Central Michigan University
Middle Tennessee State
CMU Women Fall Short at Middle Tennessee
12/28/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Alex Johnson scored a career-high 30 points Wednesday as Middle Tennessee held off Central Michigan, 79-69, in a nonconference women's basketball game at the Lady Raiders' Murphy Center.
Tinara Moore scored 16 points and Reyna Frost added 15 to lead the Chippewas (8-4), who saw their win streak end at two games. CMU opens Mid-American Conference play on Saturday, Dec. 31, at Kent State (6-6). Tipoff is set for 1 p.m.
Presley Hudson and Jewel Cotton added 10 points apiece for the Chippewas, who trailed by 13 points late in the third quarter and were still down 11, 67-56, midway through the fourth.
CMU whittled its deficit to two, 71-69, on a Cotton layup with 1:33 to play. Cotton then made a steal, but the Chippewas failed to convert. Middle Tennessee (5-6) made all eight of its free throw attempts over the final 1:12 to hold off the Chippewas.
The Lady Raiders made 21 of their 23 free throw attempts on the night (91.3 percent). They entered the game making 72.8 percent of their charity tosses on the season. CMU was 9-for-15 from the line and was outrebounded, 36-29.
Frost led the Chippewas with eight rebounds and Hudson had six assists.
Cotton, a senior forward, came off the bench to add three rebounds in 19 minutes before fouling out. She missed CMU's previous game with an ankle injury.
Johnson, a 6-foot sophomore, was 12-for-20 from the floor and shared team-high honors with seven rebounds. Ty Petty added 21 points for Middle Tennessee.
