Central Michigan University Athletics
Chippewas Hand Broncos First MAC Loss
1/12/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Five players scored in double-digits as Central Michigan handed Western Michigan its first loss in Mid-American Conference play, 93-85, Wednesday night.
Jessica Green scored five of her team-high 22 points to give the Chippewas (10-7, 2-1) a 64-59 lead with 8:33 left to play. CMU used an 8-1 run, with five made free throws, to push the lead to 74-65 with 5:43 remaining. In the final 1:35, CMU went 8-for-11 from the free throw line to close the game, and finished the game shooting 69.4 percent from the charity stripe, the third best this season.
"It was nice to be home," said head coach Sue Guevara. "I think we were a little shell-shocked early. Western Michigan did a really nice job of putting us on our heels early so we changed our defense, which really made a difference. The last thing you want is to come home and lose your first conference game on your home floor. In this conference it is important to win your games at home if you want to be at the top."
The Broncos (5-11, 2-1) opened the game on a 21-6 run to take an early lead with 14:21 remaining in the first half. The CMU offense went to work with a 12-1 run to cut the lead to 22-18 with 10:52 left. It later held the Bronco offense without a basket for 5:45, scoring 15 points behind two three-pointers from Taylor Johnson and one from Jalisa Olive, to take its first lead since leading 2-0, at 34-27 with five minutes remaining. Jordan LaDuke added another shot from behind the arc and CMU took a 41-34 lead into the break.
A 12-2 run propelled the Maroon and Gold to its largest lead, 17 points in the first 2:30 of the second half. The Broncos came storming back using a 22-6 run in the over the next 7:40 to tie the game at 59. WMU was unable to grab the lead as CMU led by as much as 13 to close the game.
CMU finished the night shooting 50 percent from three-point range, the second-highest percentage this season. As a team it forced the second-most turnovers on the season, 30, which it converted into 30 points. The bench chipped in with 32 points.
Green went 7-for-14 from the floor and a perfect 2-2 from behind the arc. She also had six assists and four steals. Crystal Bradford was a perfect 3-for-3 from long range and finished the night with 20 points, five steals, five blocks and five assists. LaDuke added 13 points, with Olive and Johnson each chipping in 12 and 11, respectively.
The Maroon and Gold will return to McGuirk on Saturday when Ball State comes to town for a 2 p.m. contest.
