Central Michigan University
Eastern Michigan
Chippewas Drop Home Finale, 93-86 to EMU
3/7/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- Offensively, the Chippewas were on.
Despite five Chippewas scoring in double figures, Central Michigan (12-17, 7-17 MAC) fell to Eastern Michigan (18-10, 11-7 MAC) in the last regular-season game of the year, 93-86.
It was the final home game for five CMU seniors: Jas'Mine Bracey, Lorreal Jones and Kerby Tamm, along with Crystal Bradford and Jessica Green who both ended their Chippewa careers due to injuries.
Jones led the Chippewas' scoring with a career-high 23 points on a 92-percent shooting day (11-of-12) and she pulled down seven rebounds.
Bracey recorded her sixth double-double of the season scoring 17 points and grabbing 18 rebounds.
"Our post players played really well together," CMU coach Sue Guevara said. "They passed the ball to each other well. We did a nice job of going inside-out. Jas'Mine finished with six assists. She was looking at open shooters when she was double teamed."
Freshman Aleah Swary scored in double digits for the third time in six games, tallying 15 points for CMU, all coming from behind the arc.
Cassandra Breen had the hot hand to start the game, scoring 12 points in the first 10 minutes. The freshman shot 57 percent from downtown (4-of-7). Breen left the game midway through the first half with an injury and did not return.
In her final home game as a Chippewa, Tamm became just the third player in program history to make 200 triples. She went 4-of-8 from 3-point range, finishing with 12 points. She is third in program history with 203 three-point field goals.
"Eastern did a good job of denying me in the first half," Tamm said. "Our freshmen did a good job of hitting shots to keep us in the game. My teammates were finding me in the second half and I was able to hit a few shots."
Breen, Swary and Tamm made a combined 13 triples. Amani Corley added one to give CMU 14 on the day, a season-high.
Eastern Michigan scored 20 points off Central Michigan's miscues as the Chippewas committed 23 turnovers, tying a season-high. CMU turned the ball over 23 times against then-No. 1 South Carolina earlier this season.
"They get into the passing lanes well," said senior Kerby Tamm. "They are a scrappy team. We had a strong day offensively, but when you have 23 turnovers, that's going to hurt you."
At the half, the game was deadlocked at 44-all. Central Michigan shot 58 percent in the first half (14-of-24) and 8-of-15 from 3-point range in the first 20 minutes.
"We had to weather the storm," Guevara said. "They punched us, so we punched back. It was a game of runs, but when it came down the stretch, they made plays we couldn't make."
The Chippewas had their largest lead of the game, six points, 82-76 with 4:10 left to play. The Eagles swung the momentum back in their direction, closing out the game on a 17-4 run.
Janay Morton led the Eagles with 34 points, while Cha Sweeney added 20 for Eastern Michigan.
"Even though we lost, we saw what we can do when we are all contributing," Bracey said. "We still have a high energy that we are going to bring Monday."
The Chippewas head to DeKalb, Ill. to take on Northern Illinois in the first round of the MAC Tournament on Monday.
Central Michigan and Northern Illinois split their two regular-season meetings. Most recently, the Chippewas fell to the Huskies in DeKalb, 69-62.
Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 (ET), the game will be broadcast on ESPN3.
