Saturday, February 1
Mount Pleasant, MI
1:00 p.m.
Central Michigan University
16-4,9-0MAC
92
vs
90
Ohio
13-7,6-3MAC
1
2
3
4
OT 1
F
Ohio
17
25
22
17
9
90
Central Mich.
28
13
19
21
11
92
Photo by: Allissa Rusco
Chippewa Women Work Their OT Magic Again
2/1/2020 5:35:00 PM | Women's Basketball
CMU opens three-game lead in MAC at midway point
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Another day, another comeback victory.
Kyra Bussell scored a career-high 33 points on an efficient 15-of-20 shooting as the Central Michigan women's basketball team defeated Ohio in overtime, 92-90, in a battle of Mid-American Conference division leaders on Saturday at McGuirk Arena.
It was the second-consecutive OT win for the Chippewas, 16-4, 9-0, who now lead the MAC West by 3 ½ games and hold a three-game lead over Ohio for the overall league lead. Their last five wins have all come after they trailed in the fourth quarter.
"I'm really proud of the way we're finding ways to win in these close games," CMU coach Heather Oesterle said. "I think the more we find ways to win, the better it's going to help us in March."
How It Happened
The Chippewas trailed, 81-80, following a layup from Gabby Burris with 11 seconds left in regulation.
Micaela Kelly was fouled on a drive to the hoop with less than two seconds left. She was slow to get up after the contact and was replaced by Kalle Martinez, who split the two free throws to send the game to extra time.
"We're just as confident in Kalle as we are in (Kelly)," said Bussell. "It doesn't matter who it is, we're going to step up and make shots in big-time moments."
Molly Davis drilled her third 3-pointer of the game with 2:41 remaining in OT, giving the Chippewas an 87-85 lead. Kelly then converted jumpers on back-to-back possessions to put the Chippewas up by five with just under a minute remaining.
Ohio made a layup with just seconds remaining to draw within one point of CMU. The Bobcats fouled Kelly and sent her to the line for two shots with less than a second on the clock. Kelly missed the first and made the second to give CMU a 92-90 lead with .6 seconds remaining.
The Bobcats failed to convert on a last-second inbound attempt and the Chippewas managed to escape with yet another comeback victory.
"There's no quit in this team," said Oesterle. "They're a bunch of competitors and they refuse to lose."
Leaders
Bussell, who also had nine rebounds, provided a much-needed scoring presence on the inside when the CMU shooters went cold. The Chippewas made four of their five 3-point attempts in the first quarter, but were just three for 18 from long range for the balance of regulation time.
"I think my role on the team is doing whatever is needed from me in that moment," said Bussell. "I just try to pump up my team any way that I can."
Kelly was quiet again on the scoreboard (10 points) but flourished as a facilitator for the second-straight game. After reaching double-digit assists for the first time in her career with 10 against Buffalo on Wednesday, she managed to set a career high with a team-leading 12 assists against the Bobcats.
Davis continued to score effectively and efficiently, recording her third-straight 20-plus point game with 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting from the field. Maddy Watters chipped in 13 points. Watters and Davis combined to make six of their 12 3-point attempts.
Next
CMU will be back at McGuirk Arena on Wednesday (7 p.m.) to take on Northern Illinois, 7-13, 3-6, in a conference game.
Kyra Bussell scored a career-high 33 points on an efficient 15-of-20 shooting as the Central Michigan women's basketball team defeated Ohio in overtime, 92-90, in a battle of Mid-American Conference division leaders on Saturday at McGuirk Arena.
It was the second-consecutive OT win for the Chippewas, 16-4, 9-0, who now lead the MAC West by 3 ½ games and hold a three-game lead over Ohio for the overall league lead. Their last five wins have all come after they trailed in the fourth quarter.
"I'm really proud of the way we're finding ways to win in these close games," CMU coach Heather Oesterle said. "I think the more we find ways to win, the better it's going to help us in March."
How It Happened
The Chippewas trailed, 81-80, following a layup from Gabby Burris with 11 seconds left in regulation.
Micaela Kelly was fouled on a drive to the hoop with less than two seconds left. She was slow to get up after the contact and was replaced by Kalle Martinez, who split the two free throws to send the game to extra time.
"We're just as confident in Kalle as we are in (Kelly)," said Bussell. "It doesn't matter who it is, we're going to step up and make shots in big-time moments."
Molly Davis drilled her third 3-pointer of the game with 2:41 remaining in OT, giving the Chippewas an 87-85 lead. Kelly then converted jumpers on back-to-back possessions to put the Chippewas up by five with just under a minute remaining.
Ohio made a layup with just seconds remaining to draw within one point of CMU. The Bobcats fouled Kelly and sent her to the line for two shots with less than a second on the clock. Kelly missed the first and made the second to give CMU a 92-90 lead with .6 seconds remaining.
The Bobcats failed to convert on a last-second inbound attempt and the Chippewas managed to escape with yet another comeback victory.
"There's no quit in this team," said Oesterle. "They're a bunch of competitors and they refuse to lose."
Leaders
Bussell, who also had nine rebounds, provided a much-needed scoring presence on the inside when the CMU shooters went cold. The Chippewas made four of their five 3-point attempts in the first quarter, but were just three for 18 from long range for the balance of regulation time.
"I think my role on the team is doing whatever is needed from me in that moment," said Bussell. "I just try to pump up my team any way that I can."
Kelly was quiet again on the scoreboard (10 points) but flourished as a facilitator for the second-straight game. After reaching double-digit assists for the first time in her career with 10 against Buffalo on Wednesday, she managed to set a career high with a team-leading 12 assists against the Bobcats.
Davis continued to score effectively and efficiently, recording her third-straight 20-plus point game with 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting from the field. Maddy Watters chipped in 13 points. Watters and Davis combined to make six of their 12 3-point attempts.
Next
CMU will be back at McGuirk Arena on Wednesday (7 p.m.) to take on Northern Illinois, 7-13, 3-6, in a conference game.
Team Stats
Ohio
CMU
FG%
.419
.609
3FG%
.310
.308
FT%
.563
.600
RB
44
38
TO
9
19
STL
9
2
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
33
FGM
15
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
23
FGM
10
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
F
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