Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
Buffalo*
Seniors Lead CMU Past Buffalo, 58-50
2/8/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 8, 2006
BUFFALO, N.Y. - The senior leadership for the Central Michigan University women's basketball team stepped up to lead the Chippewas to a 58-50 victory at Buffalo on Wednesday night.
The Maroon and Gold move to 13-7 on the year, 4-6 in the Mid-American Conference while Buffalo falls to 7-13, 2-7 in conference action. CMU has won three-straight MAC games for the first time since 1999 and its 13 victories are the most since 1992-93.
All five CMU seniors who saw time in the game played a vital role in the victory.
Veteran Lindsay Mecoli provided a key bucket late when her three-pointer broke a 46-46 tie with 3:10 remaining as the Chippewas would remain ahead the rest of the way. Mecoli's open look was created by a great pass by classmate Casey Manning, who found Mecoli in the deep corner all alone.
Than, after a couple defensive stops by both teams, fellow senior Tiffany Douglas stole a post-entry pass, leading to an old fashion three-point play on a breakaway by Manning. That gave the Chippewas a six-point lead with 1:49 left, 52-46, and from that point, the Chippewas used free throw and solid defense to lock up the victory.
Senior Chasidy Myers kept CMU in the game as the Bulls rallied in the second half, tallying 12 points in the second frame, going 6-for-8 from the floor. She finished the game with a team-high 16 points and seven boards. Erin Kuhl also did her part with a team-high four assists in the victory.
Other double-digit scorers for CMU were Stacey Verhoff with 12 points while Manning tallied 11. Candace Wilson also did her part with a game-high four steals a four key points in the final minutes.
Heather Turner led with the Bulls with 20 points and 14 rebounds, nine on the offensive end, while Brooke Meunier added 14 points.
The Chippewas bolted out of the gates to an 8-0 lead in the first three minutes of the game. Verhoff fueled the fast start with a pair of three-pointers during that stretch.
The two squads traded baskets, making the score 10-4, before CMU made another push for an 18-5 lead at the 12:50 mark. Verhoff again sparked the run with her third three of the game with Manning capping it with a three of her own.
CMU remained in control over the next eight minutes with a double-digit lead and led 28-14 with five minutes left in the half when Buffalo made its run. The Bulls would reel off eight unanswered points before the break to close within six at the half, 28-22. Verhoff led CMU as all 12 of her points came in the first on four three-pointers while Turner led UB with nine.
The game remained close during the first part of the second half with CMU holding at least a five-point advantage for the first eight minutes. Buffalo did cut the lead to five a minute into the stanza after a three by Meunier. CMU responded to push its advantage to nine four and a half minutes in only to have Buffalo cut the lead back to five at the 12:38 mark.
As the midway point of the half passed, the Bulls began to slowly chip away at the lead, but UB could never quite take the lead as Myers scored eight-straight points to keep CMU ahead. Buffalo finally tied the game for the first time on a jumper by Viorica Badinici, but that is when CMU's senior took over to lead the Chippewas to victory.
A strong shooting performance in the second half (55.6 percent) gave CMU the overall advantage in the game as the Chippewas shot 44.2 percent to UB's 34.6 percent. The Bulls did control the boards, out rebounding CMU 35-29, and UB was especially effective on the offensive end were it tallied 19 rebounds to CMU's nine.
Three-point shooting played a role as CMU was 7-for-12 (.582) while Buffalo was just 3-for-15 (.200). The Chippewas were also better at the free throw line, shooting 72.2 percent (13-of-18) to UB's 55.0 percent (11-of-20). The Maroon and Gold also finished with more steals (9-5), blocks (1-0) and fewer assists (18-19) with both teams tallying 11 assists.
The Chippewas wrap up their games against the East Division with a contest at Akron on Saturday, Feb. 11. Tip off is set for 2 p.m.
