Central Michigan University Athletics
Great Alaska Shootout: Women's Game Two Information
11/24/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Game two: Central Michigan (0-4) at Alaska Anchorage (4-1)
Live Tournament Stats | Tournament Page
Thursday, November 24, 2 p.m. (AST), Anchorage, Alaska, Sullivan Arena
Broadcast Information
Live Audio: 91.5 wmhw-fm
Game one recap: South Florida 86, Central Michigan 80 (OT)
Box score | Photo album | Postgame Notes | Great Alaska Shootout Web Page
ANCHORAGE – Freshman Crystal Bradford's 22 points and 17 rebounds nearly led Central Michigan to its first win of the season but South Florida came out on top of an 86-80 overtime game in the opening session of the Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout.
The Bulls (4-2) held the Chippewas (0-4) to just one field goal in the overtime period, using the final 3:40 to turn a 78-78 tie into a six-point victory.
The Chippewas led most of the first half, by as many as eight on two occasions, but the Bulls outscored them, 18-6, over the final 6:30, including a banked three-pointer at the buzzer, to take a 37-32 lead into the locker room.
Neither team was up by more than one possession for the majority of the second half, and never by more than five points.
Back-to-back layups by Jessica Green gave Central a 52-51 lead near the midway point of the second half and the two teams saw five ties and five lead changes the rest of the way.
A layup and three-pointer by Niki DiGuilio gave the Chippewas a 72-67 advantage with 1:05 to play, but the Bulls came back with a pair of free throws by Kaneisha Saunders and a three-pointer by Andrell Smith to tie the game at 72 with 23 seconds remaining. Brandie Baker hit a pair of free throws with four seconds left to break the tie, then blocked a shot out of bounds on the other end two seconds later.
Off the in-bounds play, Smith attempted a three-pointer that was blocked but Bradford was called for a foul that put Smith at the line with 0.4 seconds on the clock. Smith missed her first attempt but hit the last two to send the game into overtime.
"We had turnovers down the stretch and we tried to block a shot at the end of regulation instead of just putting a hand in her face and those are freshman mistakes," said CMU head coach Sue Guevara.
"Those are tough lessons to learn, but this was by far the best game we've played this season. If we can continue to improve and cut down on our mistakes, that elusive W will find us."
Jas'Mine Bracey and Green each scored 16 points as the two combined with fellow freshman Bradford for two-third of the Chippewas' offense. DiGuilio, the fourth starter in double figures, added 10 points. Bradford tallied four blocks, three steals and three assists to go with her career-high scoring and rebounding totals.
"We rely on our freshmen and today they produced for us," said Guevara.
The Chippewas will face Alaska-Anchorage in the third-place game Thursday at 2 p.m. (AST).
"Our bench needs to be ready to go tomorrow," said Guevara. "Playing on back to back days and going into overtime today, we'll need a lot of depth tomorrow."
