Saturday, November 17
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
1:00 p.m. ET
Central Michigan University
2-1
108
vs
90
Western Kentucky
0-4
1
2
3
4
F
Western Kentucky
24
21
26
19
90
Central Michigan
38
22
20
28
108
Photo by: Allissa Rusco
Fast Start, Big Day
11/17/2018 4:44:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Chippewas put up 108 points, improve to 2-1
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Five players in double figures, 16 3-pointers, 108 total points.
The Central Michigan women's basketball team bounced back from its first loss of the season with a 108-90 victory over Western Kentucky before 1,696 on Saturday at McGuirk Arena.
The win lifted CMU to 2-1. The Chippewas, who are ranked second in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25, started fast and kept their foot on the gas in rebounding from an 80-71 loss five days earlier against fourth-ranked South Dakota State.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Chippewas hit 16 3-pointers – the second-highest total in program history – and started fast from long range, making eight of their 12 triple tries in the first quarter.
"Western Kentucky has a pretty aggressive zone and we were able to shoot them out of it in the first quarter," CMU coach Sue Guevara said.
CMU's lead was in double digits throughout the vast majority of the game. The Lady Toppers (0-4) crept within seven, 78-71, with under two minutes to play in the third quarter.
The Chippewas used a 13-4 run, which began on a Kyra Bussell inside bucket late in the third, and ended minutes into the fourth. CMU's lead was back to a more comfortable 16 points, 91-75, and Western Kentucky never got closer than 11 points the rest of the way.
LEADERS
Senior guard Presley Hudson, honored before the game for becoming CMU's all-time assists leader and its 3-point leader, scored 34 points. Hudson hit six of her 11 3-pointers and all 12 of her free throw attempts.
Micaela Kelly, Maddy Watters, Jahari Smith and Reyna Frost – CMU's other four starters – also scored in double figures.
HISTORIC NUMBERS
• The 16 triples were the second-most in Chippewa program history behind the 17 they made against Ball State on Jan. 11, 2017.
• CMU made 38 of its 59 field goal attempts for 64.4 percent, the fourth-highest field goal percentage in program history.
• The 108 points ranks as the ninth-highest total in program history. It marked the 21st time a CMU team has broken the century mark.
WATTERS BREAKS OUT
Watters, a sophomore guard making her second career start, finished with a career highs in points (18) and 3-pointers (6). She also had six assists in logging 31 minutes.
"I think you saw a very confident Maddy Watters," Guevara said. "I think there was no hesitation whether to shoot the ball or not. Maddy is a point guard (with) a pass-first mentality and I think sometimes that has gotten her in trouble. She's been working on (taking shots). It was nice to see her play very confidently."
Said Watters: "My teammates kept building me up, telling me to shoot more. It was just listening to them and trying to find the open spots."
FINE FRESHMAN
Smith, a 6-foot freshman, scored 19 points and grabbed five rebounds in just her third collegiate game.
The performance of Smith, who had 2 points and zero rebounds against South Dakota State, and that of Watters was particularly encouraging, Guevara said, who added that freshman Anika Weekes and sophomore Bussell also contributed off the bench.
Getting significant and consistent contributions from players other than the Big 3 – Hudson, Kelly and Frost – has been a major point of emphasis, Guevara said.
"(Smith) has 19 points and five rebounds," Guevara said. "She had goose eggs against South Dakota State. We talked about grabbing the ball, being more aggressive. Where is the dog in you? To see her come out and play like she did today was good. Maddy, same thing.
"They need the minutes. You can't cheat the grind. You can't expect your freshmen and sophomores to play like they're juniors and seniors. You can't. These types of games in this type of atmosphere against these types of teams – those young kids are getting major college experience and that's what we're going to need when it comes conference time and when it comes to March."
STEADY FROST
Frost, a 6-foot forward who has established herself as one of the nation's top rebounders, recorded her second double-double of the season and 33rd of her career with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
She also had seven assists, a career high.
"Reyna pursues the ball," Guevara said. "Reyna is playing against bigger, taller players. She grabs, she snatches balls, she keeps balls alive for us, she gives us extra possessions and she just goes about her business – a woman who is possessed. She's just a worker."
Of Frost's contributions – and there are many – one that is significant but unmeasurable was on display on Saturday as Smith, the freshman, turned in easily her best performance as a Chippewa.
Frost has "been a tremendous role model for our younger post players," Guevara said, adding that the likes of Smith, freshman Sam Robinson, and Bussell are learning from an excellent role model. "They look and see how hard (Frost) works, and they're working with her."
NEXT
The Chippewas play host to Central Florida on Wednesday, Nov. 21 (5 p.m.) in a nonconference game. The Knights (2-0) are yet another good mid-major on the Chippewas' schedule.
Wednesday's game marks CMU's last home game for a month. They are scheduled to play five consecutive games away from McGuirk before entertaining fifth-ranked Louisville on Dec. 20.
