League Opener on tap for CMU Women
12/30/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Game Notes: Central Michigan
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
KENT, Ohio - Prove-it time starts now.
The Central Michigan women's basketball team, picked to win the Mid-American Conference in the preseason coaches poll, opens league play on Saturday (1 p.m.) at Kent State.
The Chippewas are 8-4 after Wednesday's 79-69 loss at Middle Tennessee State. Their nonconference slate included dates with then-No. 1 Notre Dame and Purdue of the Big Ten.
None of that matters now.
"It's done it's over and now here it comes," 10th-year CMU coach Sue Guevara said. "Now we're playing for a seed in the (MAC) Tournament. We need to focus on the first game, understanding the impact it's going to have on the last game we play."
The Chippewas stunned everybody a year ago, winning the MAC West and reaching the league tournament title game where they lost in overtime, on a buzzer-beater, to Buffalo.
The 2016-17 lineup is largely unchanged, but the expectations - at least those externally - are significantly higher than they were a year ago.
"Our kids know every time we step on the floor that we're going to get everybody's best game," Guevara said. "We want to change history. When was the last time whoever was picked to win the MAC won it?
"It's just about us improving, being better than the last time we were out and looking for consistency especially from our perimeter scorers."
The Golden Flashes are 6-6 under first-year coach Todd Starkey. They were picked to finish sixth in the MAC East after finishing 6-23 a year ago.
All five starters return, including senior Larissa Lurken, who averages a MAC-best 21.5 points per game and Jordan Korinek, a preseason All-MAC First Team selection. Korinek is second on the team at 11.7 points per game.
"This team has always played hard, but what they're doing so different right now is they are attacking the basket," Guevara said, pointing up the fact that the Golden Flashes have attempted 288 free throws this season, which ranks No. 1 in the MAC and 16th nationally. "You've got to keep them in front of you, get some help-side (defense), and understand personnel and matchups."
The Chippewas are among the most-balanced teams in the MAC with four players averaging between 11.4 and 14.3 points per game. Sophomore Reyna Frost leads the MAC and ranks ninth nationally at 11.3 rebounds per.
After their trip to Kent State, the Chippewas will play three straight conference games at McGuirk Arena, beginning with Akron on Wednesday, Jan. 4. On Saturday, Jan. 7, they play host to Buffalo.
"if we start thinking about the top of the mountain, we forget the steps we have to take to climb it," Guevara said. "It's just about Kent State today and what we have to do in this process of becoming champions, becoming a better basketball team. The biggest game we're going to play is (Saturday) and we just want to stay focused on that."
