Bay was picked to win the MCC regular season title. The ballot was conducted among the MCC's head women's basketball coaches, sports information directors and media.

"It is an honor for Mahogany to be named Preseason Player of the Year," said CSU head coach Duffy Burns. "She is a self-made player who has worked extremely hard to develop her game since arriving at Cleveland State. Mahogany is a great kid that can do everything on the court and has a real shot of making it to the next level."

Green, a first team All-MCC selection a year ago, averaged 17.4 points and 7.1 rebounds per game and led the MCC with 18.6 ppg in conference games only. Her honor follows on the heels of CSU's Audra Cook being named both preseason and regular season Player of the Year in 1999-00. Green is joined on the first team by UW-Green Bay junior guards Trisha Ebel and Amanda Leonhard, who were both first team picks in 1999-00. In addition, Detroit's Molly Peterman, a second-team selection last season, and UIC's Kimberly Henry, the 1999-00 Newcomer of the Year, were also named the first team.

The second team includes Mandy Stowe and Melanie Tilque from UW-Green Bay, Loyola's Lauren Sirus, Wright State's Reggen Stewart and UW-Milwaukee's Holly Tamm.

In the team voting, 2000 NCAA Tournament participant and three-time defending MCC champion UW-Green Bay led the way with 160 points and 19 first-place votes. Following the Phoenix was UIC with 137 points and the remaining two first-place votes. UW-Milwaukee (124) and Detroit (106) rounded out the top half. After struggling through the MCC regular season last year, Cleveland State advanced to the conference tournament final and was picked fifth in 2000-01 with 83 points. Butler (49), Wright State (45) and Loyola (42) finished out the voting.

The Vikings open the season Friday, Nov. 17 against Ohio State at 5:00 p.m. in the CSU Convocation Center. Green, her teammates and coach Burns along with the men's team will preview the upcoming season at the MCC Experience, Thursday, Nov. 2 at 5:00 p.m. in the CSU Convocation Center.