Central Michigan University
Kent State
Hudson Pours in 36, Chippewas Win MAC Opener
12/31/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
KENT, Ohio - Presley Hudson earned the Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year Award in 2015-16.
The first MAC game of her sophomore year was more than enough to validate that honor.
Hudson hit eight 3-pointers en route to a career-high 36 points on Saturday in sparking the Chippewas to a 91-78 victory over Kent State in CMU's Mid-American Conference opener.
Tinara Moore tied her season-high with 20 points, Cassie Breen had 17, and Jewel Cotton added nine points and a game-high 10 rebounds as CMU improved to 9-4.
The Chippewas return to Mount Pleasant for their next three games, all MAC contests, beginning with Akron on Wednesday, Jan. 4. On Saturday, Jan. 7, CMU plays host to Buffalo, which defeated the Chippewas in overtime in the MAC Tournament championship game last March.
Hudson, who also dished out five assists, was 8-for-11 from 3-point range as the Chippewas made a season-best 52.5 percent of their triple tries (12-for-23). Hudson made 13 of her 19 field goal attempts overall.
"I thought she was much more aggressive shooting the basketball, and I think she even passed up three or four shots," CMU coach Sue Guevara said. "She had a couple layups today, she had a couple of floaters. She has a lot of weapons in her arsenal."
Larissa Lurken, the MAC's leading scorer, finished with 29 points for the Golden Flashes (6-7).
Lurken hit a 3-pointer to complete a 10-0 run that tied the game 43-43 with just under seven minutes to play in the third quarter. After a CMU timeout, the Chippewas went on a 17-5 spurt to take a 60-48 lead with under two minutes to play in the quarter.
Kent State never got closer than eight points the rest of the way. CMU's lead remained in double digits throughout the fourth quarter.
"Coming out of halftime they just punched us in the mouth," Guevara said. "They just went after us, but I thought we responded very well by going after them.
"It was nice to see that we could withstand the attacking that Kent State did with Reyna Frost with four fouls, Jewel Cotton with four fouls, Cassie Breen with four fouls and see other kids step up. Aleah Swary, Amani Corley, Jaeda Robinson."
