Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
Bowling Green
Bowling Green Slips by CMU, 68-60
1/17/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 17, 2004
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Central Michigan University Chippewas held a 60-59 lead with 2:33 remaining but the Bowling Green State University Falcons scored the game's final nine points after that to capture a 68-60 victory in Anderson Arena on Saturday afternoon.
The loss drops CMU's record to 4-11 overall, 0-4 in MAC play, while BGSU improves to 10-5 overall, 3-1 in the MAC.
Bowling Green controlled the game early but CMU remained at a close distance throughout the opening minutes. The Chippewas took their first lead of the game with 2:32 left in the first half when Amanda Elwer hit a cutting Tiffany Douglas for a layup that gave the Maroon and Gold a 27-26 edge. CMU led by one at the break, 29-28, and after Bowling Green scored the first points of the second half, CMU went on an 18-6 run that started with a trio of three-pointers by Morgan Wills, Lindy Hatfield and Linsday Mecoli.
The Chippewas extended the lead to its largest of the game, 47-36, when Amanda Elwer hit a pair of free throws after the BGSU bench was called for a technical foul. The "T" seemed to ignite the Falcons who then went on a 12-2 run to get back into the game and it was tight until the final two minutes.
CMU was led by freshman Ann Skufca and her career-high 19 points off the bench. She was 7-for-10 from from the floor. No other Chippewa was in double figures as Hurd and Casey Manning each tallied eight points.
Bowling Green's Ali Mann poured in 24 points on 7-for-10 shooting to take game high honors. She also hauled in seven rebounds to go along with her 9-for-10 performance from the line.
The Falcons held a 34-31 edge in rebounding and shot 96 percent from the line (22-for-23) while CMU hit just 67 percent from the stripe (8-for-12).
The Chippewas now head to Buffalo on Wednesday, Jan. 21, before returning home to host Marshall on Saturday, Jan. 24.
NOTES:
* The Chippewas shook up the lineup hoping to snap a four-game losing skid. Freshmen Sharonda Hurd and Morgan Wills and sophomore Tiffany Douglas all notched their first career starts while sophomores Erin Kuhl and Lindsay Mecoli both came off the bench for the first time in their career.
* All nine Chippewas that stepped on the floor scored a field goal in the first half.
* The Chippewas made just 6-of-21 three-point attempts for 29 percent.
* The Chippewa men also play at Bowling Green tomorrow (Jan. 18) with tipoff set for 2 p.m.
