Central Michigan University
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Western Michigan
CMU Women Rally, But Fall at Western
2/7/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jared Porter, CMUChippewas.com
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Opportunities come and go, and this one slipped away.
That is all coach Sue Guevara and her Central Michigan women's basketball team can take away from their 69-64 loss at Western Michigan on Saturday afternoon.
A victory would have put the Chippewas in the top spot in the Mid-American Conference West. Instead, they are 6-4 in conference play (11-10 overall) and 1 1/2 games back of Western Michigan (15-7, 8-3 MAC) in the division.
CMU was down by as many as 17 points but managed to claw back to tie the Broncos, 61-61, with 4:49 to play. From that point, the Chippewas went 1-for-9 shooting to close out the game, allowing Western to end the contest on an 8-3 run.
"I thought we lost this game in the first half," Guevara said. "You're down 40-25 and basically, where was the defense in the first half that we saw in the second half?
"Quite frankly, when (Crystal) Bradford goes 8-for-22 (shooting), we aren't going to win very many ballgames. We have to live and die with Bradford right now. The thing is that she doesn't get to practice. I've got to rest her because of her (surgically repaired) knee, so it's tough for her o get her rhythm. And she really doesn't get it going until the second half."
The Chippewas shot 39.3 percent from the floor in the game and finished a season-best 47.1 percent (8-for-17) from three-point range. While the offense struggled overall, Guevara said she was happy to see the success with the three ball in light of their recent struggles in that area.
Bradford led CMU with 18 points. Da'Jourie Turner and Kerby Tamm chipped in 16 and 11 points, respectively. Tamm had three triples on five attempts.
"(Turner) came in and she was steady," Guevara said, adding that she was getting to the basket frequently and has played great minutes in recent games.
The Chippewas had 12 turnovers in the game, 10 of which came in the first half. Cleaning it up in the ball-handling department was a major factor in their ability to make a second-half charge.
"It wasn't so much that we made any adjustments at halftime as much as it was utilizing better angles with our passing," Guevara said. "We started to do a better job passing the basketball, coming to meet the basketball and understanding who to throw the basketball to; what they can handle and what they can't."
Western held a 40-33 rebounding edge. Jas'Mine Bracey finished with eight points and a team-high rebounds for the Chippewas.
Miracle Woods totaled 27 points on 9-for-12 shooting from the field and 9-of-10 at the free throw line to lead Western. She also tallied a game-high 14 rebounds.
"The numbers (for Woods) speak for themselves," Guevara said. "Considering the size that we have, actually, it is quite disappointing that we didn't do a better job of containing her."
The Chippewas have a three-day break from action until they return to McGuirk Arena for a MAC game with Toledo Wednesday, Feb. 11.
