CMU Women Win, Tie For Top Spot In MAC

Wednesday, February 27

Muncie, Ind.

7:00 p.m. ET

Central Michigan University

21-6

Ball State

7-20

Central Mich.

Ball St.

Photo by: Allissa Rusco

2/27/2019 10:07:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Chippewas clinch West title share

By: Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com

MUNCIE, Ind. – Three games to go in the Mid-American Conference women's basketball race and Central Michigan is back in a familiar spot, first place.

Reyna Frost had 26 points and 15 rebounds on Wednesday as the Chippewas wrestled away an 81-64 victory over Ball State at the Cardinals' Worthen Arena, clinching at least a tie for their fourth consecutive MAC West title.

"That was really, really hard," CMU coach Sue Guevara said. "This is a tough place to play. It really is. We came on the road and this was a grinder. We had to grind it out and kudos to our kids for doing that and for staying the course."

WHAT IT MEANS
The win, coupled with a Miami (Ohio) loss to Kent State, left the Chippewas and RedHawks tied for the best record (12-3) in the MAC.

The Chippewas, who lead the West by three games over Toledo and Northern Illinois (both are 9-6 MAC), can claim their third consecutive MAC regular-season overall title by winning their final three games.

If CMU and Miami finish tied at the top of the conference, the RedHawks would earn the No. 1 seed in the MAC Tournament by virtue of its win over the Chippewas earlier this season. Under that scenario, the Chippewas would be the No. 2 seed in the tournament.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Chippewas led 45-30 at halftime, then saw Ball State creep within four, 55-51, late in the third quarter.

A Frost jumper with 38 second to play in the third triggered a 13-2 CMU run that included a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Kyra Bussell and ended on a Frost layup just over a minute into the fourth quarter.

Just like that, the Chippewa lead was back at 15, 68-53. The Cardinals never got closer than 13 the rest of the way.

LEADERS
Frost's double-double was her 10^th straight, her 24^th of the season and the 57^th of her career.

"You look at that kid, she has 26 points and 15 rebounds," Guevara said of Frost, who on Tuesday earned her fifth consecutive MAC West Player of the Week Award. "You can't ask for much more than that."

Presley Hudson added 18 points and six assists for the Chippewas, and Micaela Kelly had 16 points.

Jasmin Samz hit five of her six 3-point attempts to finish with 26 points to lead the Cardinals. Ball State's leading scorer, Oshlynn Brown, finished with five points on 1-of-9 shooting from the field.

NEXT
The Chippewas play at Eastern Michigan (12-14, 5-10) on Saturday (2 p.m.) and, with a win, can clinch the outright West title.

CMU then closes the regular season with two home games next week. On Wednesday, March 6, they play Western Michigan, and on Saturday, March 9, they play Toledo.