Central Michigan University Athletics
Szunko's Triple-Double Opens McGuirk in Grand Fashion
12/18/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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MOUNT PLEASANT -- Senior Kaihla Szunko helped Central Michigan open the women’s basketball portion of the McGuirk Arena history book in spectacular fashion, putting together the second triple-double in program history in an 82-66 victory over Ole Miss in the grand opening of McGuirk Arena on Saturday.
Szunko finished with 21 points, 16 rebounds and a single-game CMU record 10 steals to help the Chippewas (7-3) knock off the Rebels (7-4), who went just 1-for-17 from three-point range.
Ole Miss led by as many as seven points with 13:10 left in the first half, but the Chippewas went on a 16-2 run to take the lead at 25-20 with just under seven minutes left.
The Rebels would never regain the lead. The Chippewas, who led by as many as seven in the opening half, led 40-36 at the break.
The CMU lead expanded to double-figures five minutes into the second half and to as many as 21, 71-50, with seven minutes remaining.
Szunko cemented her place in Central Michigan history with her 10th steal at the 3:50 mark, giving CMU two triple-doubles on the year. Sophomore Brandie Baker put hers together in the season-opening victory over North Carolina A&T.
Szunko paced all scorers with 21, while Shonda Long poured in 16 points, all in the second half due to foul trouble, and Jalisa Olive chipped in 17.
Baker finished with nine points, eight assists and seven rebounds.
The Chippewas shot 42 percent in the contest, 38 percent from beyond the arc (11-for-29). The Rebels couldn’t solve the Maroon and Gold defense in the second half and after shooting 52 percent in the opening 20 minutes, finished at 43 percent from the floor. The struggles from three-point range and 30 turnovers proved to be too costly, despite a small edge on the glass (43-40).
CMU continues its three-game home stand on Wednesday, December 22, against Wichita State.
