Central Michigan University
Miami (Oh)
CMU Women Grind Past Miami
1/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jared Porter, CMUChippewas.com
OXFORD, Ohio - Another Mid-American Conference grinder, another victory. It was business as usual.
The Central Michigan women's basketball team topped Miami (Ohio) Wednesday, 60-54, behind an impressive double-double performance from senior Crystal Bradford who totaled 22 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, four blocks and two steals.
CMU coach Sue Guevara earned the 250th win of her career, and in doing so, improved her Chippewas to 4-0 in MAC play.
The Chippewas (9-6) had their struggles offensively -- ending the game at 21-for-57 (36.8 percent) shooting from the field, 4-for-14 (25 percent) from three-point range -- but their stifling defense held the Redhawks to just 16-of-59 (27.1 percent) shooting overall.
The Chippewas finished with a 49-38 rebounding edge.
"We've been grinding out wins because our offense has been sputtering, but our defense has held us in there," Guevara said. "If we can keep winning games because of our defense and our rebounding, then we're going to win more games.
"I've said this to my players time and time again: `The offense will come. It's just the margin of score may be larger (once that happens).'"
The Chippewas held just a 25-22 halftime lead despite holding the RedHawks to 6-of-31 (19.4 percent) shooting from the field over the first 20 minutes. CMU had the clear shooting advantage in the first half, going 11-for-26 (42.3 percent), but Miami kept the game close by holding a 24-19 rebounding advantage. Miami also made seven of its 10 first-half free throw attempts, while the Chippewas were just 1-of-4 from the charity stripe during that span.
"We went into halftime and held them to (19.4) percent shooting, but only had a (three-point) lead," Guevara said. "We were being outrebounded on the offensive glass, 8-1. But we came out in the second half and ended with 17 offensive rebounds.
"I thought we were being a little bit more patient offensively (in the second half). We only end up with 22 points in the paint and we've been averaging anywhere from 38 to 40. But I have to give credit to Miami for that man-to-man (defense), just packing it in."
CMU recorded 30 rebounds in the second half. Bradford finished with 15 boards, and seniors Lorreal Jones and Jas'Mine Bracey recorded 10 apiece.
It marked the fifth double-double of the season for Bradford, a senior and the reigning MAC player of the year, and the 49th of her career.
Junior Da'Jourie Turner was successful in filling the void of injured teammate Jessica Green, finishing with 13 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Senior Kerby Tamm added 12 points, making four of her eight triple tries.
Courtney Larson led Miami (3-12, 0-4) with 18 points, while Kayla Brown went 5-for-7 from downtown and finished with 17 point.
Next up, the Chippewas travel to Athens, Ohio for a MAC matchup with Ohio (12-3, 3-1) on Saturday, Jan. 17. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.
