Saturday, January 13
Ypsilanti, Mich. / GameAbove Center
1 p.m.
Central Michigan University
2-11,1-3MAC
64
at
60
Eastern Michigan
4-10,1-3MAC
1
2
3
4
F
Central Mich.
21
14
10
19
64
Eastern Mich.
18
7
21
14
60
Photo by: Jack Reeber '23,M'25 - @jackreeber.raw
Women’s Basketball Breaks Through at Eastern Michigan, 64-60
1/13/2024 5:09:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Chippewas notch first MAC win of ’23-’24 season, first road win since Nov. 2021; three players finish in double-figures
YPSILANTI, Mich. — "We're all happy for each other."
Central Michigan Women's Basketball earned its first Mid-American Conference victory—and first road victory since November 28, 2021—Saturday afternoon with a 64-60 tally at Eastern Michigan.
After being doused by Silly String in her first career victory over Concordia earlier this season, Head Coach Kristin Haynie seemed almost relieved to be met with water, albeit more water than she expected.
"The definitely poured lots of water on me this time. Not just their bottles, but the big water jug too."
The Chippewas jumped out to an 11-3 lead less than five minutes into the contest, scoring inside on three straight possessions before junior Karrington Gordon (Detroit / Lincoln Park) found the bottom of the net from beyond the arc. She would end the half with 10 points, clinching her seventh straight game in double-figures.
After the media break, CMU found success at the free throw line, posting an eight-for-eight line in the first quarter. Nadège Jean was the catalyst, cashing in all four attempts on two trips to the line. By halftime, her career-high seven makes had already been recorded.
Jean, a career 53.8 percent free throw shooter before the New Year, has shot 80.9 percent (17-of-21) from the line since the start of MAC play, and Coach Haynie could not be happier.
"She's been focusing on it, and it's paying off. When you put your mind to something, you're bound to be successful."
Jean finished the afternoon as the game's leading scorer (15 points), her 11th marking the first double-digit lead of the game, 32-22, with over three minutes to play in the first half. Gordon and senior Rochelle Norris (Stafford, Va. / New Hope) joined her in double-figures with 14 and 12 points, respectively.
The Eagles finally offered a rebuttal in the third, a 12-2 run in a three-minute window before the first media timeout of the third quarter.
"Disappointing we still come out flat in the third quarter—we have to change that." Haynie said. "A lot of games we've started out flat. We tell them at halftime 'let's punch first, make them call timeout and get this lead out.'"
Despite the run, the Chippewas never let EMU get away as the Eagles could only muster a three-point lead on two possessions early in the fourth. Norris scored six of her 12 points in the final frame, including back-to-back possessions to regain the lead for good with 52 seconds to play.
"Ro's a beast," Haynie said. "When she's in there we want to give her the ball every time we can. She draws lots of double and even triple teams, and now she—and Nadége—are getting better at getting passes back out. They've both been working hard with [Assistant Coach] Jenna [Allen] lately and it shows."
With a one-point, 61-60, lead and just eight seconds to go, junior Tiana Timpe (Stockton, Ill. / Stockton) sank both free throws to effectively seal the game. The final point came on junior Lisa Tesson's (Montréal, Québec / Royal Crown) second attempt after Eastern Michigan's last three-point bid fell short.
"We just have to stay with the process and stay believing. The third quarter was really ugly but we definitely showed growth to turn it around in the fourth."
Central Michigan snapped a 34-game road winless streak with Saturday's victory, including 20 consecutive road losses in MAC play. Now the Chippewas look forward to their annual Hoops for Hunger contest Wednesday (Ball State, 11 a.m. ET), recognizing the combined fundraising and donation campaign efforts of local schools, many of which will bring delegations for the game.
"We're just really proud we got that victory on the road, but we're excited to be back home, and in front of lots of screaming kids."
Following the midweek bout with Ball State, Central Michigan Women's Basketball will spend the weekend in Chicago to battle Northern Illinois (Jan. 20) and conclude its non-conference schedule at Chicago State (Jan. 21).
Central Michigan Women's Basketball earned its first Mid-American Conference victory—and first road victory since November 28, 2021—Saturday afternoon with a 64-60 tally at Eastern Michigan.
After being doused by Silly String in her first career victory over Concordia earlier this season, Head Coach Kristin Haynie seemed almost relieved to be met with water, albeit more water than she expected.
"The definitely poured lots of water on me this time. Not just their bottles, but the big water jug too."
The Chippewas jumped out to an 11-3 lead less than five minutes into the contest, scoring inside on three straight possessions before junior Karrington Gordon (Detroit / Lincoln Park) found the bottom of the net from beyond the arc. She would end the half with 10 points, clinching her seventh straight game in double-figures.
After the media break, CMU found success at the free throw line, posting an eight-for-eight line in the first quarter. Nadège Jean was the catalyst, cashing in all four attempts on two trips to the line. By halftime, her career-high seven makes had already been recorded.
Jean, a career 53.8 percent free throw shooter before the New Year, has shot 80.9 percent (17-of-21) from the line since the start of MAC play, and Coach Haynie could not be happier.
"She's been focusing on it, and it's paying off. When you put your mind to something, you're bound to be successful."
Jean finished the afternoon as the game's leading scorer (15 points), her 11th marking the first double-digit lead of the game, 32-22, with over three minutes to play in the first half. Gordon and senior Rochelle Norris (Stafford, Va. / New Hope) joined her in double-figures with 14 and 12 points, respectively.
The Eagles finally offered a rebuttal in the third, a 12-2 run in a three-minute window before the first media timeout of the third quarter.
"Disappointing we still come out flat in the third quarter—we have to change that." Haynie said. "A lot of games we've started out flat. We tell them at halftime 'let's punch first, make them call timeout and get this lead out.'"
Despite the run, the Chippewas never let EMU get away as the Eagles could only muster a three-point lead on two possessions early in the fourth. Norris scored six of her 12 points in the final frame, including back-to-back possessions to regain the lead for good with 52 seconds to play.
"Ro's a beast," Haynie said. "When she's in there we want to give her the ball every time we can. She draws lots of double and even triple teams, and now she—and Nadége—are getting better at getting passes back out. They've both been working hard with [Assistant Coach] Jenna [Allen] lately and it shows."
With a one-point, 61-60, lead and just eight seconds to go, junior Tiana Timpe (Stockton, Ill. / Stockton) sank both free throws to effectively seal the game. The final point came on junior Lisa Tesson's (Montréal, Québec / Royal Crown) second attempt after Eastern Michigan's last three-point bid fell short.
"We just have to stay with the process and stay believing. The third quarter was really ugly but we definitely showed growth to turn it around in the fourth."
Central Michigan snapped a 34-game road winless streak with Saturday's victory, including 20 consecutive road losses in MAC play. Now the Chippewas look forward to their annual Hoops for Hunger contest Wednesday (Ball State, 11 a.m. ET), recognizing the combined fundraising and donation campaign efforts of local schools, many of which will bring delegations for the game.
"We're just really proud we got that victory on the road, but we're excited to be back home, and in front of lots of screaming kids."
Following the midweek bout with Ball State, Central Michigan Women's Basketball will spend the weekend in Chicago to battle Northern Illinois (Jan. 20) and conclude its non-conference schedule at Chicago State (Jan. 21).
Team Stats
CMU
EMU
FG%
.478
.397
3FG%
.200
.261
FT%
.783
.571
RB
34
28
TO
20
16
STL
6
8
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
15
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
7
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
12
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
7
FGM
1
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballC
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
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