Central Michigan University
NIU
Bradford Breaks 2,000-Point Barrier in CMU Loss
2/26/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jared Porter, CMUChippewas.com
DEKALB, Ill. - Senior Crystal Bradford breached 2,000 career points Wednesday evening, but the Central Michigan women's basketball team fell to Northern Illinois, 69-62.
The loss dropped CMU to 12-14, 7-8 in the Mid-American Conference. The Chippewas have lost five of their last six games.
A silver lining to the night was the impressive performance from Bradford who played in her second game since being sidelined with a knee injury for three consecutive contests.
Bradford exceeded the 2,000-point career milestone by finishing with 19 points on 7-for-15 shooting from the floor, including a 3-of-7 performance from three-point territory. She also had six rebounds.
With 2,006 total points in her career, Bradford is the 14th player in MAC history to reach the 2K-milestone, and the third to do it in a CMU uniform. Only two Chippewas, Melvin McLaughlin (2,071) and Dan Majerle (2,055), have ever scored more points.
"I think (Bradford) is getting herself back in shape," coach Sue Guevara said. "She still isn't moving as well as she was (before her injury), but that's just going to come with time.
"Scoring 2,000 points doesn't come often at this level and it's a special thing to do. With (Bradford), nobody is surprised she did it because we all know of her ability to score the basketball.
"What makes her even more special is that she's also great in other areas outside of scoring. She's either leading or ranking high in numerous (statistical) categories. And tonight we saw her reach another milestone, but the excitement in that was unfortunately spoiled a bit by the loss."
NIU led the Chippewas for more than 36 minutes in the game and its largest lead, 10 points, came with just over 11 minutes remaining. CMU cut the deficit to one, 55-54, on an Aleah Swary three-pointer with 3 minuts, 52 seconds remaining, but the Huskies closed the game on a 14-5 run.
"I thought it was one of the poorest defensive efforts that we've had," Guevara said of her team's effort in the second half that allowed NIU to shoot 48.1 percent from the floor.
"All of the things that we have been working on in practice as far as taking out the baseline went right out the door. You have to give (NIU) credit. They attacked the baseline, took shots on the baseline and we did not do what we needed to defensively."
The Huskies (11-14, 7-8) shot 43.1 percent overall in the game, including eight triple conversions out of 22 attempts. They were 11-for-12 from the free throw line as a team. Senior Amanda Corral did most of the damage in the category by knocking down 10-of-11.
Corral finished the game with a game-high 25 points.
Junior Da'Jourie Turner led the Chippewas offense with 20 points on 8-for-16 shooting. She went 4-of-4 from the line, part of a perfect 11-for-11 night for the Chippewas.
The Chippewas held a 34-31 rebounding advantage with senior Jas'Mine Bracey pulling down a team-high eight. She also scored seven points.
Three regular-season games remain for the Chippewas, with their next coming at Toledo (16-10, 9-6 MAC) on Saturday.
Toledo topped CMU, 61-46, in their previous meeting this year in Mount Pleasant.
