Wednesday, February 5
Mount Pleasant, MI
7:00 p.m.
Central Michigan University
17-4,10-0MAC
66
vs
60
Northern Illinois
6-14,2-7MAC
1
2
3
4
F
Northern Ill.
11
15
16
18
60
Central Mich.
23
12
14
17
66
Photo by: Allissa Rusco
Chippewa Women Remain Unbeaten In MAC
2/5/2020 11:07:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Sometimes, it's about the grit and grind rather than the glamour.
Still, a win is a win and the Central Michigan women's basketball team remains unbeaten in Mid-American Conference play.
The Chippewas overcame a sub-par shooting night and a wide discrepancy in rebounds on Wednesday in holding off Northern Illinois, 66-60, at McGuirk Arena.
"It definitely wasn't our best game of the year," CMU coach Heather Oesterle said. "But it's a game that we found a way to win. I'm proud of the way we found a way to win, but I do know there's a lot to work on."
The Chippewas won for the 16th time in their last 17 starts, improving to 17-4, 10-0 MAC. They maintain a three-game lead over Ohio in the overall MAC standings and are 3 ½ ahead of Ball State in the West Division.
How It Happened
The Chippewas never trailed and appeared as though they were going to put the Huskies away early when they built a 15-point first-half lead.
But the pesky Huskies, who are last in the West, refused to wilt as the Chippewas made just nine of their 39 3-point field goal attempts for 23.1 percent, their second-worst long-range shooting night of the season. The Chippewas finished a season-low 37.3 percent from the field and were outrebounded, 52-40.
"They were great looks, we were wide open," Oesterle said. "I don't think we've been this open all year. And I love 3's, but I think there's times where we were able to space it out in the fourth quarter and drive it. Those are things that we need to do a better job of."
The Chippewas, who had averaged 86.4 points in their last five games, did not trail in the fourth quarter for the first time in six games. But the Huskies crept within one, 49-48, with just over six minutes remaining.
Micaela Kelly drained a 3-pointer and Maddy Watters hit a jumper to give the Chippewas some breathing room.
CMU made seven of its eight free throw attempts on the night – all in the fourth quarter – and Watters hit the biggest shot of the game, a back-breaking triple with 40 seconds remaining that put CMU up 64-57.
"I know everyone else can score on the court," said Watters, who finished with 13 points for the third-consecutive game. "I mean, they can't stop us all. Just being open and shooting it if I get the ball or passing it if someone else is open, I'm just ready to do whatever the team needs me to do."
Kelly and Watters combined for 13 of the Chippewas' final 17 points.
"There's a mentality on our team that we refuse to lose," Oesterle said. "We have people that make plays in key moments of the game."
Leaders
Kyra Bussell scored 19 points and added a career-high-tying three blocks. The Chippewas posted a season-high seven blocks and committed a season-low nine turnovers. They limited NIU to a 34.3 percent shooting night.
Kelly, who entered the game third in the nation in scoring at 22.8 points per game, finished with 14 points. Despite being held to nearly nine points below her average, she stuffed the stat sheet in other areas, leading CMU with nine rebounds to go along with six assists.
Freshman guard Molly Davis finished with seven points, marking the first time in six games that she failed to reach double digits. She was effective setting up her teammates, however, dishing out a team-leading eight assists.
Next
The Chippewas go to Miami (Ohio) for a MAC game on Saturday (2 p.m.). The RedHawks are 11-11, 4-6.
Still, a win is a win and the Central Michigan women's basketball team remains unbeaten in Mid-American Conference play.
The Chippewas overcame a sub-par shooting night and a wide discrepancy in rebounds on Wednesday in holding off Northern Illinois, 66-60, at McGuirk Arena.
"It definitely wasn't our best game of the year," CMU coach Heather Oesterle said. "But it's a game that we found a way to win. I'm proud of the way we found a way to win, but I do know there's a lot to work on."
The Chippewas won for the 16th time in their last 17 starts, improving to 17-4, 10-0 MAC. They maintain a three-game lead over Ohio in the overall MAC standings and are 3 ½ ahead of Ball State in the West Division.
How It Happened
The Chippewas never trailed and appeared as though they were going to put the Huskies away early when they built a 15-point first-half lead.
But the pesky Huskies, who are last in the West, refused to wilt as the Chippewas made just nine of their 39 3-point field goal attempts for 23.1 percent, their second-worst long-range shooting night of the season. The Chippewas finished a season-low 37.3 percent from the field and were outrebounded, 52-40.
"They were great looks, we were wide open," Oesterle said. "I don't think we've been this open all year. And I love 3's, but I think there's times where we were able to space it out in the fourth quarter and drive it. Those are things that we need to do a better job of."
The Chippewas, who had averaged 86.4 points in their last five games, did not trail in the fourth quarter for the first time in six games. But the Huskies crept within one, 49-48, with just over six minutes remaining.
Micaela Kelly drained a 3-pointer and Maddy Watters hit a jumper to give the Chippewas some breathing room.
CMU made seven of its eight free throw attempts on the night – all in the fourth quarter – and Watters hit the biggest shot of the game, a back-breaking triple with 40 seconds remaining that put CMU up 64-57.
"I know everyone else can score on the court," said Watters, who finished with 13 points for the third-consecutive game. "I mean, they can't stop us all. Just being open and shooting it if I get the ball or passing it if someone else is open, I'm just ready to do whatever the team needs me to do."
Kelly and Watters combined for 13 of the Chippewas' final 17 points.
"There's a mentality on our team that we refuse to lose," Oesterle said. "We have people that make plays in key moments of the game."
Leaders
Kyra Bussell scored 19 points and added a career-high-tying three blocks. The Chippewas posted a season-high seven blocks and committed a season-low nine turnovers. They limited NIU to a 34.3 percent shooting night.
Kelly, who entered the game third in the nation in scoring at 22.8 points per game, finished with 14 points. Despite being held to nearly nine points below her average, she stuffed the stat sheet in other areas, leading CMU with nine rebounds to go along with six assists.
Freshman guard Molly Davis finished with seven points, marking the first time in six games that she failed to reach double digits. She was effective setting up her teammates, however, dishing out a team-leading eight assists.
Next
The Chippewas go to Miami (Ohio) for a MAC game on Saturday (2 p.m.). The RedHawks are 11-11, 4-6.
Team Stats
NIU
CMU
FG%
.343
.373
3FG%
.300
.231
FT%
.500
.875
RB
52
40
TO
14
9
STL
3
7
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
19
FGM
9
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
3
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
7
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
F
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