Oesterle: 'They've Made Everybody At Central So Proud'

Sunday, March 21

San Antonio, TX

12 P.M.

Central Michigan University

18-9,13-6MAC

Iowa

19-9,11-8Big Ten

Central Mich.

Iowa

Photo by: Benjamin Suddendorf

3/21/2021 3:56:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

Chippewas' season comes to an end in NCAA Tournament

By: Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com

SAN ANTONIO – Right down to the end, they kept swinging.

The Central Michigan women's basketball team saw its season come to an end on Sunday when the 12^th-seeded Chippewas fell to fifth-seeded Iowa, 87-72, in an NCAA Tournament game at the Alamodome.

The Chippewas finished 18-9 in a season in which they absorbed more than their share of body blows and yet came on strong to win the Mid-American Conference Tournament and earn an NCAA berth for the third time since 2018.

"I just told our team I'm very proud of them for what we've been through this year and to go on a little run at the end of the year and win the MAC Tournament, I'm just very proud of our seniors as well and appreciative of all they've done for our program to get us where we are today," second-year coach Heather Oesterle said in her postgame press conference. "They've made everybody at Central so proud. The community, the staff, I'm just very, very proud of them."

Big Blow
It was another heavy blow, this time in the form of early foul trouble to star guard Micaela Kelly, that ultimately led to their undoing against Iowa, the nation's second-highest scoring team led by freshman Cailtin Clark, the nation's leading scorer.

Kelly picked up her third foul with just over a minute to play in the first quarter and went to the bench.

"It was frustrating, obviously … so I had to find a way stay positive and start cheering for my teammates," Kelly said. "While I'm not out there I can still be a presence and bring some type of energy off the bench.

"I'm super proud of this group, our coaching staff, my teammates. We've overcome a lot of obstacles, a lot of adversity. The way the season ended, I can't be more proud of what we've done."

When Kelly sat down, CMU trailed by just one, 19-18. She never picked up her fourth foul and she scored 23 points in 27 minutes, but the threat of losing their best defender and leading scorer to fouls clearly altered the Chippewas' game plan.

"I thought that was the difference in the game to be very honest," Oesterle said. "I try not to complain to the officials, but when you take your best player out with three fouls in the first quarter, that obviously affected us.

"I thought we had momentum to start the game; we were scoring, we were moving the ball and then you take Micaela Kelly out of the game and it hurts us. Our team runs around Micaela, and it runs around Molly Davis, and when one of them is out we really struggle. … I was hoping to have (Kelly) playing 35-40 minutes today and I thought some of those fouls were a little cheap."

Leaders
Davis finished with 18 points and senior Kyra Bussell, playing her final game in a CMU uniform, had eight points and nine rebounds.

The Hawkeyes (19-9) got 23 points apiece from Clark and Monika Czinano and outscored the Chippewas, 42-26, in the paint.

How It Happened
Iowa took advantage when Kelly left the game, building a 16-point lead midway through the second quarter. The Chippewas, however, kept coming, and cut their deficit to six, 58-52, with under five minutes to play in the third quarter.

Iowa closed the quarter and started the fourth with an 15-3 run to bump their lead to 18, 73-55, with 6:47 to play. CMU never got closer than 10 the rest of the way.

Seniors
Kelly, Maddy Watters and Bussell are the Chippewas' three seniors, and all have the option of returning under NCAA rules regarding the 2020-21 season and COVID. Oesterle said Bussell has been accepted to physical therapy school at CMU and won't return.

"Kyra's been unbelievable for us," Oesterle said. "She's a tough guard for other teams because of her ability to shoot the ball and I thought she fought hard today. Going back to the MAC Tournament, we played without her in the semis because she hurt her knee.

"She's been battling some injuries throughout her entire career, but I was just proud of her and thankful for the fight that she put up. She's been banged up pretty much all year. She's special to this program, she's done a lot, she's put a lot of work in and she's made us to where we are today."

Kelly and Watters have not committed one way or the other.

"Maddy, still working on her a little bit," Oesterle said. "We decided to wait until after the (season) to talk about it.

"Micaela and I have talked, and I really hope that from watching the game today some WNBA teams give her a shot because she's talented. She not only can defend, but she can score and she's fast and she's strong.

"I really think she deserves a shot in the league, and she wants to play at the next level. I would give anything to have her back, but I also know her dreams. We've discussed that quite a bit. Even if it's going to play overseas, she wants to continue her career."

Said Kelly, a native Detroiter who is second in program history with 2,173 career points: "Most definitely going to reflect on this season because it was a blessing. My career here at Central Michigan has been something that I never would have imagined, and it's been amazing. Right now, I want to be in the moment and be grateful for what I've done and all the things that I've accomplished."

Kelly, Bussell and Watters have won four MAC championships – three regular season, one tournament – and been a part of three NCAA Tournament teams.

"They're walking away with four (championship) rings, which is unheard-of," Oesterle said. "They've put their stamp on this university and on this basketball program in taking us to a whole other level. The standard is very high here and I just thank them for everything they've done."