Central Michigan University
Ohio
Chippewas Win Battle Of Division Leaders
2/15/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Lindsay Gerber, CMUChippewas.com
ATHENS, Ohio - In a battle of Mid-American Conference division leaders, Central Michigan proved it is a force to be reckoned with.
Having the winningest coach in program history definitely doesn't hurt the cause.
Cassie Breen scored a 26 points Wednesday as CMU handed MAC East-leading Ohio a 70-64 loss at the Bobcats' Convocation Center.
The win lifted the Chippewas to 19-6, 11-2 MAC, as they maintained their shared of first place in the West with Northern Illinois, a 63-61 winner over Miami (Ohio) on Wednesday. Ohio fell to 18-6, 9-4, and lost at home for just the second time this season.
The win was Sue Guevara's 172nd as she became the all-time winningest coach in CMU women's basketball history. Guevara, who is in her 10th year at CMU, is 172-139 as the Chippewas' coach. She surpassed Donita Davenport, who went 171-165 as CMU's coach from 1984-96.
"In 10 years I've never scored a basket," Guevara said, "I've never gotten a rebound, I've never fouled. I've just been very, very fortunate to coach good kids.
"I have been extremely fortunate to work with staff that has really worked in getting quality student-athletes at Central Michigan. They did a good job in developing talent, kids that are coachable, and an administration that has been so supportive of our program. I just happen to be the mayor of the village. It takes a whole village to do that."
Breen, a junior guard who scored 23 points in CMU's win Saturday over Western Michigan, scored 19 points in the first half. She made five of her seven 3-point attempts in the game, was 8-for-11 from the floor overall, and 5-of-6 from the free throw line.
Quiera Lampkins, the MAC's second-leading score, had a season-high 32 points to lead Ohio.
The Chippewas overcame Lampkins and a season-high 26 turnovers. Ohio scored 23 points off of those CMU turnovers, but the Chippewas made up for it on the boards, outrebounding the Bobcats, 42-25.
Senior forward Jewel Cotton tied her season-high with 13 boards to lead CMU, while Tinara Moore and Reyna Frost added eight apiece. Presley Hudson had 16 points and Moore added 14.
The Chippewas trailed, 15-4, at one point in the first quarter.
"In the first quarter we had nine points and 11 turnovers," Guevara said. "I thought we still maintained our composure. We got better at taking care of the ball. We buckled down on the defensive end and the rebounding end and that really helped us."
The Chippewas took their first lead, 25-23, on a Breen layup with 3:31 left in the half, and led by as many as 10 points in the third quarter.
But the Bobcats weren't going down that easily as they cut the deficit to only one point twice in the last five minutes, the last at 61-60 with 2:52 to play.
CMU went 7-for-8 from the free throw line in the final 1:53 to hold off the Bobcats. The Chippewas, the MAC's second-best free-throw shooting team, finished 22-for-26 from the line on the night.
CMU will play host to Toledo (17-7, 8-5) on Saturday (noon) to kick off a doubleheader at McGuirk Arena. The CMU men play host to Ball State at 4:30 p.m.
Toledo defeated the Chippewas in Toledo, 74-72, on Jan. 28.
