Central Michigan University Athletics
Saturday, February 16
Buffalo, N.Y.
2:00 p.m. ET
Central Michigan University
100
at
95
Buffalo
Photo by: Allissa Rusco
Big Road Win For CMU Women
2/16/2019 4:54:00 PM | Women's Basketball
3-pointers, free throws the key as Chippewas remain atop MAC West
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Central Michigan and Buffalo. The Mid-American Conference women's basketball race in 2018-19.
The next month ought to be a lot of fun.
The Chippewas got 28 points from Presley Hudson, another double-double from Reyna Frost, a big-time contribution from the bench, and the big stop when they most needed it on Saturday in topping Buffalo, 100-95, at the Bulls' Alumni Arena.
It was CMU's second win this season over the Bulls, the two teams picked to win their respective divisions – CMU the West, Buffalo the East -- in the MAC preseason poll. The Chippewas improved to 18-6 overall and remained atop the West at 9-3. Buffalo is 16-7, 8-4.
Nothing is settled, though both the Chippewas and Bulls -- by all indications -- are among those who will play a major role in determining who walks out of Cleveland in a month with the MAC Tournament title and an NCAA Tournament berth.
"Every time we play Buffalo, it's a knock-down, drag-out," CMU coach Sue Guevara said.
HOW IT HAPPENED
CMU led by 17 points at halftime and was up by as many as 19 in the second half before Buffalo surged behind the nation's third-leading scorer, Cierra Dillard.
A Summer Hemphill 3-pointer with 48 seconds left drew the Bulls to 96-95. But the Chippewas answered as Kyra Bussell, who came off the bench to score a career-high 20 points, took a rocket pass from Hudson and converted inside with 21 seconds left to put CMU up three, 98-95.
On Buffalo's next possession, Micaela Kelly tipped away a pass and another CMU reserve, Gabrielle Bird, came up with the ball, snuffing out the Bulls' last good chance to tie the game. Hudson hit two free throws with 4 seconds to play to ice it.
LEADERS
Frost, the three-time reigning MAC West Player of the Week, posted her 21st double-double of the season with 23 points and 14 rebounds.
"She's playing some very good basketball for us right now," Guevara said of Frost, a 6-foot senior who earlier this week was named one of 10 finalists for the Katrina McClain Award, which goes to the best power forward in the nation. "She's making it very difficult (for opponents), because of her ability to shoot the 3. When people prepare for us, in the past it's always been Presley Hudson, so now it's Reyna Frost, which really helps (Hudson).
"It's a really nice inside-outside combination. Her relentlessness on the boards, there isn't anybody else like her."
Hudson matched her second-highest point total (28) of the season. She made all 10 of her free throw attempts.
The 20-point effort by Bussell was a career best for the sophomore from Grand Rapids. Her previous career best (19) came against Tulane earlier this season.
Dillard scored 29 points to lead Buffalo.
THE BENCH
The contributions from Bussell and Bird were critical to CMU's ability to pull out a crucial MAC road victory, which may eventually prove to be very important for seeing purposes in the league tournament.
"I think (Bussell) is the (MAC) Sixth Player of the Year as far as what she is doing shooting the basketball, rebounding the ball," Guevara said. "I give our bench a great deal of credit."
BACK ON TRACK
The Chippewas had struggled recently from 3-point territory and from the free throw line.
They were excellent on both counts against the Bulls, making 29 of their 31 free throw attempts (93.5 percent) and 13 of their 28 triple tries (46.4 percent).
"It's nice to see our 3 ball come back, but more importantly the free throws," Guevara said. "The bench came to play, and we made the free throws down the stretch when we needed to."
NEXT
The Chippewas go to Bowling Green on Wednesday, Feb. 20, for a league game.
The next month ought to be a lot of fun.
The Chippewas got 28 points from Presley Hudson, another double-double from Reyna Frost, a big-time contribution from the bench, and the big stop when they most needed it on Saturday in topping Buffalo, 100-95, at the Bulls' Alumni Arena.
It was CMU's second win this season over the Bulls, the two teams picked to win their respective divisions – CMU the West, Buffalo the East -- in the MAC preseason poll. The Chippewas improved to 18-6 overall and remained atop the West at 9-3. Buffalo is 16-7, 8-4.
Nothing is settled, though both the Chippewas and Bulls -- by all indications -- are among those who will play a major role in determining who walks out of Cleveland in a month with the MAC Tournament title and an NCAA Tournament berth.
"Every time we play Buffalo, it's a knock-down, drag-out," CMU coach Sue Guevara said.
HOW IT HAPPENED
CMU led by 17 points at halftime and was up by as many as 19 in the second half before Buffalo surged behind the nation's third-leading scorer, Cierra Dillard.
A Summer Hemphill 3-pointer with 48 seconds left drew the Bulls to 96-95. But the Chippewas answered as Kyra Bussell, who came off the bench to score a career-high 20 points, took a rocket pass from Hudson and converted inside with 21 seconds left to put CMU up three, 98-95.
On Buffalo's next possession, Micaela Kelly tipped away a pass and another CMU reserve, Gabrielle Bird, came up with the ball, snuffing out the Bulls' last good chance to tie the game. Hudson hit two free throws with 4 seconds to play to ice it.
LEADERS
Frost, the three-time reigning MAC West Player of the Week, posted her 21st double-double of the season with 23 points and 14 rebounds.
"She's playing some very good basketball for us right now," Guevara said of Frost, a 6-foot senior who earlier this week was named one of 10 finalists for the Katrina McClain Award, which goes to the best power forward in the nation. "She's making it very difficult (for opponents), because of her ability to shoot the 3. When people prepare for us, in the past it's always been Presley Hudson, so now it's Reyna Frost, which really helps (Hudson).
"It's a really nice inside-outside combination. Her relentlessness on the boards, there isn't anybody else like her."
Hudson matched her second-highest point total (28) of the season. She made all 10 of her free throw attempts.
The 20-point effort by Bussell was a career best for the sophomore from Grand Rapids. Her previous career best (19) came against Tulane earlier this season.
Dillard scored 29 points to lead Buffalo.
THE BENCH
The contributions from Bussell and Bird were critical to CMU's ability to pull out a crucial MAC road victory, which may eventually prove to be very important for seeing purposes in the league tournament.
"I think (Bussell) is the (MAC) Sixth Player of the Year as far as what she is doing shooting the basketball, rebounding the ball," Guevara said. "I give our bench a great deal of credit."
BACK ON TRACK
The Chippewas had struggled recently from 3-point territory and from the free throw line.
They were excellent on both counts against the Bulls, making 29 of their 31 free throw attempts (93.5 percent) and 13 of their 28 triple tries (46.4 percent).
"It's nice to see our 3 ball come back, but more importantly the free throws," Guevara said. "The bench came to play, and we made the free throws down the stretch when we needed to."
NEXT
The Chippewas go to Bowling Green on Wednesday, Feb. 20, for a league game.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Basketball
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