Central Michigan University
Ball State
Another Thriller, Another Win For CMU Women
2/24/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Cullen Maksimowski, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- When Central Michigan women's basketball coach Sue Guevara took the microphone for her regular postgame message to the fans on Wednesday at McGuirk Arena, she thanked them for weathering the snowstorm and showing their support.
Weathering the storm is exactly what the Chippewas did on the court, fending off a last-second shot by Ball State's Nathalie Fontaine to claim a 67-66 Mid-American Conference victory.
"I was very happy and grateful for the people that came out tonight," Guevara said in her post-game press conference. "When we went into the locker room with 20 minutes (before tipoff) I think I counted 32 people (in the stands), and we end up with (1,272) on an awful weather day and for that I am so appreciative."
The Chippewas improve to 18-8 overall, 12-3 in league play and regain a two-game lead in the MAC West Division. Ball State and Toledo, both 10-5 in conference games, share second place.
CMU goes to Western Michigan on Saturday (2 p.m.) needing a win to wrap up a share of the division title.
CMU started fast on offense, outscoring the Cardinals, 20-15 in the first quarter and held a 13-point lead midway through the second.
Ball State battled back in the second half, opening with a 7-0 run to keep pace. The second half featured 10 lead changes and three ties.
Ball State climbed within one point with 8 seconds left in the game and forced a CMU turnover on the inbound pass to set up the potential game-winning opportunity for the Cardinals.
"At that point right there, when they're down by 1, you can easily fold," Guevara said. "That's where the mental toughness has to come in and that's what I thought we buckled down with."
CMU finished the game shooting 38.5 percent from the field including a 4-for-21 clip from 3-point range. At 19 percent, it was the Chippewas' second-worst 3-point percentage of the season. They held a 41-32 advantage on the glass.
Sophomore guard Cassie Breen led CMU, totaling 22 points and was effective in drawing contact, finishing a perfect 7-of-7 from the charity stripe. Breen hit her final two attempts with 12 seconds left which sealed the win.
"I actually like going to the free throw line because I don't get to go there too often," said Breen, who is 21-for-21 from the charity stripe in her last five games and is shooting 92 percent from the line on the season. "I was a little nervous, but I've shot so many free throws in practice it wasn't a big deal."
Tinara Moore also topped the 20-point mark for the Chippewas, finishing with 21 to go along with seven rebounds. Jewel Cotton came off the bench to post a double-double, 13 points and 10 rebounds.
"My role is to come off the bench and bring energy," Cotton said. "I knew that we needed energy because we were lagging a little bit. My goal wasn't to score 13 points, but to come out and be in my role."
Fontaine led Ball State (18-8 overall) with 19 points and 11 rebounds.
Winning games on the final possession has become somewhat second nature for the Chippewas throughout the season. Five of CMU's MAC games have been decided on the final possession, with the Chippewas winning four of them.
"In an unfortunate way we are gaining experience through these games," Cotton said. "That's why we have composure, we don't want to be in that situation, but when that reality sets in we have to be able to approach it with confidence."
One of those down-to-the-wire games was at McGuirk on Jan. 27, a 53-51 win over Western Michigan. The Broncos are 15-12, 7-8. CMU closes the regular season with a March 2 game at Toledo, and a home date with Eastern Michigan on March 5.
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