KALAMAZOO, Mich.- The Western Michigan women's basketball team was picked fourth in the 2008-09 Mid-American Conference preseason poll, as voted on by league coaches and members of the MAC News Media Association. The Broncos finished third in the division in 2007-08.

Defending division champion Ball State was voted as the preseason West favorite, followed by Northern Illinois, Central Michigan and WMU. Eastern Michigan and Toledo rounded out the side for the West. Picked to win the MAC East was Bowling Green, followed by 2008 MAC Tournament champion Miami, Ohio, Kent State, Buffalo and Akron.

Western Michigan finished 9-7 in the MAC last year and was in contention for a division title after winning six of its first seven conference games. The Broncos are led this year by first-year head coach Tasha McDowell.

McDowell is one of many new faces in the MAC this season as three other programs have undergone head coaching changes (Ball State - Kelly Packard, Ohio - Semeka Randall, Toledo - Tricia Cullop).

Western Michigan returns four of it's five starters, including preseason All-MAC selection and reigning conference Defensive Player of the Year Tiera DeLaHoussaye, as well as 10 of its 14 letterwinners.

The Broncos will get their first taste of action this Sunday, hosting NAIA opponent Davenport in an exhibition contest at 2 p.m. WMU opens the regular season on the road at Saint Louis, Nov. 16 at 3 p.m.