Key Free Throws Lift CMU Past Richmond
11/28/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
LAS VEGAS, Nev. - The Central Michigan women's basketball team opened the South Point Thanksgiving Shootout with a 61-56 victory over Richmond on Thursday. It was the first loss of the season for the Spiders (3-1).
CMU (2-1) struggled early to get things going offensively, and were held to just one point more than six minutes into the game trailing Richmond (3-1) 7-1 at the first media timeout.
Jessica Green had 13 points to lead the Chippewas, while Crystal Bradford finished with 12 points and 15 rebounds to earn her first double-double of the season. It was her 45th career double-double. She also has two career triple-doubles.
At the 15:04 mark of the second half, CMU took its first lead, 34-33, on a Lorreal Jones layup.
The Chippewas took the lead for good, 53-51, on freshman Cassandra Breen's three-pointer with 4:03 left. That ignited a 7-0 Chippewa run -- Bradford hit back-to-back buckets during the spurt -- after which CMU had its largest lead of the 57-51.
Richmond closed to within one, 57-56, but Jas'Mine Bracey went a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line over the final 25 seconds to ice the victory.
The Chippewas finished 17-for-28 from the line including 14-for-23 in the second half. Da'Jourie Turner got to the line 12 times, all of which came in a five-minute span in the second half, shooting 9-of-12. All nine of Turner's points came from the charity stripe.
The Chippewas out-rebounded the Spiders 50-42 and scored 18 points off Richmond's miscues.
CMU plays Oregon in its second and final game of the tournament Friday at 9 p.m.
