Central Michigan University Athletics
Game Notes: Chippewas Wrap Up Nine-Game Trek vs. Wildcats
12/9/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Central Michigan (6-2) at Northwestern (7-1)
COVERAGE
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STORYLINES
...Kaihla Szunko has registered a double-double in six of CMU's eight games this season. She ranks second in the nation and second in career double-doubles among active players in the MAC with 29.
...Saturday's game against Northwestern will feature two of the six players to put together triple-doubles this season: CMU's Brandie Baker and NU's Amy Jaeschke.
...The Chippewas have equaled their best eight-game start under head coach Sue Guevara and are looking for their best nine-game start in her tenure. The Chippewas started the 2008-09 campaign at 6-2 as well, before falling in their next two contests.
...CMU boasts the top two scoring freshmen in the Mid-American Conference in Taylor Johnson (11.3 ppg) and Niki DiGuilio (11.1).
| PROJECTED STARTERS | |||||||
| | Name | Ht. | Yr. | PPG | RPG | Other | Notes |
| (1) G | Brandie Baker | 6-0 | So. | 12.8 | 7.0 | 5.0 APG | Among the MAC leaders in pts. (19), rebs. (10) and assists (4) |
| (2) G | Shonda Long | 5-9 | Sr. | 18.0 | 3.8 | 3.3 3PG | Scored 20+ in three of her last five games |
| (3) G | Niki DiGuilio | 5-8 | Fr. | 11.1 | 3.4 | 2.3 3PG | Four straight double-figure scoring efforts. |
| (4) F | Skylar Miller | 5-10 | Jr. | 6.3 | 4.4 | 1.9 SPG | Ranks 12th in the MAC in steals per game. |
| (5) F | Kaihla Szunko | 6-1 | Sr. | 16.9 | 11.3 | 3.0 SPG | No. 2 among active MAC players in career double-doubles (29) |
GAME NOTES
In the Polls -- Central Michigan broke into CollegeInsider.com’s top-25 Mid-Major poll this week, checking in at No. 22. MAC foes Bowling Green (No. 2) and Kent State (No. 25) also find themselves in the rankings.
Recruiting Class Garners National Recognition -- Head coach Sue Guevara’s 2010 early signing class gained national recognition, when it was tabbed one of the nation’s best by ESPN.com’s recruiting site, HoopGurlz. The Chippewas check in at No. 43, the highest for any Michigan school and the only team in the Mid-American Conference recognized. Crystal Bradford (Detroit, Mich./Inkster HS), Jas’Mine Bracey (Detroit, Mich./Inkster HS), Leah Scott (Detroit, Mich./Inkster HS), Jessica Green (Belleville, Mich./Belleville HS) and Kerby Tamm (Petoskey, Mich./Petoskey HS) make up a talent group that Guevara called “program changing”.
Stellar “D” -- The 42 points CMU allowed to Coastal Carolina is the fewest the Chippewas have given up in a contest since the 2005-06 season opener against NAIA foe Wilberforce in an 86-39 victory on Nov. 19, 2005. The last time Central Michigan held a Division I opponent to 42 points or less was Nov. 28, 2004, in a 42-32 loss to Indiana. Its the first time in head coach Sue Guevara’s tenure an opponent has been held to fewer than 50 points, and the first time for CMU since a 62-45 victory over Valparaiso on Dec. 21, 2006.
Keep Them Under 45... –- CMU is 11-32 under Sue Guevara when allowing its opponent to shoot 45 percent or better from the field.
...But We Need to Get to 40 -- The Chippewas are 31-12 the last three seasons when hitting 40 percent of their shots and improve to 19-2 when connecting at 45 percent.
