Central Michigan University Athletics
Wednesday, January 15
Mount Pleasant, MI
7:00 p.m.
Central Michigan University
vs
Ball State
Photo by: Allissa Rusco
Another MAC Game, Another Anticipated Battle For CMU Women
1/14/2020 5:04:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Chippewas welcome Ball State to McGuirk on Wednesday
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Two unbeaten teams remaining in the Mid-American Conference women's basketball race.
After Wednesday night, there will be just one.
Central Michigan and Ball State will square off on Wednesday (7 p.m.) at McGuirk Arena. Both are 3-0 in league play and share the top spot in the West Division.
For the Chippewas, the early season showdown with the Cardinals is the latest in a game-in, game-out trend for the three-time defending MAC regular-season champions.
"Every game is going to be a challenge, there's no nights off in the MAC this year," first-year CMU coach Heather Oesterle said. "Everybody from top to bottom is going to be a very good opponent."
None of the Chippewas' three MAC victories have come easily. They won by five points at Akron in their league opener, came from behind to beat Ohio on a 3-pointer with 7 seconds remaining, and then used a late surge in downing Miami (Ohio) on Saturday.
Ball State is 11-4 and has won seven consecutive games. The Cardinals' MAC wins have come over Kent State, Bowling Green and Eastern Michigan.
Ball State is the best defensive team in the MAC, holding opponents to 62.1 points per game. Oshlynn Brown, a 6-foot-1 junior forward, leads the Cardinals in both scoring (12.9 points per game) and rebounding (9.7). Brown was named Preseason All-MAC West Division Team.
"I think our team knows it's one game at a time, it's one practice at a time," Oesterle said.
CMU junior guard Micaela Kelly continues to rank second in the nation in scoring at 24.4 points per game, leading an offense that ranks second in the MAC and 34th nationally at 75.2 points per game.
The Chippewas have won three consecutive games and 10 of their last 11 after an 0-3 start.
The 0-3 start can be traced to several factors, including a strong schedule and the transition from legendary coach Sue Guevara to her longtime assistant, confidante and protégé, Oesterle, along with the evolution in personnel – three starters returned, but the roles from Kelly to the last player off the bench shifted.
The Chippewas have gotten increasing production from senior Gabrielle Bird, who is coming off the bench to average 20-plus minutes per game. Bird has scored in double figures in four of the Chippewas' last five games after earlier this season scoring a career-high 21 points in a victory over Iona.
Bird, who has also averaged 7.4 rebounds in her last five games, has emerged as the perfect complement in the front court to starters Jahari Smith and Kyra Bussell. Bussell and Smith lead the Chippewas in rebounding at 6.6 and 5.3 per game, respectively.
After Wednesday night, there will be just one.
Central Michigan and Ball State will square off on Wednesday (7 p.m.) at McGuirk Arena. Both are 3-0 in league play and share the top spot in the West Division.
For the Chippewas, the early season showdown with the Cardinals is the latest in a game-in, game-out trend for the three-time defending MAC regular-season champions.
"Every game is going to be a challenge, there's no nights off in the MAC this year," first-year CMU coach Heather Oesterle said. "Everybody from top to bottom is going to be a very good opponent."
None of the Chippewas' three MAC victories have come easily. They won by five points at Akron in their league opener, came from behind to beat Ohio on a 3-pointer with 7 seconds remaining, and then used a late surge in downing Miami (Ohio) on Saturday.
Ball State is 11-4 and has won seven consecutive games. The Cardinals' MAC wins have come over Kent State, Bowling Green and Eastern Michigan.
Ball State is the best defensive team in the MAC, holding opponents to 62.1 points per game. Oshlynn Brown, a 6-foot-1 junior forward, leads the Cardinals in both scoring (12.9 points per game) and rebounding (9.7). Brown was named Preseason All-MAC West Division Team.
"I think our team knows it's one game at a time, it's one practice at a time," Oesterle said.
CMU junior guard Micaela Kelly continues to rank second in the nation in scoring at 24.4 points per game, leading an offense that ranks second in the MAC and 34th nationally at 75.2 points per game.
The Chippewas have won three consecutive games and 10 of their last 11 after an 0-3 start.
The 0-3 start can be traced to several factors, including a strong schedule and the transition from legendary coach Sue Guevara to her longtime assistant, confidante and protégé, Oesterle, along with the evolution in personnel – three starters returned, but the roles from Kelly to the last player off the bench shifted.
The Chippewas have gotten increasing production from senior Gabrielle Bird, who is coming off the bench to average 20-plus minutes per game. Bird has scored in double figures in four of the Chippewas' last five games after earlier this season scoring a career-high 21 points in a victory over Iona.
Bird, who has also averaged 7.4 rebounds in her last five games, has emerged as the perfect complement in the front court to starters Jahari Smith and Kyra Bussell. Bussell and Smith lead the Chippewas in rebounding at 6.6 and 5.3 per game, respectively.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Basketball
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