Central Michigan University Athletics
Saturday, December 12
Mount Pleasant, MI
12 P.M.
Central Michigan University
2-1,1-0MAC
79
vs
62
Cincinnati
1-3,0-0AAC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati | 27 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 62 |
| Central Mich. | 27 | 19 | 16 | 17 | 79 |
CMU sophomore Anika Weeks (5) defends Cincinnati All-American Iimar'i Thomas on Saturday at McGuirk Arena.
Photo by: Benjamin Suddendorf
CMU Women Pull Away, Top Cincinnati
12/12/2020 3:05:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Davis scores 25 to lead four Chippewas in double figures
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – It isn't always about the what, but the when.
It also helps to be surrounded by a pretty darned good cast of teammates.
Micaela Kelly hit two 3-pointers during a game-closing 11-0 run on Saturday as the Central Michigan women's basketball team downed Cincinnati, 79-62, in a nonconference game at McGuirk Arena.
It was the second-straight win for the Chippewas (2-1), who put on display their vast array of offensive weapons against a Bearcat team (1-3) that features All-American Iimar'I Thomas.
"I think it's great for our program; I think it's great for our university," CMU coach Heather Oesterle said of the victory. "That's a great team that we just beat with one of the top players in the country on that team."
How It Happened
The Chippewas led for most of the game but could never stretch its lead to a comfortable margin. They led 68-62 when Krya Bussell hit a 3-pointer with just under 4 minutes remaining and then Kelly followed with back-to-back triples to make it 77-62.
Maddy Watters closed it out with two free throws with 45 seconds to play.
CMU held Cincinnati scoreless over the final 4:21.
"I think we've got good leadership on this team that helps keep everybody calm in those types of situations," Oesterle said. "Hoping going forward that we stay this way, that we're calm, cool and collected in the fourth quarter."
Leaders
Molly Davis scored 25 points, Bussell finished with a double-double (19 points, 10 rebounds), Watters had 16, and Kelly finished with 13.
Kelly missed her first eight field goal attempts, and she did not make a field goal until under three minutes remained. Still, she made seven of her eight free throw tries, grabbed seven rebounds, dished out seven assists, and made two steals while committing just two turnovers.
"She definitely is a special individual," said Bussell of Kelly, the reigning Mid-American Conference Player of the Year. "I call her the heart and hustle of this team because we go as she goes. She's not having a great shooting night; she knows how to get her teammates open; she knows she has to get those 50-50 balls and that's something we all feed off of."
Davis and Watters both finished 4-of-6 from 3-point range and it was Bussell's fifth career double-double. Davis, Watters and Bussell combined to make 20 of their 25 field goal attempts.
"I think it just shows how versatile our team is," Bussell said. "We don't necessarily depend on one person in any given game to have 30 points or whatever it is. We have so many different weapons that we can use. I think that's what's going to make our team so special this year. … Just the fact that we know we put the work in, and we trust in each other."
Defending Thomas
Cincinnati's Thomas, an Honorable Mention All-American last season, entered the game averaging 29.7 points per game. Though just 5-foot-10, the senior displayed her craftiness around the basket, making 11 of her 16 field goal attempts. Nearly all of her shots were taken from within a few feet of the basket.
"We wanted to limit her touches inside," Bussell said. "We made it really hard for her even to get the ball in there. She just ended up getting her points off of second-chance shots and stuff like that. I think we did a pretty good job in that aspect. But props to her, she's an insanely talented player.
"She's the one that we really, really, really focused on and outside of that we made other people step up and take shots for them."
No other Bearcat scored in double figures. Take away Thomas' 11-for-16 shooting performance, the Bearcats shot 28.5 percent (14 for 49) from the floor.
"I'm just really proud of our team's grit today," Oesterle said. "I thought we did an exceptional job following the game plan, sticking to it, staying locked in."
On the Line
The Chippewas made 18 of their 22 free throw attempts after going to the line just once in their 82-71 win on Wednesday over Western Michigan.
Stepping Up
Watters, a senior guard, missed the Chippewas' season-opening loss at Michigan, but has made a major impact in the two games that she has played. She was also 4-for-6 from 3-point range in the win over Western and is averaging 14.0 points per game.
"She's always steady," Oesterle said. "We can count on her for leadership and every time she shoots the ball I think it's going in. She's a tough matchup for people. It's been huge to have her back the last two games and I think this is going to be a great year for her. I'm just happy that, knock on wood, we're at full strength right now."
Another player who stepped to the forefront on Saturday was redshirt sophomore guard Anika Weekes, who came off the bench to log 25 minutes. She had just two points, but she made a major impact on the game, Oesterle said.
"She played incredible minutes," she said. "She had two points, but she defended, and she rebounded, and we needed her today."
