Boilermakers Present Big Challenge for Chippewa Women
12/5/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Game Notes: Central Michigan | Purdue
Cullen Maksimowski, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- Is the Central Michigan women's basketball team firing on all cylinders yet? CMU coach Sue Guevara doesn't think they've come close.
That's an encouraging thought considering the Chippewas (6-2) are in the midst of a five-game win streak heading into a Tuesday nonconference matchup at Purdue (5-4).
"I like where we are, but we still have a way to go until (the Mid-American Conference season), which is good," Guevara said. "You look at all these different styles (of play) and the different sizes of the (nonconference) teams we're playing. That's what will get us ready."
CMU will run into another test on Tuesday in a hot Boilermaker team that has won four of its last five games. The lone loss in that stretch came to 10th-ranked Stanford, 78-69. Two of CMU's next three games against Big Ten teams. They play host to Illinois on Dec. 19.
"(Purdue) is bigger inside and they're athletic on the perimeter," Guevara said. "It will come down to our defense and rebounding. You can have a cold shooting night but if you have consistency on the defensive end and win the rebounding war, then you can stay in the game."
The Chippewas offense will have its hands full against a Purdue defense that ranks No. 3 in the Big Ten in points allowed at 58.1 per game.
"With the way that they defend, I think we'll need to move the ball and establish and inside-outside game like we've been able to do lately," Guevara said. "We want to make them play defense and look for the high-percentage shot."
Senior forward Jewel Cotton has been a model of consistency for Central Michigan through the early stages of the season.
Cotton, who is second on the team in scoring at 14.9 points per game and ranks No. 6 nationally with a .688 field goal percentage, credits her ability to slow the game down as major factor in her offensive efficiency.
"Being here five years has definitely been a test," she said. "I think each year you learn to slow it down when you're in game mode. The fastest teams and fastest players don't always make the best decisions.
"Coach always says that slow is smooth and smooth is fast so as long as I'm looking smooth, I think I'm doing pretty good."
Junior guard Cassie Breen leads CMU in scoring at 15.3 points per contest and in 3-point percentage (.388).
Sophomore guard Presley Hudson is averaging 13 points per game and leads the MAC with a .909 free-throw percentage.
Sophomore forward Reyna Frost has been the Chippewas' top performer on the glass, leading the MAC and ranking No. 7 nationally at 11.7 rebounds per game.
The Boilermakers are led by Ashley Morrissette, who averages 16.1 points per game.
After Tuesday's game, CMU returns home on Friday for another nonconference tilt, this one against Saint Joseph's (2-5) at 7 p.m.
