Central Michigan University Athletics
Photo by: Benjamin Suddendorf
Chippewa Women Fall In MAC Tournament
3/11/2020 4:12:00 PM | Women's Basketball
CLEVELAND – An ice-cold third quarter left Central Michigan reeling, and the Chippewas could not recover Wednesday as CMU fell to Toledo, 78-71, in a Mid-American Conference Tournament quarterfinal game at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.
The Chippewas (23-7), the regular-season league champions and the tourney's No. 1 seed, will now wait and see if they get an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament or a WNIT berth.
"I'm really hopeful that the NCAA committee will give us a chance to keep playing because of our body of work this year," first-year CMU coach Heather Oesterle said.
The Chippewas have an RPI of 19 and at one point this season won 23 of 24 games after an 0-3 start to the season. CMU is seeking its third-consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament. Two years ago, the Chippewas reached the Sweet Sixteen and last season fell in a one-point heartbreaker to Michigan State in their tourney opener.
"(We) wrapped up the MAC (regular-season) championship in 15 games, 15-0," she said. "So I think we've done the work to get an opportunity, plus our reputation in the tournament (helps). I'm hoping that we get a chance to keep playing whether it's in that tournament or in the WNIT."
How It Happened
The Chippewas led 44-39 with eight minutes to play in the third quarter when things took a dramatic turn. CMU missed its final 10 field goal attempts and was outscored 15-0 over the remainder of the period to trail, 54-44, entering the fourth.
Micaela Kelly hit two 3-pointers and Gabrielle Bird scored on a reverse layup to pull CMU within four, 56-52, but the Rockets answered with six consecutive points to re-up their lead to 10, 62-52, with under five minutes to play.
The Chippewas again made a surge, drawing to within three, 74-71, on a Maddy Watters 3-pointer with 30 seconds to play, but they could get no closer.
Leaders
Kyra Bussell scored 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the Chippewas, while Kelly had 21 points, seven rebounds and six assists>
Bussell scored 21 of her points on 9-of-13 shooting in the first half.
"Yes, (the Rockets) picked up their intensity, but also I underperformed (in the second half)," Bussell said. "I'm going to put that on my shoulders, that was my fault. There were some things that I should have been doing that I didn't do, could have rebounded more aggressively.
"(Toledo) figured something out. I don't know exactly what it was, but they were more aggressive than I was on the boards and that's something that I definitely let my teammates down."
Kelly, the MAC Player of the Year, found the going tough on her frequent drives to the basket. She made six field goals on 20 attempts.
"I told the team last night … you know what, this is tournament time, they let us play a little bit more and we've got to be ready for physicality on the rebounds," Oesterle said. "they're going to bump us, but that cannot get in our heads. I do think their physical play bothered us, but I don't think that was the reason why (Kelly) struggled to score from the floor."
Five Rockets (14-17) scored in double figures, led by Tanaya Beacham (14). Toledo, the ninth seed, was one of two MAC teams to beat the Chippewas during the regular season. The first loss came at the Rockets' Savage Arena and it came a week after CMU has wrapped up its fourth-consecutive league regular-season crown.
Limited Spectators
The game was played under less-than-ideal conditions because of public-health concerns. The teams were limited to a small number of fans and no spirit squads are pep bands were allowed.
"I know they were watching on TV," Oesterle said of the Chippewa fans, who have traditionally strongly supported the team both during the regular season and the postseason. "Really appreciated all their support this year and I believe we have the best fans in the Mid-American Conference and in the country. I got a lot of texts from people who wanted to come down (to Cleveland), but we just appreciate them cheering from wherever they were.
"I was disappointed when I saw the Sixth-Man Band and our spirit teams weren't going to be able to be there because they create a great atmosphere. I thought the fans that we did have there were loud and at times when we were coming back in the fourth, they got it going."
The Chippewas (23-7), the regular-season league champions and the tourney's No. 1 seed, will now wait and see if they get an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament or a WNIT berth.
"I'm really hopeful that the NCAA committee will give us a chance to keep playing because of our body of work this year," first-year CMU coach Heather Oesterle said.
The Chippewas have an RPI of 19 and at one point this season won 23 of 24 games after an 0-3 start to the season. CMU is seeking its third-consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament. Two years ago, the Chippewas reached the Sweet Sixteen and last season fell in a one-point heartbreaker to Michigan State in their tourney opener.
"(We) wrapped up the MAC (regular-season) championship in 15 games, 15-0," she said. "So I think we've done the work to get an opportunity, plus our reputation in the tournament (helps). I'm hoping that we get a chance to keep playing whether it's in that tournament or in the WNIT."
How It Happened
The Chippewas led 44-39 with eight minutes to play in the third quarter when things took a dramatic turn. CMU missed its final 10 field goal attempts and was outscored 15-0 over the remainder of the period to trail, 54-44, entering the fourth.
Micaela Kelly hit two 3-pointers and Gabrielle Bird scored on a reverse layup to pull CMU within four, 56-52, but the Rockets answered with six consecutive points to re-up their lead to 10, 62-52, with under five minutes to play.
The Chippewas again made a surge, drawing to within three, 74-71, on a Maddy Watters 3-pointer with 30 seconds to play, but they could get no closer.
Leaders
Kyra Bussell scored 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the Chippewas, while Kelly had 21 points, seven rebounds and six assists>
Bussell scored 21 of her points on 9-of-13 shooting in the first half.
"Yes, (the Rockets) picked up their intensity, but also I underperformed (in the second half)," Bussell said. "I'm going to put that on my shoulders, that was my fault. There were some things that I should have been doing that I didn't do, could have rebounded more aggressively.
"(Toledo) figured something out. I don't know exactly what it was, but they were more aggressive than I was on the boards and that's something that I definitely let my teammates down."
Kelly, the MAC Player of the Year, found the going tough on her frequent drives to the basket. She made six field goals on 20 attempts.
"I told the team last night … you know what, this is tournament time, they let us play a little bit more and we've got to be ready for physicality on the rebounds," Oesterle said. "they're going to bump us, but that cannot get in our heads. I do think their physical play bothered us, but I don't think that was the reason why (Kelly) struggled to score from the floor."
Five Rockets (14-17) scored in double figures, led by Tanaya Beacham (14). Toledo, the ninth seed, was one of two MAC teams to beat the Chippewas during the regular season. The first loss came at the Rockets' Savage Arena and it came a week after CMU has wrapped up its fourth-consecutive league regular-season crown.
Limited Spectators
The game was played under less-than-ideal conditions because of public-health concerns. The teams were limited to a small number of fans and no spirit squads are pep bands were allowed.
"I know they were watching on TV," Oesterle said of the Chippewa fans, who have traditionally strongly supported the team both during the regular season and the postseason. "Really appreciated all their support this year and I believe we have the best fans in the Mid-American Conference and in the country. I got a lot of texts from people who wanted to come down (to Cleveland), but we just appreciate them cheering from wherever they were.
"I was disappointed when I saw the Sixth-Man Band and our spirit teams weren't going to be able to be there because they create a great atmosphere. I thought the fans that we did have there were loud and at times when we were coming back in the fourth, they got it going."
Players Mentioned
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