Saturday, January 23
Akron, OH
2 P.M.
Central Michigan University
8-5,6-3MAC
92
at
69
Akron
4-7,1-7MAC
1
2
3
4
F
Central Mich.
32
14
22
24
92
Akron
12
21
13
23
69
Photo by: Benjamin Suddendorf
CMU Women Strike Early, Roll Past Akron
1/23/2021 4:06:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Davis scores career-high 32 as Chippewas end losing streak
AKRON, Ohio – Coach Heather Oesterle called for it.
Her team delivered.
Sophomore guard Molly Davis scored a career-high 32 points as the Central Michigan women's basketball team came out of the chute on fire Saturday, building a 20-point first-quarter lead en route to a 92-69 Mid-American Conference victory over Akron at the Zips' Rhodes Arena.
The four-time defending league-champion Chippewas snapped a three-game losing skid in improving to 8-5, 6-3 MAC. Akron is 4-7, 1-7.
The 92 points were a season high for CMU, which extended its win streak over the Zips to eight games. The Chippewas have won five straight in the Zips' Rhodes Arena.
The Chippewas built a 32-12 first-quarter lead, getting the fast start that Oesterle has coveted and has been absent in the losing streak. CMU was outscored by an average of 12 points in the first quarters of those three games.
The Chippewas scored the game's first nine points, extended their lead to double digits less than four minutes into the game, and were up 21 with just over two minutes to play in the first quarter.
"I thought they responded," Oesterle said. "They responded to our plea to have more energy at the beginning of the games. I thought the last two days of practice we got our mojo back, and I told them I think we're on our way now.
"We learned a lot from those three games and now they've really responded, and I love the way they came out in this game."
Leaders
Davis made 12 of her 18 field goal attempts including a 6-for-11 performance from 3-point range. The six triples ties her career high. It was Davis' first career 30-point game.
"She came out with a ton of energy," Oesterle said. "She's unbelievable. She can take over a game and she did that today. Just overall I thought it was a good team win."
Micaela Kelly added 17 points and six assists and matched her career high with five steals, while sophomore guard Anika Weekes posted her first career double-double with 11 points and a career-high 10 rebounds.
How It Happened
The Chippewas made 65 percent of their first-quarter field goal attempts; five of their 13 makes in the quarter were 3-pointers.
Akron made three 3-pointers in the second quarter in drawing to within 13, 46-33, at halftime and then crept to within 10, 53-43, midway through the third quarter. The Chippewas went on a 10-0 run to re-establish order, upping their lead to 20, 63-43, with just over a minute to play in the quarter.
Akron never got closer than 17 points the rest of the way and the Chippewas led by as many as 30 in the fourth quarter.
Numbers
• The Chippewas were dominant in the rebounding department, finishing with a 42-26 advantage. The 42 rebounds marked CMU's second-highest total of the season. CMU had 11 offensive rebounds to the Zips' three, and the Chippewas outscored the Zips, 48-34, in the paint.
• CMU made 10 of its 23 3-point attempts (43.5 percent) and finished 36 of 69 (52.2 percent) from the field overall. Both percentages were season bests.
• The Chippewas finished with 19 assists, their fourth-highest total of the season. They had just four on Wednesday in their loss to Eastern Michigan. Kelly and Davis finished with six assists apiece.
Next
The Chippewas go to Toledo on Wednesday, Jan. 27. The Rockets are 8-5, 4-5 after a 74-65 loss at Buffalo on Saturday.
Her team delivered.
Sophomore guard Molly Davis scored a career-high 32 points as the Central Michigan women's basketball team came out of the chute on fire Saturday, building a 20-point first-quarter lead en route to a 92-69 Mid-American Conference victory over Akron at the Zips' Rhodes Arena.
The four-time defending league-champion Chippewas snapped a three-game losing skid in improving to 8-5, 6-3 MAC. Akron is 4-7, 1-7.
The 92 points were a season high for CMU, which extended its win streak over the Zips to eight games. The Chippewas have won five straight in the Zips' Rhodes Arena.
The Chippewas built a 32-12 first-quarter lead, getting the fast start that Oesterle has coveted and has been absent in the losing streak. CMU was outscored by an average of 12 points in the first quarters of those three games.
The Chippewas scored the game's first nine points, extended their lead to double digits less than four minutes into the game, and were up 21 with just over two minutes to play in the first quarter.
"I thought they responded," Oesterle said. "They responded to our plea to have more energy at the beginning of the games. I thought the last two days of practice we got our mojo back, and I told them I think we're on our way now.
"We learned a lot from those three games and now they've really responded, and I love the way they came out in this game."
Leaders
Davis made 12 of her 18 field goal attempts including a 6-for-11 performance from 3-point range. The six triples ties her career high. It was Davis' first career 30-point game.
"She came out with a ton of energy," Oesterle said. "She's unbelievable. She can take over a game and she did that today. Just overall I thought it was a good team win."
Micaela Kelly added 17 points and six assists and matched her career high with five steals, while sophomore guard Anika Weekes posted her first career double-double with 11 points and a career-high 10 rebounds.
How It Happened
The Chippewas made 65 percent of their first-quarter field goal attempts; five of their 13 makes in the quarter were 3-pointers.
Akron made three 3-pointers in the second quarter in drawing to within 13, 46-33, at halftime and then crept to within 10, 53-43, midway through the third quarter. The Chippewas went on a 10-0 run to re-establish order, upping their lead to 20, 63-43, with just over a minute to play in the quarter.
Akron never got closer than 17 points the rest of the way and the Chippewas led by as many as 30 in the fourth quarter.
Numbers
• The Chippewas were dominant in the rebounding department, finishing with a 42-26 advantage. The 42 rebounds marked CMU's second-highest total of the season. CMU had 11 offensive rebounds to the Zips' three, and the Chippewas outscored the Zips, 48-34, in the paint.
• CMU made 10 of its 23 3-point attempts (43.5 percent) and finished 36 of 69 (52.2 percent) from the field overall. Both percentages were season bests.
• The Chippewas finished with 19 assists, their fourth-highest total of the season. They had just four on Wednesday in their loss to Eastern Michigan. Kelly and Davis finished with six assists apiece.
Next
The Chippewas go to Toledo on Wednesday, Jan. 27. The Rockets are 8-5, 4-5 after a 74-65 loss at Buffalo on Saturday.
Team Stats
CMU
UA
FG%
.522
.452
3FG%
.435
.409
FT%
.769
.800
RB
42
26
TO
12
12
STL
8
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
32
FGM
12
3FGM
6
FTM
2
Pts
17
FGM
8
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballWBB Annual Golf Outing
Friday, September 12
WBB Practice
Friday, July 04
MAC WBB Tournament Press Conference
Wednesday, March 12
Video Podcast: Amy Folan Connection-Women's Basketball March Madness and the Growth of the Game
Wednesday, March 12