Central Michigan University Athletics
Postgame Notes: CMU vs. Eastern Michigan
2/27/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Central Michigan vs. Ball State
Saturday, Feb. 26, 2011 (McGuirk Arena)
CMU 68, Eastern Michigan 67
Kaihla Szunko finished with 10 points and 13 rebounds for her 40th career double-double, 17th in 2010-11.
Central Michigan used the same starting lineup for the 27th-consecutive contest.
CMU won seven home MAC games for the second-consecutive season and went 20-4 over the last three seasons at home against MAC opponents.
Shonda Long finished with 23 points for her 10th 20-plus scoring effort of the season, 17th of her career.
The win over Eastern Michigan keeps the possibility open for just the second 20-win regular season in program history if CMU can top Toledo in the regular season finale.
CMU has won five of the last six meetings with EMU.
The Chippewas are now locked in as the No. 3 seed in the MAC Tournament. Should CMU and Bowling Green end with the same record, the Falcons own the tiebreaker by virtue of their head-to-head win earlier this season, and should CMU and Kent State finish with the same record, the Golden Flashes will lose the tiebreaker by virtue of the Chippewas win earlier this season.
CMU will receive a bye through the opening round of the MAC Tournament and will face the winner of the No. 6/No. 11 game in the MAC Tournament quarterfinals.
The Chippewas improved to 16-1 when holding their opponents under 80 points this season.
With her 23 points against the Eagles, Shonda Long passed LaTanga Cox (1983-86) for No. 7 on CMU's all-time scoring chart with 1,374 points.
With five three-pointers against the Eagles, Shonda Long now has 220 in her career, moving her into 14th on the MAC's all-time career chart.
With her four made field goals, Kaihla Szunko moved into sole possession of 9th on CMU's career leader board.
The Chippewas won their second game when scoring fewer than 70 points this season, the seventh under head coach Sue Guevara (7-37).
With the 10 made three-pointers, CMU now has 207 on the season, the third-consecutive season it has made at least 200 threes, the only three 200-plus seasons in program history.
CMU now owns 19-plus wins for just the sixth time in program history, the first since 1990-91.
With her 13 rebounds against the Eagles, Kaihla Szunko now has 291 on the season, tying her with Vershaun Jones (2001-02) for no. 4 on CMU's single-season chart. She is 24 behind her own sophomore campaign for No. 3 on the list. She now needs 43 rebounds to reach 1,000 in her career.
CMU attempted a season-high 32 three-pointers against Eastern Michigan, cracking the 30-attempt mark for the first time since the season opener against North Carolina A&T.
if the MAC Tournament started today (unofficial)....
1. Toledo 13-2 (clinched West Division title, No. 1 seed and at least share of overall crown)
2. Bowling Green 12-3 (clinched East Division title, No. 2 seed)
3. CMU 11-4 (clinched No. 3 seed)
4. Kent State 10-5 (still alive for No. 4 seed/first round bye)
5. Eastern Michigan 9-6 (still alive for No. 4 seed/first round bye)
6. Buffalo 8-7
7. Akron 6-9 (owns tiebreaker over Northern Illinois)
8. Northern Illinois 6-9
9. Western Michigan 5-10
10. Ball State 4-11
11. Ohio 3-12 (currently owns tiebreaker over Miami)
12. Miami 3-12
