Central Michigan University Athletics
No. 22 Hawkeyes Hold Off Chippewas Upset Bid, 90-79
11/21/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Box Score
IOWA CITY, Iowa -- A tough shooting day for Central Michigan hamstrung its upset bid against No. 22 Iowa, 90-79, in the championship game of the Hawkeye Classic at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday.
The Chippewas (3-1) shot 29 percent in the second half, while the Hawkeyes (5-0) were able to get key offensive rebounds and pulled away down the stretch.
"Iowa was able to get some big rebounds in the second half and those second-chance points really hurt us," head coach Sue Guevara said. "Offensively we had too much one-on-one play, but we battled against a very good team."
UI hit a shot at the buzzer to go into halftime up three, 50-47, and used an 11-3 run to open the second half and create breathing room against the high-powered CMU offense.
The Chippewas would get as close as five, 67-62, with 11:44 remaining, but couldn't find its rhythm offensively down the stretch.
Senior Shonda Long led all scorers with 22 points and became the 19th player in Central Michigan history to score 1,000 career points. Senior Kaihla Szunko (12 points, 15 rebounds) and Freshman Taylor Johnson (13 points, 10 rebounds) each put together double-doubles.
"It's a nice accomplishment for Shonda," Guevara said. "I'm sure she would rather have had a win, but she's a great shooter and she was able to get to the basket and finish. She struggled a bit yesterday so you knew she was going to come out determined to have a good game today."
Morgan Johnson led the Hawkeyes with 21 points and Kachine Alexander finished with 20 tallies and game-high 18 boards.
Long and Brandie Baker earned all-tournament honors, the second consecutive laurels for both.
CMU shot 33 percent (25-for-77) from the floor, 39 percent (9-for-23) from long range. IU connected at 45 percent from the field and 29 percent from distance (9-for-31).
The Hawkeyes outrebounded the Chippewas, 53-49, the first time the Maroon and Gold lost the battle of the boards.
Next up for Central Michigan is the Hilton Garden Inn Thanksgiving Tournament, hosted by Northern Arizona, on Nov. 26-27.
