Central Michigan University
Toledo
CMU Women Fall At Toledo
3/2/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Cullen Maksimowski, CMUChippewas.com
TOLEDO, Ohio — As has been the case so many times this season, the Central Michigan women's basketball team found itself with a chance to win the game on the final possession.
This time, it wasn't in the cards.
Trailing Toledo 74-72 with 1.7 seconds left, a Presley Hudson inbounds lob to the basket intended for teammate Jewel Cotton became wedged between the rim and the backboard, resulting in a whistle. In that case, it's a dead ball and possession went to the Rockets on the alternating possession.
Two free throws with 1 second to play by Ana Capotosto sealed it, giving the Rockets a 76-72 victory and postponing CMU's potential Mid-American Conference West Division-clinching celebration until Saturday, when it plays host to Eastern Michigan (1 p.m.) in the regular-season finale.
"We were trying to run a screen on the sideline for Jewel (Cotton) and it went to the wrong side of the basket and we lost it," CMU coach Sue Guevara said.
The Chippewas slip to 19-9 overall and 13-4 in the MAC. They lead the West by one game over Toledo (17-11, 12-5) and Ball State (20-8, 12-5).
A win over Eastern on Saturday gives the Chippewas the outright division crown. If they lose, they will share the title with either Ball State or Toledo. The Cardinals and Rockets play on Saturday at Toledo.
Tinara Moore finished with 26 points and 10 rebounds for her 15th double-double of the season to lead the Chippewas, while Hudson made five of her 10 3-point tries en route to 23 points.
The 23 points matches Hudson's second-highest total of the season, and her five 3-pointers matched her season high. Da'Jourie added 10 points for CMU and dished out four assists.
Kaayla McIntyre led Toledo with 18 points, and Brenae Harris added 16.
The Chippewas shot 40.6 percent from the field in the game and 31.8 percent from 3-point range. The Rockets shot 55 percent and 46.2 percent, respectively. The Chippewas got just two points from their bench.
"The lack of defense our team played the whole game was critical," Guevara said. "We weren't closing in on them at all and they were getting wide-open looks at the basket.
"We have to defend better, plain and simple, and we need more production from our bench. I thought we didn't get a good effort from our bench players."
CMU owned a 37-29 rebounding advantage over Toledo in the loss
The teams traded baskets throughout the nip-and-tuck game, which featured eight lead changes and 12 ties.
Hudson scored on a layup with 27 seconds left to forge a 72-72 tie. McIntyre scored on a putback with 3 seconds remaining to break the deadlock.
It was the Chippewas' second loss to the Rockets in 12 days. Toledo handed CMU an 81-79 overtime loss at McGuirk Arena on Feb. 20. It was CMU's only MAC home loss this season.
CMU's four league losses have come by two points (twice), four points and six points. Two of those losses have come in overtime.
Saturday's opponent, Eastern Michigan, defeated Western Michigan on Wednedsay, 63-52, improving to 19-9, 10-7. The Chippewas won the first meeting, 66-65, in Ypsilanti on Feb. 3.
