Saturday, December 29
Coral Gables, Fla.
12:00 p.m. ET
Central Michigan University
8-3
68
vs
57
Tulane
9-3
1
2
3
4
F
Tulane
21
19
8
20
68
Central Michigan
3
17
20
17
57
Photo by: Allissa Rusco
CMU Women Can't Overcome Slow Start
12/29/2018 2:25:00 PM | Women's Basketball
No. 24 Miami next for Chippewas
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – A slow start spelled doom for the Central Michigan women's basketball team on Saturday as it dropped a 68-57 decision to Tulane in the Chippewas' opener at the Miami Holiday Classic.
The loss was CMU's second straight after its 72-68 defeat to No. 3-ranked Louisville a week ago.
The Chippewas (8-3) are scheduled to face the host Hurricanes on Sunday (4 p.m.). Miami rolled past Florida A&M, 103-54, in the classic opener on Friday. The Hurricanes are 12-2, have won six consecutive games, and are ranked 24th by the Associated Press.
HOW IT HAPPENED
CMU made just one field goal in the first quarter and trailed, 21-3, after the first 10 minutes.
"We took some very quick shots," CMU coach Sue Guevara said. "We didn't make Tulane play much defense, especially in the first quarter because it was catch-and-shoot, catch-and-shoot and they weren't going in. We weren't attacking."
CMU outscored the Green Wave, 20-8, in the third quarter and managed to draw within six points, 50-44, with under eight minutes to play, but could get no closer.
LEADERS
Kyra Bussell came off the bench to score a career-high 19 points to lead CMU, while Micaela Kelly added 17 points and Reyna Frost had 12. Bussell also had eight rebounds, matching her season high.
Frost grabbed 15 rebounds to record her ninth double-double of the season. Bussell's previous career-high point total (14) came in a Nov. 25 game against Chattanooga.
Krystal Freeman scored 17 points, Kayla Manuirirangi had 16, and Harlyn Wyatt added 14 for Tulane (9-3).
KEY NUMBERS
CMU senior guard Presley Hudson scored seven points, marking the first time she failed to reach double digits in scoring since a Dec. 21, 2017 game against Quinnipiac, a stretch of 33 consecutive games.
The Chippewas made just six of their 20 3-point attempts. It tied the Chippewas' season low for 3-pointers made, and the percentage (20 percent) was a season low.
CMU made just 21 of its 75 field goal attempts overall for a season-worst 28 percent from the floor.
The loss was CMU's second straight after its 72-68 defeat to No. 3-ranked Louisville a week ago.
The Chippewas (8-3) are scheduled to face the host Hurricanes on Sunday (4 p.m.). Miami rolled past Florida A&M, 103-54, in the classic opener on Friday. The Hurricanes are 12-2, have won six consecutive games, and are ranked 24th by the Associated Press.
HOW IT HAPPENED
CMU made just one field goal in the first quarter and trailed, 21-3, after the first 10 minutes.
"We took some very quick shots," CMU coach Sue Guevara said. "We didn't make Tulane play much defense, especially in the first quarter because it was catch-and-shoot, catch-and-shoot and they weren't going in. We weren't attacking."
CMU outscored the Green Wave, 20-8, in the third quarter and managed to draw within six points, 50-44, with under eight minutes to play, but could get no closer.
LEADERS
Kyra Bussell came off the bench to score a career-high 19 points to lead CMU, while Micaela Kelly added 17 points and Reyna Frost had 12. Bussell also had eight rebounds, matching her season high.
Frost grabbed 15 rebounds to record her ninth double-double of the season. Bussell's previous career-high point total (14) came in a Nov. 25 game against Chattanooga.
Krystal Freeman scored 17 points, Kayla Manuirirangi had 16, and Harlyn Wyatt added 14 for Tulane (9-3).
KEY NUMBERS
CMU senior guard Presley Hudson scored seven points, marking the first time she failed to reach double digits in scoring since a Dec. 21, 2017 game against Quinnipiac, a stretch of 33 consecutive games.
The Chippewas made just six of their 20 3-point attempts. It tied the Chippewas' season low for 3-pointers made, and the percentage (20 percent) was a season low.
CMU made just 21 of its 75 field goal attempts overall for a season-worst 28 percent from the floor.
Team Stats
TLN
CMU
FG%
.431
.280
3FG%
.467
.200
FT%
.850
.818
RB
37
44
TO
13
10
STL
5
8
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
19
FGM
9
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
17
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
4
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
7
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
F
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