Central Michigan University Athletics
Wednesday, January 15
Mount Pleasant, MI
7:00 p.m.
Central Michigan University
11-4,4-0MAC
66
vs
39
Ball State
11-5,3-1MAC
1
2
3
4
F
Ball St.
10
15
5
9
39
Central Mich.
16
16
20
14
66
CMU freshman guard Molly Davis drives to the basket on Wednesday in the Chippewas' victory over Ball State at McGuirk Arena.
Photo by: Benjamin Suddendorf
CMU Women Flex Defensive Muscle In Rolling Past Ball State
1/15/2020 10:07:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Chippewas, 4-0 in league play, stand alone atop MAC West
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Offense has been the calling card for the Central Michigan women's basketball team throughout the 2019-20 season.
On Wednesday, the Chippewas showed they can play some defense, too.
CMU held Ball State to 14 second-half points in posting a 66-39 victory at McGuirk Arena, winning a battle of the last two remaining unbeaten teams in Mid-American Conference play.
"I thought that that was a perfectly executed game plan for us defensively," CMU coach Heather Oesterle said. "Our players are really bought-in right now. We tell them we want to take this, this and this away (from an opponent), and they're going out and they're executing the game plan.
"I'm just really proud of the way they've bought in and they're believing what we're telling them."
It was the Chippewas' fourth consecutive win as they improved to 11-4, 4-0 MAC. They entered the game tied with the Cardinals atop the MAC West.
CMU has won 11 of its last 12 games after an 0-3 start and goes to rival Western Michigan on Saturday (2 p.m.) for a league game.
"It is a long season," said junior Kyra Bussell, who led the Chippewas with 15 points and eight rebounds. "I think it's important to keep our heads down and grind and keep focused on the game that's coming up, not get too far ahead, not think about where we are right now.
"Yeah it's cool that we're 4-0, but that's not what we're focused on right now. This is a good win, but we're focused on the next game."
How It Happened
The Chippewas used a 15-0 run that began late in the second quarter and ended midway through the third and left them up 47-25.
CMU outscored the Cardinals, 20-5, in the third quarter and 34-14 in the second half. The Chippewa lead was 30 points midway through the final stanza.
Leaders
Bussell tied her career high with three 3-pointers (on five attempts), while freshman point guard Molly Davis added 14 points and Maddy Watters had 10.
CMU's Micaela Kelly, the nation's second-leading scorer at 24.4 points per game, finished with 11 after spending much of the first half on the bench with foul trouble.
The 11 points was a season low for Kelly, but it hardly mattered what with the way the Chippewas played defensively and spread the wealth on offense.
"We have a lot of different people who can score the basketball and I think that says (a lot about) us when (Kelly's) not having the game that she's been having in the past," Oesterle said.
Defense
The Chippewas held Ball State to just two 3-pointers on 13 attempts and to a 16-for-49 (32.7 percent) shooting night overall. CMU finished with a 40-32 rebounding advantage.
Oshlynn Brown, a 6-foot-1 junior and Preseason All-MAC West Division selection, scored 10 points to lead Ball State. She was the only Cardinal to score in double figures.
"We have big practice players that come in," Bussell said. "So she was basically a guy (in practice) that is 200 pounds and six inches taller. That's something, practicing against a guy like that, (that) makes it a little easier in the game.
"We knew she was a player that if you gave her enough space she could get going and we didn't want her to have the ability to get going because she fuels their team. That's something that we focused on in practice and we did that during the game, and it showed."
Poise and Composure
With Kelly on the bench for most of the first half, the ball handling and leadership load fell to Davis, a freshman, who has quarterbacked the Chippewas since the beginning of the season.
But without Kelly on the floor, the Chippewas were forced to explore other options. Davis, who had seven assists, didn't miss a beat.
"As a point guard it's my job to get everyone involved and that's what I did, just tried to find my teammates every chance I could and they were knocking down shots," Davis said. "We're 15, 16 games in, I don't really consider myself a freshman anymore.
"Playing with confidence is something I need to do every single game, and we're playing with a lot of energy right now and I think we're where we want to be."
Stepping Up
Bussell was an efficient five of eight from the floor. And though her bread-and-butter has been and likely will remain post play, having the ability to shoot from long range is a dimension for which CMU opponents must account.
Bussell hit three triples in the Chippewas' season-opening triple-overtime loss to Green Bay. She has made 12 of her 34 (35.2 percent) 3-point attempts on the season.
"I get in the gym and shoot 3s just as much as I get in the gym and do post moves," she said. "It's something that I've continually worked on.
"Me being as versatile as I can be definitely helps my team. I want my team to be able to succeed and if that means me shooting a 3 one game or posting up another game, I'm just here to do what my team needs me to do."
Season Lows
Ball State's 39 points was its season low and a season low for a CMU opponent. CMU held Oakland to 47 points on Dec. 18.
Streaks
It was the Chippewas' fifth-consecutive win over Ball State, and their eighth in their last nine meetings with the Cardinals. Ball State had won seven straight games entering Wednesday's contest.
