Central Michigan University
Akron
CMU Drops Close One to Akron
1/24/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jared Porter, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Coming off a 20-point loss to Ohio last Saturday, their second-highest marginal loss of the season, the Chippewas bounced back with a better performance. But in the end, it would not be enough to get back on the winning side.
The Central Michigan women's basketball team fell to Akron at McGuirk Arena on Saturday afternoon, 74-72, marking its second-straight Mid-American Conference loss and dropping its record to 9-8 overall, 4-2 in conference play.
It was CMU's first loss to a MAC opponent on its home court since February, 2013, when Ball State topped the Chippewas, 67-63. The defending MAC-Tournament champion Zips are 15-3, 5-2.
"I read in the paper that January of 2012 was the last time that we had lost a game in January (prior to this season)," coach Sue Guevara said. "Now we have lost two. Understand that this is a different team. It's not the end of the world. We're 4-2 in conference and we have a long way to go.
"I think that in a tight game that you lose by two, you can't go 3-for-9 from the free throw line. We've been shooting the ball better from the line, but we did not tonight."
Akron's 20 points off transition was another factor that led to the Chippewas' defeat, Guevara said, adding that the Chippewas' defense struggled to get up and down the floor in stretches throughout the game.
"We knew (Hannah) Plybon could shoot the ball and we knew (Sina King) could shoot the ball," Guevara said of two Zips that combined for 40 points Saturday. "With those kids, even in transition, you have to know what toothpaste they're using. You have to get up there, and we struggled doing that."
CMU was behind, 70-61, with 4:25 remaining, but erased the deficit with an 11-2 run to forge a 72-72 tie with 43 seconds left. The Zips reclaimed the lead with a two-point basket on their next possession, making the score 74-72 with 17 seconds to go.
Out of a CMU timeout, Crystal Bradford dribbled the clock down before missing on a potential game-tying drive in heavy traffic. King grabbed the rebound for Akron and called a quick timeout with 1.9 seconds left.
All the Zips had to do was inbounds the ball and run off the remaining time. But airtight CMU defense forced a 5-second violation during the inbound attempt, giving possession and life to CMU. Guevara called another timeout to draw up a final play to tie or win the game.
CMU inbounded to Jas'Mine Bracey under the hoop, but a swarm of Zip defenders forced her to miss the shot from close range as time expired, giving Akron the victory in nail-biting fashion.
CMU's final play was drawn so that the inbound passer would have the option of passing to an open three-point shooter or Bracey down on the block. However, the three-point option was erased when the shooter failed to get open off a screen, Guevara said.
"Our three-point shooter, who could have been open, was not open," Guevara said. "But Jas'Mine did get down (to the block). I thought we still had a decent amount of time on the clock to catch and get it up, but it was just kind of a hurried shot."
Senior guard Kerby Tamm tied her career-best with six three-pointers -- a feat she has accomplished four times in her career. She also tied her career-high in points with 20. She finished at 7-for-11 (63.6 percent) shooting, while adding four rebounds.
"I think as a shooter, you just always have to come out ready to shoot the ball," said Tamm, who, like most of the Chippewas, had struggled with outside shooting in recent games. "I know that if I miss, I'm expecting the next two to go in. I think my teammates found me well on the perimeter, so credit to them. I just have to keep building off it."
Freshman forward Tinara Moore had her best game in a CMU uniform, posting career-highs in points and rebounds (12 each) and blocks (five).
"I was pretty active, but it was my team that was getting shots up so that I could rebound the ball. Just being physical was the key, and confidence," Moore said.
"I thought (Moore) gave us good minutes," Guevara said. "That's what we need. We have to go inside, we have to. And with (Moore), she got it and she was able to score. I thought she was a little tougher and she grew up today. It was really good for her confidence and it was really good for mine, to be quite honest with you."
Bradford, a senior guard, had an uncharacteristic game, going scoreless in the first half and finishing just 5-for-23 (21.7 percent) from the field. But she was still able to pick up her sixth double-double of the season and 50th of her career, with 10 points and 13 rebounds.
Bradford brought her career rebounding total to 1,099, passing Julie Roberts, who totaled 1,089 in 1978-81, as the all-time rebound leader in CMU history. She is the most prolific rebounder in school history, regardless of gender. Dan Roundfield, who went on to play in the NBA after wearing the maroon and gold from 1972-75, finished his collegiate career with 1,031 boards.
"Bradford did not shoot the ball well (tonight), and she has not shot the ball well in a minute," Guevara said. "But she set the all-time record for rebounds at CMU, and we're only six games into conference (schedule). So maybe she's not scoring (to her capability) right now, but she is doing some other things that we need.
"(Bradford) drives me out of my mind and I love her. I love the kid, I do. My job, and my staff's job, is to help her get better, and we will. Everybody in this room, for the most part, has seen her play and shoot the ball well.
"I thought about this earlier: What did Aaron Rodgers say when they (Green Bay Packers) lost their first two games (this season)? Relax, relax. So let's all just calm down and we'll get it together."
The Chippewas play host to Kent State (3-14, 1-5) on Wednesday (7 p.m.) at McGuirk.
