Central Michigan University Athletics
CMU Women Look to Remain Unbeaten in MAC
1/13/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jared Porter, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - When adversity reared its ominous head into the Chippewas' season, they responded well and found success. Now, it's about sustaining that success.
The Central Michigan women's basketball team is a perfect 3-0 in Mid-American Conference play despite losing starting point guard Jessica Green to a season-ending knee injury suffered against Dayton just four games ago.
Filling the void of a player like Green -- who averaged 13 points, 3.0 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game -- is no easy task. So where has the production been coming from for the Chippewas since Green's absence?
"Right now, our inside game," coach Sue Guevara said. "We've been able to adjust without Jess (Green) because Jas'Mine Bracey is shooting 80 percent from the floor in MAC play and Lorreal (Jones) is shooting 66 percent from the floor (in MAC play). We've been able to get penetration and get people to finish, those two in particular."
Bracey, senior, is averaging 15.3 points and 8.7 rebounds per game in MAC play. Jones, also a senior, totaled a career-high 12 rebounds along with 11 points Saturday in CMU's victory over Northern Illinois.
"Ree-Ree (Turner) understands what she has to do," Guevara said, referring to Da'Jourie Turner, who has taken over as the starting point guard. "I have challenged both Ree-Ree and Amani (Corley). The part of Jess' game that we need them both to bring to the table is that short jumper in the paint. Jess has a beautiful jumper in the paint and that's what we need them to do, to look to score that, to look to shoot that because they can get in there. Now we just need them to finish."
The Chippewas look to extend their unbeaten streak in MAC play as they travel to Oxford, Ohio to take on Miami (3-11 overall, 0-3 MAC) on Wednesday, before heading down the road to Athens for a Saturday matchup with Ohio (11-3, 2-1).
"Any time you're at home, you're in your comfort zone," coach Sue Guevara said. "My pillow feels a lot better than some of the hotel pillows, so I know I get a good night's sleep. We can control the menu a little bit more here.
"But it's the same thing. It's a basketball court, it's 94 feet, the rims are 10-feet high. The goal is to win the next game, and that's on Wednesday."
Winning has been the familiar outcome for the Chippewas in conference play thus far, but the fact still remains that CMU has had its struggles. One of those struggles being perimeter shooting. They have gone a combined 4-for-39 from three-point range in their last two games, both of which have been played at McGuirk Arena.
"It's not a secret," Guevara said. "Our three-point shooters have been struggling, which really surprises you because you're at home. Again, we've found other ways to score. We've had other people who have picked up the scoring. Kerby Tamm is probably one of our best, most consistent three-point shooters and I said this before, we're getting really good looks. It's not like the shot selection is bad, it's good.
"I'm not going to beat a dead horse. They both (Tamm and Casandra Breen) know what they have to do. I asked them to take a day off to rest their legs. I think I'm playing Kerby too many minutes and I think she gets tired in the second half and a lot of her shots are short.
"I've challenged our bench. A lot of the challenge is for someone (on the bench) to give me some confidence so that I can put them in in the second half. It's not like they have to be a three-point shooters, but they do have to put in a couple of baskets for us, rebound and defend."
Guevara drew a comparison to Ohio State football with regard to some of her younger players, such as Amani Corley, stepping up.
"Cardale Jones, third-string quarterback, led (Ohio State) to a national championship," Guevara said. "It's like, `That's the opportunity you have when you're ready.' And that's what I have been challenging our bench: `You have this opportunity now. I'm asking you, show me what you can do.' I can't play Jas'Mine 38 minutes and CB (Crystal Bradford) 38 minutes; it's going to be tough for us to win a championship if I can only rely on six players.
The Chippewas' next opponent, Miami, is on the other end of the spectrum in regards to recent success. The RedHawks have lost three consecutive games. They average just 55.5 points per game while giving up 67.6.
Miami has a well-balanced attack with six players averaging at least 6.7 points, but their scoring leader, Baleigh Reid, leads the team with a mark of just 9.6.
Wednesday's tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
