Monday, November 12
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
7:00 p.m. ET
Central Michigan University
1-1,0-0MAC
71
vs
80
South Dakota State
2-1,0-0Summit
1
2
3
4
F
South Dakota State
17
20
22
21
80
Central Michigan
19
18
19
15
71
CMU senior Presley Hudson drives past South Dakota State's Macy Miller on Monday at McGuirk Arena.
Photo by: Mary Lewandowski
Chippewas Fall In March-Like Battle
11/12/2018 10:16:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Hudson becomes CMU's all-time leader in assists, 3-pointers
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – It stings a little, maybe a lot.
But coach Sue Guevara didn't turn her Central Michigan women's basketball team into a Mid-American Conference power with an eye toward March without knowing full well that the foundation is laid in November.
Madison Guebert scored 24 points and Macy Miller added 23 as South Dakota State handed the Chippewas an 80-71 nonconference loss on Monday in a showdown of Mid-Major heavyweights at McGuirk Arena.
"It does hurt a little bit tonight," said Guevara, whose team is 1-1. "It's on our floor. You never want to lose a game on your floor."
South Dakota State, which has won six consecutive Summit League championships, is ranked second in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25. The Chippewas are third.
The game lived up to its billing as the teams delivered a nip-and-tuck battle befitting of a game in March.
"It's early in the season, but it was down to the wire, like a tournament game," CMU sophomore guard Micaela Kelly said. "You had to roll up your sleeves. Once the crowd got into it, it was like bringing it back like March Madness."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Miller hit a jumper early in the third quarter to put the Jackrabbits (2-1) up 39-37. They would never relinquish the lead, though CMU stayed within a step or two throughout the entire second half.
The Chippewas were within two, 73-71, after two Presley Hudson free throws with 1:28 to play, but the Chippewas could never get the equalizer or pull ahead. South Dakota State made 11 of its 12 fourth-quarter free throw attempts, including its last seven in a row, all with under a minute to play.
CMU LEADERS
Hudson scored 24 points, Reyna Frost had 19 and nine rebounds, and Kelly added 17.
HUDSON MILESTONES
Hudson, a senior guard, made 11 of her 12 free throw attempts and hit three of her nine 3-point tries.
She also had five assists, becoming CMU's career leader in that category with 465. She passed Suzy Merchant, who had 463 assists from 1988-91.
Hudson also became the program's all-time leader in 3-pointers. Her three triples gave her 304 for her career, one better than previous leader Cassie Breen (2014-18). Hudson also moved into third place on CMU's career scoring list. She now has 1,685 points, moving ahead of Tinara Moore, who scored 1,661 from 2015-18.
"I've had great teammates throughout my whole career," Hudson said. "They all work hard and put in the time. I know when I pass them the ball they're going to make it. I get that (assist) accomplishment because of my teammates."
PRESSURE
Playing an early season game against a quality opponent like South Dakota State serves, obviously, as a good test, Guevara said. It is why the 12th-year coach has annually scheduled the toughest competition she can find in November and December – the better to prepare her players, particularly the younger ones, for the rigors of the Mid-American Conference schedule and for March.
"These games are for us to get tested, to be in tough games like this to get our kids the experience of playing an NCAA game in November so that we're going to be ready to rock and roll in March," she said.
Freshmen Jahari Smith and Anika Weekes along with sophomores Maddy Watters and Kyra Bussell saw ample playing time. It was the first career start for Watters who, along with Bussell, were the two bench players who logged significant playing time a year ago.
"Our two freshmen who did play for us, it's understanding that you're playing big-girl basketball right now," Guevara said. "For Maddy and for Jahari and for Anika and for Bus, (it's about) getting them the experience that they need that's going to help us down the road."
NEXT
The Chippewas play host to another good mid-major opponent on Saturday (1 p.m.) when they welcome Western Kentucky.
The Hilltoppers are 0-2 heading into a home game with No. 13 Iowa on Tuesday. They opened with a 102-80 loss to fifth-ranked Louisville – which comes to Mount Pleasant on Dec. 20 – and dropped a 90-83 decision at Oklahoma on Friday. Western Kentucky won the Conference USA Tournament a year ago, made the NCAA Tournament, and finished 24-9.
