Saturday, January 23
Akron, OH
2 P.M.
Central Michigan University
at
Akron
Photo by: Keara Chaperon '22
CMU Women Look To Right The Ship
1/22/2021 5:08:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Chippewas visit Akron on Saturday
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Nearing the midway point of the Mid-American Conference schedule, the Central Michigan women's basketball team finds itself on unfamiliar ground.
The Chippewas could begin to change that on Saturday (1 p.m.) when they go to Akron.
CMU has lost three-consecutive games, marking the first time the Chippewas have done that in MAC play since the 2014-15 season. They are 7-5, 5-3 MAC and tied for fourth place in the league standings.
"Right now it's on me to change our course," second-year coach Heather Oesterle said after the Chippewas' 70-67 loss to Eastern Michigan on Wednesday. "I think we've just got to get the taste of winning again and feel good about ourselves and then I think we'll be good. But we've got to get that taste of winning again."
Winning has been on the Chippewas' menu for years as they have won four-consecutive MAC championships in establishing the program as not only the class of the MAC, but a mid-major power. The Chippewas have not lost more than three league games in a season since 2015-16.
Slow starts have plagued the Chippewas during the last three games. They have trailed by an average of 12 points heading into the second quarter in each of those contests.
Early-game energy and intensity, Oesterle said, is the missing ingredient.
"The first quarter is killing us," she said after the Eastern game, adding that she may consider shuffling the starting lineup and/or having her team play a more aggressive fullcourt press to trigger a faster tempo.
Scouting
CMU defeated the Zips, 83-58, on Jan. 6 in Mount Pleasant. CMU trailed by one point at halftime and then outscored the Zips, 51-25, in the second half.
Akron is 4-6, 1-6, but has been competitive in most of its league games.
Jordyn Dawson, a 5-foot-11 senior, is Akron's leading scorer and rebounder at 16.7 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. She scored 16 in the loss to the Chippewas.
The Chippewas
Sophomore guard Molly Davis led CMU with 20 points against Eastern Michigan, while Micaela Kelly had 15, Kyra Bussell added 12, and Maddy Watters had 11.
It marked the second-straight game in which Davis has scored 20 points, and she ranks second on the team and 10th in the MAC in scoring at 17.7 per game. Kelly third in the league and 11th nationally in scoring at 23.8.
CMU is ranked 16th in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25. The Chippewas, who were seventh last week, are one of four ranked MAC teams. Buffalo is 10th, Ohio is 15th, and Bowling Green is 24th.
Next
The Chippewas are scheduled to go to Toledo on Wednesday, Jan. 27, and then will return home on Saturday, Jan. 30 for a date with Buffalo.
The Rockets are 8-4, 4-4, while Buffalo is 8-4, 5-2. Buffalo entertains Toledo on Saturday.
The Chippewas could begin to change that on Saturday (1 p.m.) when they go to Akron.
CMU has lost three-consecutive games, marking the first time the Chippewas have done that in MAC play since the 2014-15 season. They are 7-5, 5-3 MAC and tied for fourth place in the league standings.
"Right now it's on me to change our course," second-year coach Heather Oesterle said after the Chippewas' 70-67 loss to Eastern Michigan on Wednesday. "I think we've just got to get the taste of winning again and feel good about ourselves and then I think we'll be good. But we've got to get that taste of winning again."
Winning has been on the Chippewas' menu for years as they have won four-consecutive MAC championships in establishing the program as not only the class of the MAC, but a mid-major power. The Chippewas have not lost more than three league games in a season since 2015-16.
Slow starts have plagued the Chippewas during the last three games. They have trailed by an average of 12 points heading into the second quarter in each of those contests.
Early-game energy and intensity, Oesterle said, is the missing ingredient.
"The first quarter is killing us," she said after the Eastern game, adding that she may consider shuffling the starting lineup and/or having her team play a more aggressive fullcourt press to trigger a faster tempo.
Scouting
CMU defeated the Zips, 83-58, on Jan. 6 in Mount Pleasant. CMU trailed by one point at halftime and then outscored the Zips, 51-25, in the second half.
Akron is 4-6, 1-6, but has been competitive in most of its league games.
Jordyn Dawson, a 5-foot-11 senior, is Akron's leading scorer and rebounder at 16.7 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. She scored 16 in the loss to the Chippewas.
The Chippewas
Sophomore guard Molly Davis led CMU with 20 points against Eastern Michigan, while Micaela Kelly had 15, Kyra Bussell added 12, and Maddy Watters had 11.
It marked the second-straight game in which Davis has scored 20 points, and she ranks second on the team and 10th in the MAC in scoring at 17.7 per game. Kelly third in the league and 11th nationally in scoring at 23.8.
CMU is ranked 16th in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25. The Chippewas, who were seventh last week, are one of four ranked MAC teams. Buffalo is 10th, Ohio is 15th, and Bowling Green is 24th.
Next
The Chippewas are scheduled to go to Toledo on Wednesday, Jan. 27, and then will return home on Saturday, Jan. 30 for a date with Buffalo.
The Rockets are 8-4, 4-4, while Buffalo is 8-4, 5-2. Buffalo entertains Toledo on Saturday.
Players Mentioned
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