Wednesday, January 15
Akron, Ohio
6 p.m.
Central Michigan University
6-10,2-3MAC
75
at
55
Akron
9-8,3-2MAC
1
2
3
4
F
Central Mich.
16
24
17
18
75
Akron
14
8
19
14
55
Photo by: Jeff Harwell
Women’s Basketball Dominates Akron on the Road, 75-55
1/15/2025 9:48:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Chippewas collectively power to victory with Butler standing in as Head Coach; Lawson nabs third double-double (18pt, 11reb), breakout freshman duo of Morson, Darrington combine for 32 points
AKRON, Ohio — Central Michigan Women's Basketball defeated Akron, 75-55, in Mid-American Conference play at Rhodes Arena Wednesday night.
CMU needed no outside motivation Wednesday as Head Coach Kristin Haynie was absent from the midweek trip due to a minor medical procedure, leaving assistant Chelsie Butler to stand in for the role for the first time in her career.
"I know what she likes, I know how she wants this team to run," Butler said. "I wanted to go out there and make her proud.
"Our conversations were more about Xs and Os, time management, game management, that kind of thing. It wasn't just me. [Toccara Ross], Jenna [Allen] and Jared [Roane] were amazing. There were a lot of things I was missing that I usually see on the bench, so being able to have them in my ear all game coaching me through it was awesome. Everyone played a huge role tonight."
The Chippewas were led by senior guard Jess Lawson (Las Vegas, Nev. / Legacy) with an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double and the dynamic freshman duo of Madi Morson (Canton, Mich. / Salem) and Ayanna-Sarai Darrington (Lexington, Ky. / Frederick Douglass), who each added 16 points.
After struggles from the field in recent games, Lawson went 6-for-11 from the field to go along with a 6-for-6 effort at the free throw line. However, Butler noted that the senior's biggest impact on the game may have been before it started.
"All day today, she kept asking 'are you ready head coach?' Every time she saw me today, she was telling me that I got this, that I was going to do great. She was excited for me."
On Lawson's performance: "She's been in the gym, holding herself accountable. After the Toledo game, she immediately texted me some things that she knew she struggled with and was better tonight. She's really growing and finding her voice, and finding the leadership role we need her to be in."
The Chippewas logged runs of 10-0, 17-0, and 16-6 throughout the contest, fueled in part by the play of Darrington and Morson who have both burst onto the scene with breakout performances in recent weeks.
"We knew their potential coming in. They're freshmen so you're going to have growing pains, but I think they're finally gaining their confidence. During one of the timeouts, I asked the team what they're seeing, and Mayla [Ham] responded, 'Anna's going to work, we need to get the ball to Anna.' It helps them have confidence when their teammates are pouring that same confidence into them."
The victory marked the program's first 20-point margin in league play since Jan. 23, 2021, and the most points scored in a regulation win since Feb. 15, 2023. The Chippewas won the turnover battle for the fourth time this season, ceding fewer turnovers than their previous outing for the fourth straight game.
Central Michigan held the lead at the end of the first quarter for the second straight game, after doing so just twice this season prior to last Saturday's matchup against Toledo. CMU gave up just two turnovers in the first 10 minutes.
A Morson bucket in the final minute of the frame marked the final lead change of night and set the table for what became a 10-0 run; the rest of the run was supplied by three straight baskets in the paint from Darrington to open the second quarter.
The Zips pulled back within a possession, 23-20, with 6:33 to go in the second; CMU responded by shutting Akron out for all but the final two seconds of the frame, scoring 17 points in the process, leading to the 40-22 margin at the break.
Jayda Mosley (Cincinnati, Ohio / Purcell Marian) used the second of her three long-range buckets to log CMU's first 20-point lead at the first media break of the third quarter.
The Chippewas finished the job in the final minutes with a 16-6 run, in response to Akron working the margin down to just 10 points, 59-49, with just over six minutes to go.
Central Michigan Women's Basketball returns to McGuirk Arena to host Eastern Michigan Saturday (1 p.m.) and Kent State for the annual Hoops for Hunger bout Wednesday (11 a.m.).
CMU needed no outside motivation Wednesday as Head Coach Kristin Haynie was absent from the midweek trip due to a minor medical procedure, leaving assistant Chelsie Butler to stand in for the role for the first time in her career.
"I know what she likes, I know how she wants this team to run," Butler said. "I wanted to go out there and make her proud.
"Our conversations were more about Xs and Os, time management, game management, that kind of thing. It wasn't just me. [Toccara Ross], Jenna [Allen] and Jared [Roane] were amazing. There were a lot of things I was missing that I usually see on the bench, so being able to have them in my ear all game coaching me through it was awesome. Everyone played a huge role tonight."
The Chippewas were led by senior guard Jess Lawson (Las Vegas, Nev. / Legacy) with an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double and the dynamic freshman duo of Madi Morson (Canton, Mich. / Salem) and Ayanna-Sarai Darrington (Lexington, Ky. / Frederick Douglass), who each added 16 points.
After struggles from the field in recent games, Lawson went 6-for-11 from the field to go along with a 6-for-6 effort at the free throw line. However, Butler noted that the senior's biggest impact on the game may have been before it started.
"All day today, she kept asking 'are you ready head coach?' Every time she saw me today, she was telling me that I got this, that I was going to do great. She was excited for me."
On Lawson's performance: "She's been in the gym, holding herself accountable. After the Toledo game, she immediately texted me some things that she knew she struggled with and was better tonight. She's really growing and finding her voice, and finding the leadership role we need her to be in."
The Chippewas logged runs of 10-0, 17-0, and 16-6 throughout the contest, fueled in part by the play of Darrington and Morson who have both burst onto the scene with breakout performances in recent weeks.
"We knew their potential coming in. They're freshmen so you're going to have growing pains, but I think they're finally gaining their confidence. During one of the timeouts, I asked the team what they're seeing, and Mayla [Ham] responded, 'Anna's going to work, we need to get the ball to Anna.' It helps them have confidence when their teammates are pouring that same confidence into them."
The victory marked the program's first 20-point margin in league play since Jan. 23, 2021, and the most points scored in a regulation win since Feb. 15, 2023. The Chippewas won the turnover battle for the fourth time this season, ceding fewer turnovers than their previous outing for the fourth straight game.
Central Michigan held the lead at the end of the first quarter for the second straight game, after doing so just twice this season prior to last Saturday's matchup against Toledo. CMU gave up just two turnovers in the first 10 minutes.
A Morson bucket in the final minute of the frame marked the final lead change of night and set the table for what became a 10-0 run; the rest of the run was supplied by three straight baskets in the paint from Darrington to open the second quarter.
The Zips pulled back within a possession, 23-20, with 6:33 to go in the second; CMU responded by shutting Akron out for all but the final two seconds of the frame, scoring 17 points in the process, leading to the 40-22 margin at the break.
Jayda Mosley (Cincinnati, Ohio / Purcell Marian) used the second of her three long-range buckets to log CMU's first 20-point lead at the first media break of the third quarter.
The Chippewas finished the job in the final minutes with a 16-6 run, in response to Akron working the margin down to just 10 points, 59-49, with just over six minutes to go.
Central Michigan Women's Basketball returns to McGuirk Arena to host Eastern Michigan Saturday (1 p.m.) and Kent State for the annual Hoops for Hunger bout Wednesday (11 a.m.).
Team Stats
CMU
UA
FG%
.433
.292
3FG%
.267
.107
FT%
.565
.875
RB
49
41
TO
15
16
STL
4
7
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
18
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Pts
16
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
16
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
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