Central Michigan University Athletics
Moving-Forward Chippewas Host Buffalo
1/6/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - It isn't what happens that makes all the difference, but how you respond.
The Central Michigan women's basketball team, which plays its Mid-American Conference home opener Wednesday against Buffalo (7-5), has been down this road before.
Still, that doesn't make it an easier, and the emotional toll is perhaps as devastating as what may or may not eventually play out on the court.
Senior Jessica Green is out for the season with a knee injury, the second season-ending such injury after starting forward Jewel Cotton was lost in the fourth game of the year.
"There's a fear factor that goes with it," CMU coach Sue Guevara said. "It's like, `Oh no, not again,' or `Here we go again,' or `Is it going to happen to me?'
"So I think all those thoughts go through your head and you think about how devastating it is for Jess. This senior class has, obviously, very high expectations and she was a big part of that. And now it's gone (for her) and she won't have that opportunity again.
"She's going to be a part of our team. She'll always be a part of our team, we're dedicating this to her. But she still won't be at the free throw line and that's hard, that's tough. That's really tough."
CMU started the season a veteran-laden and deep group, but without Green and Cotton, that depth will be tested the rest of the way.
And, if the Chippewas, the favorite to win the MAC championship, are to live up to expectations, the youngsters will have to contribute immediately, particularly in the backcourt.
Junior Da'Jourie Turner has been Green's understudy for the past two years. She drew the start, and tied her career-high with 15 points, when the Chippewas opened MAC play on Saturday with an 83-62 win at Kent State.
She made five of her eight field goal attempts, was 4-for-4 from the free throw line, and dished out five assists.
"I thought she was very poised against Kent State," Guevara said. "She had a really good (statistical) line.
"She didn't force things. She took what the defense was giving her, she created for other people and that's what she has to do. I don't think pressure is the right word for Ree. I think Ree-Ree is really embracing the challenge that is ahead of her."
Turner is no stranger to the court. She has been in the rotation since coming to CMU three years ago, but she will obviously take on an increasingly important role. She entered the Kent State game averaging about 14 minutes per game, and logged 32 against the Flashes.
"Big shoes to fill of course," Turner said. "I just try to keep my composure, not think a lot and let my game naturally flow and that's helped me a lot.
"Me and Jess have talked a lot. She's mentored me a lot. I've taken what I've learned from her so far and try to transfer it to my game. It's working out pretty good so far."
Not only has Turner been a regular on the court for the Chippewas for most of her collegiate career, she has played AAU ball with current teammates Crystal Bradford and Jas'Mine Bracey since before they were teen-agers.
"What I don't see, they're always in my ear telling me what I'm not seeing," Turner said.
Freshman Amani Corley will also see increased playing time behind Turner.
"Amani Corley, she's got to perform," Guevara said. "She doesn't have time to be a freshman. She doesn't have time to be making the same mistakes that she was making a month ago.
"She's as strong as an ox, and she can create things, but she's still got to get that competitive drive. I still need to see that extra drive in her because I can't play Ree-Ree 40 minutes and I told Amani that."
Buffalo, which was picked to win the MAC East, dropped its league opener on Saturday at home against Ohio, 61-50. Kristen Sharkey, Alexus Malone and Mackenzie Loesing are averaging 12 points or better to lead the Bulls, who had won of six before falling to the Bobcats.
Bradford, who has been named the MAC West player of the week in each of the past three weeks, leads the league in scoring at 20.9 points per game and is fourth in rebounding (8.7).
