Central Michigan University
Buffalo
CMU Women Drop First In MAC
2/14/2018 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
BUFFALO, N.Y. - Round 2 in the matchup of Mid-American Conference women's basketball heavyweights went to Buffalo.
The Bulls broke a 72-all tie with a 3-pointer with just under 4 minutes remaining on Wednesday and the Chippewas never regained the lead in falling, 85-82, at Buffalo's Alumni Arena.
It was CMU's first MAC loss of the season.
The Chippewas saw their win streak end at 12 games in falling to 20-4, 12-1 MAC. Buffalo is 20-4, 11-2. Central Michigan, which leads the West Division, remains the MAC's top team in the overall standings, while East-leading Buffalo is one game behind. Both have five league games remaining.
LEADERS
Reyna Frost scored 23 points and grabbed 16 rebounds to lead CMU, which got 16 points apiece from Presley Hudson and Tinara Moore, 11 from Micaela Kelly, and 10 from Cassie Breen. Kelly had six assists and Moore added four blocks.
Cassie Oursler scored 24 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, and Stephanie Reid added 20 points and eight assists for the Bulls, who avenged a Jan. 31 86-79 loss to the Chippewas in Mount Pleasant.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Cierra Dillard hit a 3-pointer with 3:58 left to give the Bulls a 75-72 lead. Buffalo eventually extended the advantage to five points, and CMU trimmed its deficit back to two on three occasions, the last, 84-82, on a Breen triple with 6 seconds to play.
Reid split a pair of free throws with 3.4 seconds left to make it 85-82, and leave CMU a glimmer of hope. Frost's potential tying 3-point attempt at the buzzer missed.
KEY NUMBERS
Statistically, the game was a near dead heat. CMU made 50 percent of its field goal attempts overall, but finished just 6 of 23 (26.1 percent) from 3-point range. Buffalo shot 46.4 percent from the floor, including 35.7 (5 of 14) from long range.
The Chippewas committed 10 turnovers to the Bulls' five.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE
With her 23 points and 16 rebounds, Frost posted her team-leading 12th double-double of the season.
NEXT
The Chippewas play host to Eastern Michigan in a MAC game on Saturday (1 p.m.) at McGuirk Arena. It is CMU's annual Play4Kay game and CMU will wear pink uniforms. The game is the front end of a doubleheader. The CMU men will play Eastern at 4:30 p.m. at McGuirk.
Fans can use the promo code PLAY4KAY for a $3 general admission ticket Saturday to see the CMU women's game. Bonus: We're giving away glow sticks from McLaren Central Michigan.
