Central Michigan University
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Western Michigan
CMU Women Snap Losing Streak
2/21/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jared Porter, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Junior Da'Jourie Turner scored a career-high 23 points to lead the Central Michigan women's basketball team to a win over Western Michigan on Saturday, 63-51.
The victory snapped CMU's four-game losing streak, and improved its record to 12-13, 7-7 in the Mid-American Conference. Western is 16-9, 9-5.
The Chippewas were down eight points -- the largest deficit they faced in the game -- 41-33 at the 16-minute, 49-second mark of the second half.
But a 12-4 run by CMU tied the game at 45-45 with 9:27. From that point, the Chippewas finished the game with an 18-6 run to seal their first victory in over two weeks.
"It's been a minute since we ended a game with a smile," CMU coach Sue Guevara said. "I've been asking the team every game since the Eastern Michigan game to keep getting better. Keep the vision, focus on the process and let's get better every game.
"I thought we got better against Ball State (on Wednesday) and we lost. I thought we got better (Saturday) and we won." Senior Crystal Bradford played for the first time after missing three consecutive games with a knee injury. Her minutes were limited (22 overall) but she finished with eight crucial points late in the second half. She was 4-for-13 shooting overall.
"It was nice to have Crystal back on the floor, but understand that she only had eight points," Guevara said. "So it was nice to see other people that were able to finish."
The Chippewas shot 40.4 percent overall in the game and held the Broncos to 36.7 percent from the floor.
Senior Kerby Tamm notched a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Tamm's double-double was the second of her career.
"I think we have been having really good practices," Tamm said. "We were able to finally put everything together and come out with a win.
"I think the ball bounced my way a bit today, but I wanted to make sure I made good early rebounding positioning. Western is a really physical team, so I just had to focus on my positioning and controlling the boards as soon as I could."
"I could hear coach (Guevara's) voice throughout the game: `Attack! Attack!'" Turner said. "Just hearing that helped me today. I know that's one of my strengths, so that's what I did. I took open looks and finished."
Guevara said the play from her two guards, Turner and freshman Amani Corley, was a major factor in the win. The two combined to shoot 10-of-22 from the field and totaled 27 points.
"I have to give some props to my assistant coach Kristin Haynie, who has been working with (Turner and Corley) at the point guard position," Guevara said. "Haynie has been working with them day in and day out on attacking, using a screen and understanding change of speed and direction.
"I thought (Turner) came in and did all of that. Amani came in and was a little tentative but she ended on the attack. She ended with five shots, but for her, that's pretty good. If we can get that number to 10, it would be even better.
"It was a good win for us at a critical time that we have to be playing our best basketball in March. This is progress. We're trying not to get caught up in the outcome, but in the process instead."
CMU outrebounded Western, 45-35. Seniors Jas'Mine Bracey and Lorreal Jones notched eight boards apiece to lead the Chippewas. Bracey also had nine points on 4-for-6 shooting.
Junior Miracle Woods led the Broncos in scoring with 17 points on 8-of-14 shooting.
Next up, the Chippewas travel to Dekalb, Ill. to face Northern Illinois on Wednesday. CMU topped the Huskies in their previous matchup this season in Mount Pleasant, 56-43.
