Central Michigan University
Indiana State
CMU Women Extend Win Streak To 8
12/9/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Lindsay Gerber, CMUChippewas.com
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Presley Hudson scored 26 points and Central Michigan was perfect at the free throw line as the Chippewa women's basketball team held off Indiana State, 77-67, for its eighth consecutive victory on Saturday at the Sycamores' Hulman Center.
The Chippewas (8-1) went a perfect 18-of-18 at the charity stripe, marking the fourth time in program history that CMU has finished 100 percent at the line. It was the third of four consecutive road games for CMU, which goes to Duquesne next Sunday.
"We won and we're on the road," CMU coach Sue Guevara said. "It was ugly, but we were able to pull it out. That's about as much as I can say."
Hudson's point total was one shy of her season high. She also had six assists and knocked down all six of her free throw attempts, four of them in the final 26 seconds. She finished 6-of-14 from 3-point range.
"A lot of it is who's taking them," Guevara said. "Free throws win games and that's how we won today."
Cassie Breen recorded 14 points for CMU, while Tinara Moore and Micaela Kelly had 11 and 10 points, respectively. Moore also posted three blocks, and Reyna Frost finished with eight points and 14 rebounds as the Chippewas outrebounded the Sycamores, 42-31.
The Chippewas led by as many as 21 points in the first half and held an 18-point advantage, 42-24, at halftime. The Sycamores outscored the Chippewas, 43-35, in the second half.
CMU led by 16 points with under eight minutes remaining, but Indiana State trimmed its deficit to five, 69-64, with just under three minutes to go.
Hudson hit a jumper and Moore scored on a layup to re-up CMU's lead to nine, 73-64, with 1:45 left. Indiana State never got closer than eight points the rest of the way. The Sycamores made seven of their 12 field goal attempts (56 percent) in the fourth quarter.
"We were more afraid of fouling out than defending," said Guevara, whose team won by 38 points on Thursday at Southern Illinois Edwardsville. "I'll be honest, I know it's our second win on the road and Indiana State's record is deceiving, but this was poor defense. I was disappointed, but the good thing is that it's over. We have a week to regroup and get better and we will."
Wendi Bibbins led Indiana State with 22 points.
The last time CMU finished 100 percent from the free throw line was on March 8, 2017, in a Mid-American Conference Tournament game against Western Michigan. The Chippewas, who entered Saturday's game ranked second nationally in free throw percentage (83.3 percent), made all 14 of their three throw attempts against Western in that tournament game.