The Central Michigan women's basketball team bounced back from its first loss of the season with a 108-90 victory over Western Kentucky before 1,696 on Saturday at McGuirk Arena.
The win lifted CMU to 2-1. The Chippewas, who are ranked second in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25, started fast and kept their foot on the gas in rebounding from an 80-71 loss five days earlier against fourth-ranked South Dakota State.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Chippewas hit 16 3-pointers – the second-highest total in program history – and started fast from long range, making eight of their 12 triple tries in the first quarter.
"Western Kentucky has a pretty aggressive zone and we were able to shoot them out of it in the first quarter," CMU coach Sue Guevara said.
CMU's lead was in double digits throughout the vast majority of the game. The Lady Toppers (0-4) crept within seven, 78-71, with under two minutes to play in the third quarter.
The Chippewas used a 13-4 run, which began on a Kyra Bussell inside bucket late in the third, and ended minutes into the fourth. CMU's lead was back to a more comfortable 16 points, 91-75, and Western Kentucky never got closer than 11 points the rest of the way.
LEADERS
Senior guard Presley Hudson, honored before the game for becoming CMU's all-time assists leader and its 3-point leader, scored 34 points. Hudson hit six of her 11 3-pointers and all 12 of her free throw attempts.
Micaela Kelly, Maddy Watters, Jahari Smith and Reyna Frost – CMU's other four starters – also scored in double figures.
HISTORIC NUMBERS
• The 16 triples were the second-most in Chippewa program history behind the 17 they made against Ball State on Jan. 11, 2017.
• CMU made 38 of its 59 field goal attempts for 64.4 percent, the fourth-highest field goal percentage in program history.
• The 108 points ranks as the ninth-highest total in program history. It marked the 21st time a CMU team has broken the century mark.
WATTERS BREAKS OUT
Watters, a sophomore guard making her second career start, finished with a career highs in points (18) and 3-pointers (6). She also had six assists in logging 31 minutes.
"I think you saw a very confident Maddy Watters," Guevara said. "I think there was no hesitation whether to shoot the ball or not. Maddy is a point guard (with) a pass-first mentality and I think sometimes that has gotten her in trouble. She's been working on (taking shots). It was nice to see her play very confidently."
Said Watters: "My teammates kept building me up, telling me to shoot more. It was just listening to them and trying to find the open spots."
FINE FRESHMAN
Smith, a 6-foot freshman, scored 19 points and grabbed five rebounds in just her third collegiate game.
The performance of Smith, who had 2 points and zero rebounds against South Dakota State, and that of Watters was particularly encouraging, Guevara said, who added that freshman Anika Weekes and sophomore Bussell also contributed off the bench.
Getting significant and consistent contributions from players other than the Big 3 – Hudson, Kelly and Frost – has been a major point of emphasis, Guevara said.
"(Smith) has 19 points and five rebounds," Guevara said. "She had goose eggs against South Dakota State. We talked about grabbing the ball, being more aggressive. Where is the dog in you? To see her come out and play like she did today was good. Maddy, same thing.
"They need the minutes. You can't cheat the grind. You can't expect your freshmen and sophomores to play like they're juniors and seniors. You can't. These types of games in this type of atmosphere against these types of teams – those young kids are getting major college experience and that's what we're going to need when it comes conference time and when it comes to March."
STEADY FROST
Frost, a 6-foot forward who has established herself as one of the nation's top rebounders, recorded her second double-double of the season and 33rd of her career with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
She also had seven assists, a career high.
"Reyna pursues the ball," Guevara said. "Reyna is playing against bigger, taller players. She grabs, she snatches balls, she keeps balls alive for us, she gives us extra possessions and she just goes about her business – a woman who is possessed. She's just a worker."
Of Frost's contributions – and there are many – one that is significant but unmeasurable was on display on Saturday as Smith, the freshman, turned in easily her best performance as a Chippewa.
Frost has "been a tremendous role model for our younger post players," Guevara said, adding that the likes of Smith, freshman Sam Robinson, and Bussell are learning from an excellent role model. "They look and see how hard (Frost) works, and they're working with her."
NEXT
The Chippewas play host to Central Florida on Wednesday, Nov. 21 (5 p.m.) in a nonconference game. The Knights (2-0) are yet another good mid-major on the Chippewas' schedule.
Wednesday's game marks CMU's last home game for a month. They are scheduled to play five consecutive games away from McGuirk before entertaining fifth-ranked Louisville on Dec. 20.
Team Stats
WKU
CMU
FG%
.545
.644
3FG%
.409
.552
FT%
.500
.800
RB
25
33
TO
11
13
STL
10
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
34
FGM
8
3FGM
6
FTM
12
Pts
19
FGM
7
3FGM
4
FTM
1
Pts
19
FGM
9
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
18
FGM
6
3FGM
6
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballC
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
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