Monday, December 30
Orlando, FL
6:00 p.m.
Central Michigan University
7-4,0-0MAC
58
at
64
UCF
8-4,0-0AAC
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F
Central Mich.
15
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24
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UCF
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64
Photo by: Allissa Rusco
CMU Win Streak Comes To An End At Central Florida
12/30/2019 8:41:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Chippewa rally comes up short
ORLANDO, Fla. – A valiant comeback attempt by the Central Michigan women's basketball team fell just short on Monday as the Chippewas saw their win streak end at seven games with a 64-58 nonconference loss to Central Florida at the Knights' Addition Financial Arena.
The Chippewas (7-4) open defense of their Mid-American Conference championship on Saturday, Jan. 4 at Akron (2 p.m.).
"Now we're 0-0," CMU coach Heather Oesterle said. "Nothing we've done in the preseason matters, it's only prepared us for what we're going to see.
"We're going to see a lot of different styles of play in the MAC, but I'm confident that we're going to come out hungry on Saturday, and we need to because we're chasing another MAC championship. Expectations don't change … now we're on a mission."
How It Happened
The Chippewas trailed the Knights by 16 points, 56-40, with under seven minutes remaining, then went on a 15-4 run to pull within 60-55 with just over two minutes to play.
Micaela Kelly, who scored 26 points, ignited the surge with a rare four-point play with 6:13 remaining, and she ended it with a 3-pointer, her sixth of the game on 10 attempts, with 2:18 to play.
The Chippewas, however, could get no closer as Kelly fouled out with 57.5 seconds remaining and UCF's Kay Kay Wright made all four of her free throw attempts over the final 47 seconds to keep CMU at bay.
Numbers
The Chippewas' point total tied for their lowest of the season. They also scored 58 -- while surrendering 93 -- to Western Kentucky on Nov. 17. UCF is among the top 50 defensive teams in the nation and entered the game holding opponents to 56.7 points per game.
CMU committed a season-high 24 turnovers that led to 20 UCF points.
"There were times where we weren't moving the ball offensively and we were a little soft with the basketball," Oesterle said. "I was quite proud of them for the fight they showed at the end of the fourth quarter to come back."
The Chippewas finished with a 37-36 rebounding edge despite a decided UCF size advantage.
"They're a little bit bigger than us, they're a little more athletic, but it's not like we didn't have good looks from the floor," Oesterle said.
Kelly Remains Hot
Kelly continued her torrid pace. She is averaging 29.2 points per game in her last four and has made 20 of her 27 3-point attempts (74 percent) over that span.
"She took us on her back like she's been doing," Oesterle said. "She hit a couple threes to get us back in the game. It's unfortunate that she fouled out because we were right there with her and Molly (Davis) attacking and finding each other. They've got quite a bond on the floor. They look for each other and it's fun to watch."
Also
Kyra Bussell finished with nine points and nine rebounds for the Chippewas, and Davis dished out seven assists. Senior Gabrielle Bird had eight rebounds in 27 minutes, both season highs.
The Chippewas (7-4) open defense of their Mid-American Conference championship on Saturday, Jan. 4 at Akron (2 p.m.).
"Now we're 0-0," CMU coach Heather Oesterle said. "Nothing we've done in the preseason matters, it's only prepared us for what we're going to see.
"We're going to see a lot of different styles of play in the MAC, but I'm confident that we're going to come out hungry on Saturday, and we need to because we're chasing another MAC championship. Expectations don't change … now we're on a mission."
How It Happened
The Chippewas trailed the Knights by 16 points, 56-40, with under seven minutes remaining, then went on a 15-4 run to pull within 60-55 with just over two minutes to play.
Micaela Kelly, who scored 26 points, ignited the surge with a rare four-point play with 6:13 remaining, and she ended it with a 3-pointer, her sixth of the game on 10 attempts, with 2:18 to play.
The Chippewas, however, could get no closer as Kelly fouled out with 57.5 seconds remaining and UCF's Kay Kay Wright made all four of her free throw attempts over the final 47 seconds to keep CMU at bay.
Numbers
The Chippewas' point total tied for their lowest of the season. They also scored 58 -- while surrendering 93 -- to Western Kentucky on Nov. 17. UCF is among the top 50 defensive teams in the nation and entered the game holding opponents to 56.7 points per game.
CMU committed a season-high 24 turnovers that led to 20 UCF points.
"There were times where we weren't moving the ball offensively and we were a little soft with the basketball," Oesterle said. "I was quite proud of them for the fight they showed at the end of the fourth quarter to come back."
The Chippewas finished with a 37-36 rebounding edge despite a decided UCF size advantage.
"They're a little bit bigger than us, they're a little more athletic, but it's not like we didn't have good looks from the floor," Oesterle said.
Kelly Remains Hot
Kelly continued her torrid pace. She is averaging 29.2 points per game in her last four and has made 20 of her 27 3-point attempts (74 percent) over that span.
"She took us on her back like she's been doing," Oesterle said. "She hit a couple threes to get us back in the game. It's unfortunate that she fouled out because we were right there with her and Molly (Davis) attacking and finding each other. They've got quite a bond on the floor. They look for each other and it's fun to watch."
Also
Kyra Bussell finished with nine points and nine rebounds for the Chippewas, and Davis dished out seven assists. Senior Gabrielle Bird had eight rebounds in 27 minutes, both season highs.
Team Stats
CMU
UCF
FG%
.379
.419
3FG%
.400
.154
FT%
1.000
.714
RB
37
36
TO
24
15
STL
7
15
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
26
FGM
9
3FGM
6
FTM
2
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
4
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
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