The 2019-20 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) women's basketball season tips off on Tuesday, with six of the conference's 11 programs in action. The first week will see every program except for defending MEAC Tournament champion Bethune-Cookman and North Carolina Central on the hardwood.
North Carolina A&T State, which last season became the seventh program in MEAC history to go undefeated in conference play, has been voted as the preseason favorite, while senior guard C'coriea Foy was tabbed as the Preseason Player of the Year. The Aggies have won two of the last four MEAC Tournament titles and are entering their eighth season with Tarrell Robinson at the helm.
Bethune-Cookman overcame a litany of injuries to win the MEAC Tournament title last season, the program's first since 1984, and earning its first NCAA Tournament berth. The Lady Wildcats, picked to finish second in the league this year, do lose perrennial scorer Angel Golden, but do return the likes of Ashanti Hunt -- the 2017-18 MEAC Defensive Player of the Year.
Howard returns several veteran players for head coach Ty Grace's fifth season on the Hilltop -- including four players who were named Preseason All-MEAC (guards Sarah Edmond, Ayonna Williams and Jayla Thornton and forward Imani Bryant).
The Bison were picked to finish third this season, followed by Norfolk State -- which upset the Aggies in the MEAC semifinals en route to a berth in the championship game.
Maryland Eastern Shore, under veteran head coach Fred Batchelor, is picked to finish fifth a season after the Hawks went 12-4 and were second in the MEAC standings.
The 2020 MEAC Basketball Tournament will return to the Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, Va., March 10-14. Florida A&M is ineligible for the conference championship and postseason play.
Here is the first week of games for the 2019-20 season.
Tuesday, Nov. 5
Morgan State at Marquette, 12:30 p.m.
Florida A&M at USC Upstate, 6 p.m.
Liberty at Norfolk State, 6 p.m.
Wesley at Maryland Eastern Shore, 6 p.m.
Presbyterian at South Carolina State, 6:30 p.m.
La Salle at Howard, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 6
Lehigh at Delaware State, 7 p.m.
North Carolina A&T State at N.C. State, 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 8
Notre Dame (Md.) at Morgan State, 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 9
South Carolina State at Charleston Southern, 12 p.m.
Howard at UMBC, 1 p.m.
Norfolk State at Marshall, 1 p.m.
Florida A&M at Jacksonville State, 2 p.m.
Coppin State at Rutgers, 2 p.m.
Johnson & Wales at North Carolina A&T State, 2 p.m.
Maryland Eastern Shore at William & Mar, 6 p.m.
Post at Delaware State, 7 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 11
Washington Adventist at Morgan State, 5:30 p.m.