But coach Sue Guevara didn't turn her Central Michigan women's basketball team into a Mid-American Conference power with an eye toward March without knowing full well that the foundation is laid in November.
Madison Guebert scored 24 points and Macy Miller added 23 as South Dakota State handed the Chippewas an 80-71 nonconference loss on Monday in a showdown of Mid-Major heavyweights at McGuirk Arena.
"It does hurt a little bit tonight," said Guevara, whose team is 1-1. "It's on our floor. You never want to lose a game on your floor."
South Dakota State, which has won six consecutive Summit League championships, is ranked second in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25. The Chippewas are third.
The game lived up to its billing as the teams delivered a nip-and-tuck battle befitting of a game in March.
"It's early in the season, but it was down to the wire, like a tournament game," CMU sophomore guard Micaela Kelly said. "You had to roll up your sleeves. Once the crowd got into it, it was like bringing it back like March Madness."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Miller hit a jumper early in the third quarter to put the Jackrabbits (2-1) up 39-37. They would never relinquish the lead, though CMU stayed within a step or two throughout the entire second half.
The Chippewas were within two, 73-71, after two Presley Hudson free throws with 1:28 to play, but the Chippewas could never get the equalizer or pull ahead. South Dakota State made 11 of its 12 fourth-quarter free throw attempts, including its last seven in a row, all with under a minute to play.
CMU LEADERS
Hudson scored 24 points, Reyna Frost had 19 and nine rebounds, and Kelly added 17.
HUDSON MILESTONES
Hudson, a senior guard, made 11 of her 12 free throw attempts and hit three of her nine 3-point tries.
She also had five assists, becoming CMU's career leader in that category with 465. She passed Suzy Merchant, who had 463 assists from 1988-91.
Hudson also became the program's all-time leader in 3-pointers. Her three triples gave her 304 for her career, one better than previous leader Cassie Breen (2014-18). Hudson also moved into third place on CMU's career scoring list. She now has 1,685 points, moving ahead of Tinara Moore, who scored 1,661 from 2015-18.
"I've had great teammates throughout my whole career," Hudson said. "They all work hard and put in the time. I know when I pass them the ball they're going to make it. I get that (assist) accomplishment because of my teammates."
PRESSURE
Playing an early season game against a quality opponent like South Dakota State serves, obviously, as a good test, Guevara said. It is why the 12th-year coach has annually scheduled the toughest competition she can find in November and December – the better to prepare her players, particularly the younger ones, for the rigors of the Mid-American Conference schedule and for March.
"These games are for us to get tested, to be in tough games like this to get our kids the experience of playing an NCAA game in November so that we're going to be ready to rock and roll in March," she said.
Freshmen Jahari Smith and Anika Weekes along with sophomores Maddy Watters and Kyra Bussell saw ample playing time. It was the first career start for Watters who, along with Bussell, were the two bench players who logged significant playing time a year ago.
"Our two freshmen who did play for us, it's understanding that you're playing big-girl basketball right now," Guevara said. "For Maddy and for Jahari and for Anika and for Bus, (it's about) getting them the experience that they need that's going to help us down the road."
NEXT
The Chippewas play host to another good mid-major opponent on Saturday (1 p.m.) when they welcome Western Kentucky.
The Hilltoppers are 0-2 heading into a home game with No. 13 Iowa on Tuesday. They opened with a 102-80 loss to fifth-ranked Louisville – which comes to Mount Pleasant on Dec. 20 – and dropped a 90-83 decision at Oklahoma on Friday. Western Kentucky won the Conference USA Tournament a year ago, made the NCAA Tournament, and finished 24-9.
Team Stats
SDSUW
CMU
FG%
.459
.423
3FG%
.346
.333
FT%
.938
.800
RB
38
28
TO
9
8
STL
5
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
24
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
11
Pts
19
FGM
9
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
17
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
5
Pts
7
FGM
1
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
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