CMU Women Look to Rebound on Friday vs. Furman
11/17/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Cullen Maksimowski, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- The ability to have a short-term memory is a very popular concept in how a team should respond to a blowout loss.
It's a concept the Central Michigan women's basketball team will need to employ this weekend as it looks to forget a season-opening 107-47 loss at No.1-ranked Notre Dame last weekend in the first round of the Preseason WNIT.
"Notre Dame is the number one team in the country for a reason because they're really good," CMU coach Sue Guevara said. "It's over though and now we get to play our next three games at home."
The Chippewas begin their home stretch on Friday as they play host to Furman in round two of the Preseason WNIT at 7 p.m. at McGuirk Arena. Elon and Eastern Washington play a 4:30 p.m. game Friday at McGuirk.
The tournament concludes on Saturday. CMU will play the 7 p.m. game against either Elon or Eastern Washington. The 4:30 p.m. game features Furman against either Elon or Eastern Washington.
Guevara, who is her 10th season in charge of the CMU program, has brought a consistent winning culture to the program and a noticeable home court advantage over the years. She expects that to factor in to the way her team plays on Friday.
"We have great fans that are so loyal and appreciative of the hard work that the kids put out on the floor," she said. "Our players love playing here, it's a nice atmosphere and brings a comfortability level to our game."
Last week's loss to the Fighting Irish revealed the Chippewas are far from where they want to be, but it's important not to lose sight of the potential that surrounds their season, Guevara said.
CMU is the defending Mid-American Conference West champion. The Chippewas finished 22-11 a year ago, missing out on an NCAA Tournament berth with a heartbreaking 73-71 overtime loss to Buffalo in the MAC Tournament championship game.
The Chippewas were picked as favorites in the preseason MAC poll and return all but one of their starting five.
Central Michigan's star-studded lineup features the likes of Presley Hudson, Cassie Breen, Reyna Frost, Tinara Moore and Jewel Cotton.
Hudson was named MAC Freshman of the Year in 2015-16, Moore earned a spot on the All-MAC Second Team and All-Defensive Team. Hudson was also named to the second team. Frost made the All-Freshman squad.
Cotton was named Co-Sixth Player of the year and Breen was CMU's best sharpshooter, finishing third in the conference in 3-point percentage last season.
The Chippewas also possess a deep bench with key role players and scoring threats such as Jasmine Harris and Aleah Swary.
As CMU looks to move forward and make the most of their potential this season, the word communication is often used by Guevara as a critical component in meshing the team together and has been a main focus in this week's preparation.
"I told my coaching staff today that I didn't want anyone talking (to the players)," she said after a practice this week. "I want see if this team, the five that were out there, if they will start to talk to one another.
"If there is one thing on this team that is our Achilles heel, it's our lack of communication and that has to get better."
In the early stages of the season in has been Breen that has been the most vocal in communicating with her teammates.
"When (Breen) is on the floor, she's always going to talk so that has spurred it a little bit, but when she's off the floor, it's been tough," Guevara said. "There comes a point where I can only say so much and then it has to be on them."
Friday's matchup with Furman offers a much more reasonable test for the Chippewas, but is far from a walk in the park
The Paladins, who finished 14-15 last season and lost in the semifinals of the Southern Conference Tournament, fell to Fordham, 60-47, in their WNIT opener.
Eastern Washington fell to 17th-ranked Washington, 100-52, in its WNIT opener. Elon (1-1) fell to Green Bay, 71-56, in its WNIT opener. It bounced back with a 66-54 win over Rutgers on Monday.
