Central Michigan University
Miami (Oh)
Chippewas Roll Past Miami, Stand Alone Atop MAC West
1/18/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Lindsay Gerber, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Tinara Moore recorded her second double-double of the season, scoring 23 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, to help lead the Central Michigan women's basketball team to an 80-61 Mid-American Conference win over Miami (Ohio) Wednesday night in McGuirk arena.
Central Michigan remains perfect in the MAC (6-0) and improves to 14-4 overall. Miami is 1-5 MAC, 7-12 overall. The Chippewas took sole possession of first place in the MAC West as Northern Illinois lost, 84-55, at Akron on Wednesday. The Chippewas are the lone remaining unbeaten team in the league.
"We've been working on our inside-out game the whole season and today it just really clicked," said CMU junior guard Cassie Breen, who finished with 17 points. "Hard work pays off and practice."
Moore, who has scored in double figures in 12 of CMU's 18 games this season, also had four blocks, which moved her up to fourth all-time in program history. She now has 108 for her career. She was previously tied with Carla Sterk (1990-93).
Reyna Frost added 14 points and Presley Hudson finished with 13 for the Chippewas.
The Chippewas led by two, 22-20, with just over 7 minutes remaining in the first half, then closed the second quarter with a 22-6 spurt for a 44-28 halftime lead.
Miami never got closer than 11 points in the second half, and the Chippewa lead ballooned to as many as 30 points in the fourth quarter.
"It's another game with four people in double figures," CMU coach Sue Guevara said. "Thirty of our 58 (field goal) attempts were inside and that makes a big difference. If you're going to play one-on-with Tinara inside, (Frost) inside or Jewel (Cotton) inside, I'll take my chances."
Hudson, who on Tuesday was named the MAC West Player of the Week for the third consecutive time, made one of her two 3-point attempts on the night. She entered the game averaging 33.8 points in the Chippewas' last five games.
"I thought she adjusted." Guevara said of Hudson. "She was able to penetrate and get other people the ball and that's what a good point guard does."
Freshman Lauren Dickerson led the RedHawks with 19 points.
Central Michigan, which is 10-1 at home this season, looks to remain atop the MAC West with a tough road ahead. Four of its next five games are on the road, beginning on Saturday (noon) at Buffalo (13-4 overall, 3-3 MAC). CMU defeated the Bulls, 88-71, earlier this month at McGuirk Arena.
The Bulls defeated CMU on an overtime buzzer-beater in the MAC Tournament championship game last March.
"The next thing we do is we focus on Buffalo." Said Guevara. "It's one game at a time."
