Central Michigan University
No. 6 seed LSU
Chippewa Women Stun LSU For First NCAA Tourney Win
3/17/2018 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
A season-long, one-game-at-a-time, all-for-one mentality led to a historic victory for the Central Michigan women's basketball team Saturday.
The Chippewas beat No. 24 LSU, 78-69, for the program's first NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament victory, and they did it by living up to what CMU coach Sue Guevara said about her team one day earlier.
Unselfish, Guevara said, at a press conference. Once again, all five CMU starters had their moments. Mid-American Conference Player of the Year Tinara Moore held her own inside against LSU's Ayana Mitchell and Khayla Pointer. Moore finished with 25 points and seven rebounds.
MAC Tournament Most Valuable Player Reyna Frost struggled with foul trouble but grabbed six of her 12 rebounds in the third quarter. She finished with 12 points. Junior guard Presley Hudson, who had 12 points and eight assists, hit key shots, including a running jumper at the end of the first quarter to give the Chippewas a 25-16 lead.
CMU never trailed by more than two points and that was in the opening minutes. Each time the sixth-seeded Tigers made a run, the 11th-seeded Chippewas answered with one of their own.
"I can't say enough about our players," Guevara said. "Our players came out and threw the first punch, and we just kept going. It's a first win for us, a nice one."
CMU will play the winner of the Ohio State-George Washington game on Monday in St. Johns Arena.
Frost fouled out with 2:15 left in the game and CMU leading 74-67. The Chippewas finished the game with three freshmen on the court - guards Micaela Kelly and Maddy Watters and forward Kyra Bussell.
"With Twin, Maddy and Bussell in there, I just thought what a great experience for these freshmen to get on that floor. I didn't think they played wide-eyed. I thought they went in with a very workmanlike attitude and did what they were supposed to do."
Bussell finished with four points and two rebounds in seven minutes of action. Cheering and slapping the floor from the bench was Frost.
"She came in and made her free throws and got some rebounds," Frost said. "I know that if I get in foul trouble we have a good bench and someone can get in there and take care of business."
As the clocked ticked down, CMU fans - about 300 in St. Johns Arena on the campus of Ohio State University - stood, screamed and clapped as they sensed the history the Chippewas were chasing.
In the final seconds, Hudson dribbled up the floor, smiled and slapped hands with Kelly. CMU was 0-3 in NCAA Tournament games entering the game, and it was the Chippewas' first tournament appearance since 2013.
At 29-4, the Chippewas extended their program record for victories in a season.
Tickets for CMU's game on Monday are on sale for $21. Seats in the CMU block will be available through 11 p.m. Sunday, March 18.