Next
The Chippewas return to Mid-American Conference competition on Tuesday, Dec. 15 (2 p.m.) at home against Miami (Ohio).
It also helps to be surrounded by a pretty darned good cast of teammates.
Micaela Kelly hit two 3-pointers during a game-closing 11-0 run on Saturday as the Central Michigan women's basketball team downed Cincinnati, 79-62, in a nonconference game at McGuirk Arena.
It was the second-straight win for the Chippewas (2-1), who put on display their vast array of offensive weapons against a Bearcat team (1-3) that features All-American Iimar'I Thomas.
"I think it's great for our program; I think it's great for our university," CMU coach Heather Oesterle said of the victory. "That's a great team that we just beat with one of the top players in the country on that team."
How It Happened
The Chippewas led for most of the game but could never stretch its lead to a comfortable margin. They led 68-62 when Krya Bussell hit a 3-pointer with just under 4 minutes remaining and then Kelly followed with back-to-back triples to make it 77-62.
Maddy Watters closed it out with two free throws with 45 seconds to play.
CMU held Cincinnati scoreless over the final 4:21.
"I think we've got good leadership on this team that helps keep everybody calm in those types of situations," Oesterle said. "Hoping going forward that we stay this way, that we're calm, cool and collected in the fourth quarter."
Leaders
Molly Davis scored 25 points, Bussell finished with a double-double (19 points, 10 rebounds), Watters had 16, and Kelly finished with 13.
Kelly missed her first eight field goal attempts, and she did not make a field goal until under three minutes remained. Still, she made seven of her eight free throw tries, grabbed seven rebounds, dished out seven assists, and made two steals while committing just two turnovers.
"She definitely is a special individual," said Bussell of Kelly, the reigning Mid-American Conference Player of the Year. "I call her the heart and hustle of this team because we go as she goes. She's not having a great shooting night; she knows how to get her teammates open; she knows she has to get those 50-50 balls and that's something we all feed off of."
Davis and Watters both finished 4-of-6 from 3-point range and it was Bussell's fifth career double-double. Davis, Watters and Bussell combined to make 20 of their 25 field goal attempts.
"I think it just shows how versatile our team is," Bussell said. "We don't necessarily depend on one person in any given game to have 30 points or whatever it is. We have so many different weapons that we can use. I think that's what's going to make our team so special this year. … Just the fact that we know we put the work in, and we trust in each other."
Defending Thomas
Cincinnati's Thomas, an Honorable Mention All-American last season, entered the game averaging 29.7 points per game. Though just 5-foot-10, the senior displayed her craftiness around the basket, making 11 of her 16 field goal attempts. Nearly all of her shots were taken from within a few feet of the basket.
"We wanted to limit her touches inside," Bussell said. "We made it really hard for her even to get the ball in there. She just ended up getting her points off of second-chance shots and stuff like that. I think we did a pretty good job in that aspect. But props to her, she's an insanely talented player.
"She's the one that we really, really, really focused on and outside of that we made other people step up and take shots for them."
No other Bearcat scored in double figures. Take away Thomas' 11-for-16 shooting performance, the Bearcats shot 28.5 percent (14 for 49) from the floor.
"I'm just really proud of our team's grit today," Oesterle said. "I thought we did an exceptional job following the game plan, sticking to it, staying locked in."
On the Line
The Chippewas made 18 of their 22 free throw attempts after going to the line just once in their 82-71 win on Wednesday over Western Michigan.
Stepping Up
Watters, a senior guard, missed the Chippewas' season-opening loss at Michigan, but has made a major impact in the two games that she has played. She was also 4-for-6 from 3-point range in the win over Western and is averaging 14.0 points per game.
"She's always steady," Oesterle said. "We can count on her for leadership and every time she shoots the ball I think it's going in. She's a tough matchup for people. It's been huge to have her back the last two games and I think this is going to be a great year for her. I'm just happy that, knock on wood, we're at full strength right now."
Another player who stepped to the forefront on Saturday was redshirt sophomore guard Anika Weekes, who came off the bench to log 25 minutes. She had just two points, but she made a major impact on the game, Oesterle said.
"She played incredible minutes," she said. "She had two points, but she defended, and she rebounded, and we needed her today."
Next
The Chippewas return to Mid-American Conference competition on Tuesday, Dec. 15 (2 p.m.) at home against Miami (Ohio).
Team Stats
UC
CMU
FG%
.385
.429
3FG%
.261
.433
FT%
.667
.818
RB
35
39
TO
12
13
STL
4
7
Game Leaders
Pts
25
FGM
8
3FGM
4
FTM
5
Pts
19
FGM
7
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
16
FGM
5
3FGM
4
FTM
2
Pts
13
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
7
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
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