Next
Western Michigan is 9-5, 3-1 MAC after a 73-72 home win over Ohio on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, the Chippewas showed they can play some defense, too.
CMU held Ball State to 14 second-half points in posting a 66-39 victory at McGuirk Arena, winning a battle of the last two remaining unbeaten teams in Mid-American Conference play.
"I thought that that was a perfectly executed game plan for us defensively," CMU coach Heather Oesterle said. "Our players are really bought-in right now. We tell them we want to take this, this and this away (from an opponent), and they're going out and they're executing the game plan.
"I'm just really proud of the way they've bought in and they're believing what we're telling them."
It was the Chippewas' fourth consecutive win as they improved to 11-4, 4-0 MAC. They entered the game tied with the Cardinals atop the MAC West.
CMU has won 11 of its last 12 games after an 0-3 start and goes to rival Western Michigan on Saturday (2 p.m.) for a league game.
"It is a long season," said junior Kyra Bussell, who led the Chippewas with 15 points and eight rebounds. "I think it's important to keep our heads down and grind and keep focused on the game that's coming up, not get too far ahead, not think about where we are right now.
"Yeah it's cool that we're 4-0, but that's not what we're focused on right now. This is a good win, but we're focused on the next game."
How It Happened
The Chippewas used a 15-0 run that began late in the second quarter and ended midway through the third and left them up 47-25.
CMU outscored the Cardinals, 20-5, in the third quarter and 34-14 in the second half. The Chippewa lead was 30 points midway through the final stanza.
Leaders
Bussell tied her career high with three 3-pointers (on five attempts), while freshman point guard Molly Davis added 14 points and Maddy Watters had 10.
CMU's Micaela Kelly, the nation's second-leading scorer at 24.4 points per game, finished with 11 after spending much of the first half on the bench with foul trouble.
The 11 points was a season low for Kelly, but it hardly mattered what with the way the Chippewas played defensively and spread the wealth on offense.
"We have a lot of different people who can score the basketball and I think that says (a lot about) us when (Kelly's) not having the game that she's been having in the past," Oesterle said.
Defense
The Chippewas held Ball State to just two 3-pointers on 13 attempts and to a 16-for-49 (32.7 percent) shooting night overall. CMU finished with a 40-32 rebounding advantage.
Oshlynn Brown, a 6-foot-1 junior and Preseason All-MAC West Division selection, scored 10 points to lead Ball State. She was the only Cardinal to score in double figures.
"We have big practice players that come in," Bussell said. "So she was basically a guy (in practice) that is 200 pounds and six inches taller. That's something, practicing against a guy like that, (that) makes it a little easier in the game.
"We knew she was a player that if you gave her enough space she could get going and we didn't want her to have the ability to get going because she fuels their team. That's something that we focused on in practice and we did that during the game, and it showed."
Poise and Composure
With Kelly on the bench for most of the first half, the ball handling and leadership load fell to Davis, a freshman, who has quarterbacked the Chippewas since the beginning of the season.
But without Kelly on the floor, the Chippewas were forced to explore other options. Davis, who had seven assists, didn't miss a beat.
"As a point guard it's my job to get everyone involved and that's what I did, just tried to find my teammates every chance I could and they were knocking down shots," Davis said. "We're 15, 16 games in, I don't really consider myself a freshman anymore.
"Playing with confidence is something I need to do every single game, and we're playing with a lot of energy right now and I think we're where we want to be."
Stepping Up
Bussell was an efficient five of eight from the floor. And though her bread-and-butter has been and likely will remain post play, having the ability to shoot from long range is a dimension for which CMU opponents must account.
Bussell hit three triples in the Chippewas' season-opening triple-overtime loss to Green Bay. She has made 12 of her 34 (35.2 percent) 3-point attempts on the season.
"I get in the gym and shoot 3s just as much as I get in the gym and do post moves," she said. "It's something that I've continually worked on.
"Me being as versatile as I can be definitely helps my team. I want my team to be able to succeed and if that means me shooting a 3 one game or posting up another game, I'm just here to do what my team needs me to do."
Season Lows
Ball State's 39 points was its season low and a season low for a CMU opponent. CMU held Oakland to 47 points on Dec. 18.
Streaks
It was the Chippewas' fifth-consecutive win over Ball State, and their eighth in their last nine meetings with the Cardinals. Ball State had won seven straight games entering Wednesday's contest.
Next
Western Michigan is 9-5, 3-1 MAC after a 73-72 home win over Ohio on Wednesday.
.png&width=84&height=84&quality=100&type=webp)
Team Stats
BSU
CMU
FG%
.327
.417
3FG%
.154
.387
FT%
.357
.800
RB
32
40
TO
16
15
STL
5
10
Game Leaders
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballWBB Cinematic Recap vs. Davenport
Monday, November 10
2025-26 WBB Preseason Press Conference - Taylor Johnson & Nekhu Mitchell
Tuesday, October 21
2025-26 WBB Preseason Press Conference - Head Coach Kristin Haynie
Tuesday, October 21
WBB Annual Golf Outing
Friday, September 12