Tuesday, December 15
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
2 P.M.
Central Michigan University
3-1,2-0MAC
69
vs
51
Miami (OH)
1-3,0-1MAC
1
2
3
4
F
Miami (OH)
13
12
14
12
51
Central Mich.
16
21
16
16
69
CMU senior Micaela Kelly goes to the basket on Tuesday in the Chippewas' 69-51 MAC victory over Miami (Ohio) at McGuirk Arena.
Photo by: Benjamin Suddendorf
Kelly, Lock-Down 'D' Lift CMU Women Past Miami
12/15/2020 5:38:00 PM | Women's Basketball
CMU wins third straight, improves to 2-0 MAC
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – A team gets 29 points from its top player, that's generally the storyline.
Yet Micaela Kelly will happily share the spotlight.
Kelly scored 29 points and she and her Central Michigan women's basketball teammates played lockdown defense on Tuesday in taking a 69-51 Mid-American Conference victory over Miami (Ohio) at McGuirk Arena.
It was the third-straight win for CMU, which improved to 3-1, 2-0 MAC. The Chippewas held Miami to more than 15 points below its season average. They limited the RedHawks (1-3, 0-1) to three 3-pointers on 19 attempts and 30.5 percent shooting from the floor overall.
"We weren't that good of a defensive team last year, so we put more emphasis on it this (year)," said Kelly, the reigning MAC Player of the Year and one of the top 25 players in the nation according to ESPN. "We try to dig deep as a group, as a whole.
"Feels good as usual (to win), but it's just game two. You know how tough the MAC is; just preparing each and every game like it's the championship."
How It Happened
The Chippewas never trailed and closed the first half on a 9-2 run for a 37-25 halftime lead.
Kelly started the surge with a pair of free throws with 3:22 to play in the second quarter, extending CMU's lead to 30-23. The Chippewas then got a jumper from Molly Davis, a layup from Jahari Smith, and a 3-pointer from Kelly for the 12-point margin at the break.
Miami trimmed its deficit to single digits just once in the second half, and that was nine points, 43-34, early in the third quarter. CMU led by as many 23 points in the fourth.
Leaders
Kelly hit a season-high four triples and finished 11-for-23 from the floor. She had 20 points at halftime.
Kyra Bussell, a senior, had 12 points and 10 rebounds in posting her second-consecutive double-double and the sixth of her career. Davis finished with 10 points.
More Kelly-Like
Kelly scored 13 points in the Chippewas' 79-62 victory over Cincinnati on Saturday. The 13 points was her lowest total since she had 10 against Ohio on Feb. 1, 2020, a stretch of 20 games.
Kelly's defensive task against the RedHawks wasn't as burdensome as it was when the Chippewas defeated Cincinnati. In that case, she was assigned to guard Ilmar'l Thomas, an All-American who entered the game averaging nearly 30 points per game.
"Twin's the type of player who will do anything that our team needs her to do to win," CMU coach Heather Oesterle said of Kelly, referring to her star by her nickname. "We stuck Twin on (Cincinnati's) best player, who outweighed her and was bigger than her and she had to battle in there (which affected) her offense a little bit; but she was more than willing to take on the defensive effort. I think it wore her out a little bit.
"You know the type of competitor (Kelly) is. She was locked in today and in practice (Monday) as well. If it's a game where she's got to guard that best player and she's got to battle with them she's more than willing to do that. If she needs to score 29 points – she can do anything. I think that kid, the sky's the limit. She's a great teammate, she's a great player, and she's willing to do whatever it takes for our team to win."
Another Step Up
Kelly's four 3-pointers up her career total to 195. She broke a tie with Molli Munz (1999-02) and now stands alone in sixth place in program history. Next on the list is Kerby Tamm (2011-14), who is fifth with 211.
Next
The Chippewas play two pre-Christmas nonconference road games, the first at Michigan State (Friday) and the second at Dayton (Dec. 22). The Spartans are 4-0; Dayton is 1-1. CMU is scheduled to resume MAC play on Jan. 2, 2021 at Ohio.
Yet Micaela Kelly will happily share the spotlight.
Kelly scored 29 points and she and her Central Michigan women's basketball teammates played lockdown defense on Tuesday in taking a 69-51 Mid-American Conference victory over Miami (Ohio) at McGuirk Arena.
It was the third-straight win for CMU, which improved to 3-1, 2-0 MAC. The Chippewas held Miami to more than 15 points below its season average. They limited the RedHawks (1-3, 0-1) to three 3-pointers on 19 attempts and 30.5 percent shooting from the floor overall.
"We weren't that good of a defensive team last year, so we put more emphasis on it this (year)," said Kelly, the reigning MAC Player of the Year and one of the top 25 players in the nation according to ESPN. "We try to dig deep as a group, as a whole.
"Feels good as usual (to win), but it's just game two. You know how tough the MAC is; just preparing each and every game like it's the championship."
How It Happened
The Chippewas never trailed and closed the first half on a 9-2 run for a 37-25 halftime lead.
Kelly started the surge with a pair of free throws with 3:22 to play in the second quarter, extending CMU's lead to 30-23. The Chippewas then got a jumper from Molly Davis, a layup from Jahari Smith, and a 3-pointer from Kelly for the 12-point margin at the break.
Miami trimmed its deficit to single digits just once in the second half, and that was nine points, 43-34, early in the third quarter. CMU led by as many 23 points in the fourth.
Leaders
Kelly hit a season-high four triples and finished 11-for-23 from the floor. She had 20 points at halftime.
Kyra Bussell, a senior, had 12 points and 10 rebounds in posting her second-consecutive double-double and the sixth of her career. Davis finished with 10 points.
More Kelly-Like
Kelly scored 13 points in the Chippewas' 79-62 victory over Cincinnati on Saturday. The 13 points was her lowest total since she had 10 against Ohio on Feb. 1, 2020, a stretch of 20 games.
Kelly's defensive task against the RedHawks wasn't as burdensome as it was when the Chippewas defeated Cincinnati. In that case, she was assigned to guard Ilmar'l Thomas, an All-American who entered the game averaging nearly 30 points per game.
"Twin's the type of player who will do anything that our team needs her to do to win," CMU coach Heather Oesterle said of Kelly, referring to her star by her nickname. "We stuck Twin on (Cincinnati's) best player, who outweighed her and was bigger than her and she had to battle in there (which affected) her offense a little bit; but she was more than willing to take on the defensive effort. I think it wore her out a little bit.
"You know the type of competitor (Kelly) is. She was locked in today and in practice (Monday) as well. If it's a game where she's got to guard that best player and she's got to battle with them she's more than willing to do that. If she needs to score 29 points – she can do anything. I think that kid, the sky's the limit. She's a great teammate, she's a great player, and she's willing to do whatever it takes for our team to win."
Another Step Up
Kelly's four 3-pointers up her career total to 195. She broke a tie with Molli Munz (1999-02) and now stands alone in sixth place in program history. Next on the list is Kerby Tamm (2011-14), who is fifth with 211.
Next
The Chippewas play two pre-Christmas nonconference road games, the first at Michigan State (Friday) and the second at Dayton (Dec. 22). The Spartans are 4-0; Dayton is 1-1. CMU is scheduled to resume MAC play on Jan. 2, 2021 at Ohio.
Team Stats
Miami
CMU
FG%
.305
.458
3FG%
.158
.348
FT%
.800
.636
RB
37
36
TO
11
11
STL
6
7
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
29
FGM
11
3FGM
4
FTM
3
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
F
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