Central Michigan University Athletics
Game Notes: Chippewas Host Western Michigan on Senior Day
3/4/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Central Michigan (19-9, 15-1 MAC) vs. Western Michigan (12-15, 8-8 MAC)
Wednesday, March 5 | 7 p.m.
Mount Pleasant, Mich. | McGuirk Arena
Broadcast Information
Live Audio: www.cmuchippewas.com
Radio: 91.5 wmhw-fm; Jared Sandler (play-by-play), Matt Pocket (color) and Jim Costa (host)
Live Stats: CMUChippewas.com | Twitter: @CMUWBBall | Facebook: /CMUWBBall
| Probable Starters (Based on previous game) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | Name | | | Ht. | | | | Yr. | | | | GP-GS | | | | PPG | | | | RPG | | | | Other |
| G | | 3 | | | | Jessica Green | | | 5-10 | | | | Jr. | | | | 28-25 | | | | 11.4 | | | | 2.5 | | | | 3.9 APG |
| G | | 12 | | | | Kerby Tamm | | | 5-10 | | | | Jr. | | | | 28-28 | | | | 7.4 | | | | 4.0 | | | | 57 3FGM |
| G | | 23 | | | | Crystal Bradford | | | 6-0 | | | | Jr. | | | | 27-18 | | | | 20.4 | | | | 12.0 | | | | 4.4 APG |
| G | | 24 | | | | Niki DiGuilio | | | 5-8 | | | | Sr. | | | | 28-28 | | | | 13.3 | | | | 1.9 | | | | 90 3FGM |
| F | | 32 | | | | Jas'Mine Bracey | | | 6-2 | | | | Jr. | | | | 28-28 | | | | 11.3 | | | | 10.5 | | | | 0.8 BPG |
CMU Hoops Quick Hitters
• CMU has clinched a top-2 seed in the upcoming MAC Tournament. If CMU and BGSU both finish with just one loss, a coin flip will determine the top seed.
• The Chippewas matched the program record for points in a half with 68 in the first half of their first meeting versus Western.
• Senior Crystal Bradford earned her eighth MAC West Player of the Week honor Monday.
• CMU is a perfect 10-0 at home and can clinch a undefeated home record for the first time since 1983-84 with a win.
Home Sweet Home
CMU will play its final home game of the season Wednesday looking to secure its the second undefeated home record in program history. The Chippewas are 10-0 inside McGuirk Arena this season. The 1983-84 team went a perfect 12-0 inside Rose Arena.
Senior Steps Up
Taylor Johnson made the most of her last visit to Toledo, scoring a season-high 23 points on 5-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc to help CMU erase a second-half deficit and claim an 80-77 victory. Johnson moved past Lisa Zodtner (1980-83) and Angel Chan (2006-09) into 19th all time on the CMU scoring list with 1,082 career points.
If the Tournament Started Today...
...Central Michigan and Bowling Green would flip a coin to determine the top seed. The Chippewas have secured a top-2 seed and a bye to the semifinals of the tournament and will not play until Friday, March 14. Western Michigan is currently the No. 5 seed and would host a first-round matchup versus Kent State.
Bracey on the Block
Junior Jas’Mine Bracey controlled the paint unlike ever before versus Ball State, pulling down a career-high 21 rebounds and scoring 11 points for her 12th double-double of the season. The 21 rebounds tied the fourth most in a single game in CMU history.
Bradford Does It Again
Junior Crystal Bradford matched her career highs of 36 points and five three-point field goals in the win over Ball State and scored 23 points with 12 rebounds versus Toledo earn her eighth MAC West Player of the Week honor on Monday. CMU has now claimed 10 of the last 11 MAC West Player of the Week honors.
Oh Yeah, She Can Dish It Too
Bradford also moved into the top 10 for career assists as she now ranks No. 10 all time with 293 helpers. The junior already ranks in the top 10 all time in points, rebounds, steals, blocks, assists and three-point field goals.
How the West Was WonWith two games remaining in the regular season, CMU has already clinched its first MAC West division title in program history. The Chippewas are 15-1 in conference play and have outscored their opponents by 14.6 points per game. CMU is already guaranteed a top-2 seed at the MAC Tournament.
Double-Double Trouble
Junior Jas’Mine Bracey has joined her classmate Crystal Bradford as a double-double machine, posting at least 10 points and 10 boards in eight of the last 11 games and a total of 12 times this season. Bradford and Bracey are the only two players in the league averaging double figures in points and rebounds.
Beyond the Arc
Senior Niki DiGuilio is the program leader with 278 career three-point field goals and is now just three triples shy of setting the CMU single season record set by Angel Chan (2008-09). Chan made 92 that season and DiGuilio is already second on the single-season list with 90 this season.
One of 12 with Four 1,000-point Scorers
Central Michigan became just the 12th program in NCAA history to feature four different 1,000-point scorers on its’ roster when junior Jessica Green reached the milestone versus Ball State last Thursday.
Rare Company
Junior Crystal Bradford is one of just two players in the country currently leading her team in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks per game. Only seven other players lead their team in four of the five statistical categories.
Bradford Named to Watch List
The Detroit, Mich., product was one of 16 guards named to the Dawn Staley Award Watch List. The award is given to the top guard in the country that best exemplifies the career of Staley. Skylar Diggans of Notre Dame won the inaugural award last season.
Three-Point Streaks to Watch
The Chippewas have made at least one three-point field goal in all 213 games coached under head coach Sue Guevara. DiGuilio also enters Saturday’s game with streak of 33 consecutive games with at least one made shot from behind the arc.
None Tougher
No team in the country played a non-conference schedule as tough as Central Michigan according to the Jeff Sagarin/CBN Women’s College Basketball Rankings. CMU played three top-25 opponents, while 10 of its’ 12 games were against 2013 postseason teams.
