Central Michigan University
Ball State
Chippewas Fall In Showdown Of MAC Heavyweights
2/25/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Lindsay Gerber, CMUChippewas.com
MUNCIE, Ind. - Selected to finish first in the Mid-American Conference West Division, the Central Michigan women's basketball team was one win away from clinching a share of the top spot.
Unfortunately, the road in the MAC is anything but easy.
Despite Tinara Moore's 25-point effort, the Chippewas fell to Ball State, 81-73, on Saturday, breaking their seven-game win streak.
A win would have given CMU a share of the MAC West title and nearly assured it the best record in the MAC, regardless of division. As it stands now, the Chippewas (21-7) and Cardinals (20-8) are 13-3 in league play. Each has two games remaining.
Moore made 10 of 14 field goal attempts and recorded three blocks, giving her a program-record 63 on the season. Ann Skufca set the previous mark, 62, in 2006-07.
Cassie Breen extended her double-figure scoring streak to seven games with 23 point for CMU. She made six of her 10 3-point attempts and finished 7-for-14 overall from the floor. Aleah Swary added 14 for the Chippewas.
Ball State displayed aggressive defense, holding Presley Hudson, CMU's leading scorer, to just four points. It tied Hudson's season low, set in the season opener against then-No. 1 Notre Dame.
Hudson set the program record with 43 point against the Cardinals in CMU's win at McGuirk Arena on Jan. 11.
"I thought Carmen (Grande) really made it difficult for Presley to handle the ball when she got it," CMU coach Sue Guevara saod. "(Ball State) really did a nice job of making sure they were in her face wherever she was. She had no room. They were switching on the screen, so she always had somebody on her."
Central Michigan trailed by 16, 22-6, a minute into the second quarter, and was down 10, 40-30 at halftime. The Chippewas showed up offensively in the third quarter and seized their first lead, 57-56, on a Moore free throw with under two minutes left in the quarter.
"Our players understand the urgency that as soon as that (tip) ball goes up, the urgency has to be there." Guevara said. "It has to be there before they even step foot on the court. Our players understand that."
The teams played tug-of-war in the fourth quarter as the lead changed hands five times. A layup by Moriah Monaco with 6:38 left put Ball State on top for good, 67-66.
The Chippewas were still within one, 72-71, when Destiny Washington hit a 3-pointer to extend Ball State's lead to four, 75-71. She followed with a jumper to put the Cardinals up 77-71 with under 1:20 to go.
Washington led Ball State with 21 points off the bench.
The Chippewas play at Western Michigan on Wednesday, and then entertain Eastern Michigan in their home finale on Saturday, March 13. CMU defeated the Broncos, 94-83, on Feb. 11, and they rolled past Eastern Michigan, 104-63, on Feb. 4.
The Chippewas have already clinched a bye in the first round of the MAC Tournament.
"Defensively, we have to continue to get better," Guevara said. "We struggled at times on following the game plan. Looking ahead to Western Michigan rebounding is going to be important. It's Senior Night for them, so we'll have to match the intensity and take it up another level."
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