Central Michigan University Athletics
Broncos Run Past Chippewas, 67-57
1/12/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MOUNT PLEASANT -- A 13-2 run late in the first half put the Central Michigan University women's basketball team in an early hole and they were unable to dig themselves out against the Western Michigan University Broncos, as the Chippewas fell 67-57 at Rose Arena on Saturday.
Stacey verhoff, Latisha Luckett and Britni Houghton scored 10 apiece and Sherryia Armstrong and Verhoff grabbed eight boards apiece to pace the Chippewas, but Western Michigan got 15 apiece from Molly Dwyer and Ebony Cleary, who had a double-double with a game-high 13 boards. Verhoff also registered a career-high seven steals in the contest.
The Chippewas struggled offensively in the first half, compiling their lowest point total of the season through 20 minutes. CMU trailed 36-14 at the break, and no Chippewa connected on more than one field goal as they shot 21.4 percent (6-for-28). CMU was 0-for-9 from beyond the arc. Western Michigan connected at 41.7 percent (10-for-24), including five three-point buckets. The Broncos were also 11-for-16 from the free throw line and held a 24-17 rebounding edge in the opening frame.
WMU's Molly Dwyer led all scorers with nine points, while Verhoff led CMU with three points and five steals.
The Chippewas came out firing in the second half, cutting the lead to 10 in the first five minutes of the frame. Latisha Luckett's six points led the charge along with four from Shonda Long to produce a 15-4. The Broncos responded, however, stretching the lead back to 18, 61-43, with 7:47 left and would never look back. CMU would close out the game on a 10-1 run to trim the lead to 10 by the final buzzer.
CMU shot 51.6 percent (16-for-31) in the second half to finish at 38.3 percent for the game (23-60). The Chippewas struggled from beyond the arc, hitting 3-of-15 long ball attempts. The Broncos shot 36.7 percent over the game's final 20 minutes, finishing at 37.7 percent for the game (20-for-53). WMU also held a 44-37 rebounding edge at the final horn and made 26 trips to the free throw line (18-for-26), compared to just 15 for CMU (8-for-15).
With the loss, CMU falls to 0-2 in Mid-American Conference play, 4-11 overall. The Chippewas travel to Northern Illinois on Tuesday to face the Huskies.
