Central Michigan University Athletics
Too-Generous Chippewas Fall, 64-61
12/15/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - The Central Michigan women's basketball team committed a season-high 20 turnovers Monday in its 64-61 non-conference loss to Memphis at McGuirk Arena.
None proved more costly than the last.
Loysha Morris stripped the ball from Chippewa point guard Da'Jourie Turner and drove for a contested bucket with 7 seconds remaining to break a 61-all tie and send CMU to its fourth consecutive loss.
"It's disappointing," said Central Michigan coach Sue Guevara, whose team went scoreless after seizing a 61-56 lead on a Turner layup with just over six minutes to play. "We had the ball with 16 seconds (remaining) on our sideline, and we had two open shooters that didn't get the ball.
"Consequently we lost the ball and they scored and that's the ball game. But it came down to the turnovers. That's what it has come down to the last couple games."
Ariel Hearn scored 18 points to lead the Tigers (5-5), who are coached by Melissa McFerrin, a CMU assistant from 1984-90.
Tinara Moore scored 13 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead the Chippewas (4-4), while Reyna Frost and Cassie Breen each finished with 11 points and eight boards.
It was the first career start for Frost, a 6-foot freshman.
CMU outrebounded the Tigers, 46-31, including a 17-8 edge on the offensive glass. But the turnovers coupled with the fact that CMU went ice cold during crunch time added up to a frustrating loss.
"Just a very disappointing loss," said Guevara, whose team went 0-for-9 from the floor and turned the ball over three times in the final 5:33. "I told our team that I feel like I'm a broken record when it comes to the turnovers.
"Turnovers are killing us right now. We've lost four in a row. Three out of the four have been (due to) our inability to take care of the ball. And we're talking very basic fundamentals."
