Central Michigan University
24-6, 15-3MAC
Toledo
19-10, 11-6MAC
Outright Title, No. 1 Seed, And A Special Send-off
3/9/2019 5:33:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Chippewas demolish Toledo on Senior Day
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. — Going out in style.
Presley Hudson and Reyna Frost each posted a double-double on Saturday as two of the very best players in Central Michigan women's basketball history played their final game at CMU's McGuirk Arena, leading the Chippewas to a 78-45 drubbing of Toledo.
The victory gave CMU its third-consecutive outright Mid-American Conference regular-season championship and the No. 1 seed in the MAC Tournament. The Chippewas, 24-6, 15-3 MAC, will play either Akron or Eastern Michigan in a quarterfinal game on Wednesday, March 13, at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
CMU is the defending tournament champion.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Chippewas led 33-27 at halftime, then made the second half a bon voyage party for Frost, Hudson and fellow senior Jaeda Robinson. CMU outscored the Rockets, 45-18, over the final two quarters to turn the game into a runaway.
The trio of Chippewas seniors were pulled from the game with 3:40 remaining, and received a thunderous standing ovation from 2,619 fans in attendance and hugs from coaches and teammates.
"I could not be happier for what we did defensively in the third quarter," CMU coach Sue Guevara said. "It was a nice game for our seniors to go out on."
The victory avenged one of CMU's three league losses. They fell at Toledo, 62-59, on Jan. 23.
LEADERS
Frost earned her 27th double-double of the season with 32 points and 11 rebounds. Hudson made six of her 11 3-point attempts in finishing with 28 points. She also had a season-high 10 rebounds for her second double-double of the season.
Micaela Kelly added 14 points and six assists for the Chippewas.
Kaayla McIntyre scored eight points to lead Toledo (19-10, 11-6).
SENIOR SENDOFF
Hudson, Frost and Robinson were recognized with their respective families following the victory, receiving ovations from the crowd and commemorative plaques and artwork.
The 2018-19 senior class has delivered the finest four-year stretch in program history, capturing four MAC West titles, three MAC overall regular-season championships, one MAC Tournament title and a Sweet Sixteen appearance. The Chippewas have won 99 of the 130 games they have played since Frost, Hudson and Robinson set foot on campus.
Hudson is the program's career scoring leader and also tops the all-time assist chart; Frost is the all-time leading rebounder in MAC history.
"They've created pillars for our program with their discipline and work ethic on the court and in the classroom and their determination and desire to make a mark on this program," Guevara said. "They're tremendous role models for our underclassmen.
"None of them was a 5-star, 4-star, 3-star, 2-star or 1-star (recruit), but they work, and that's how you continue to build a program, have the program maintain and continue to rise."
Hudson described her final game in Mount Pleasant as fun with a lot of energy.
"There's been a lot of support over our four years and it's been amazing," she said. "I don't want to talk much (more) or else I'll start crying."
Robinson agreed with Hudson's assessment.
"Our fans here are priceless, I wouldn't trade them for anything," Robinson said. "The amount of love and support that we get when we're in (McGuirk) Arena and other arenas, we can always feel maroon and gold and see maroon and gold. We take it everywhere we go, everyone's genuine and supportive both on the court and in the classroom. It's definitely bittersweet to leave."
