Central Michigan University Athletics
Foul Trouble Trips Chippewas Against Eagles in MAC Opener
1/7/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
YPSILANTI, Mich. -- A 28 attempt advantage at the free throw line proved to be too much to overcome for the Central Michigan women's basketball team, as the Chippewas fell to the Eastern Michigan Eagles, 73-55, at the Convocation Center in the Mid-American Conference opener on Wednesday.
Britni Houghton led CMU with 14 points, nine rebounds and five assists in 36 minutes to help CMU jump out to an 11-point lead early, 18-7, with 12:46 left in the first half.
But the foul trouble would bog down the game for CMU, as the Chippewas were whistled for 18 fouls in the opening 20 minutes and used a 19-for-27 effort from the charity stripe to overcome a 30 percent start from the field en route to a 36-29 lead at the break.
A Houghton layup gave Central a 42-40 lead with 15:33 left, but Eastern answered with a 13-2 run to reclaim the lead for good.
"We did not do a good job on the defensive end of the floor," head coach Sue Guevara said. "Eastern turned up their defense and we weren't looking to attack the basket. We were content to sit on the perimiter and didn't get the ball inside."
The Chippewas shot 37 percent in the contest and 22 percent from long range (4-for-18) while the Eagles hit 37 percent from the field and 28 percent from deep (5-for-18). The big edge though came from the line, where Eastern Michigan shot 72 percent (28-for-39) compared to Central Michigan's 46 percent (5-for-11).
EMU also enjoyed a 46-39 edge on the glass and piled up eight blocks. CMU did manage 19 assists on 23 made field goals, but EMU won the turnover battle, 26-21.
"We had a lot of unforced turnovers," Guevara said. "We tried to make passes that weren't available."
Shonda Long, who played just two minutes in the first half after being whistled for three fouls, gave CMU two players in double-figures with 10 points, all in the second half.
The Chippewas (3-10, 0-1 MAC) will look to even their league mark on Saturday at Toledo. Tipoff is set for noon.
