Central Michigan University Athletics
Wednesday, December 17
Valparaiso, Ind.
7 p.m. / 6 p.m. CT
Central Michigan University
6-4,0-0MAC
91
at
41
Valparaiso
0-12,0-1MVC
1
2
3
4
F
Central Mich.
16
28
21
26
91
Valparaiso
2
17
10
12
41
Women’s Basketball Marks First 50-Point Win Since 2010 at Valparaiso
12/17/2025 10:08:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Darrington posts fifth career 20-point game as Chippewas reach 90 in regulation for the first time since 2021
VALPARAISO, Ind. — Central Michigan Women's Basketball dominated Valparaiso Wednesday night in a 91-41 result, the first 50-point win for the program since Dec. 3, 2010, and seventh of 50-plus in program history.
The eruption immediately followed a four-game stretch of programs from the Big Ten, Southeastern and Atlantic Coast Conferences—three of which ranked nationally—and included a home, comeback victory over Purdue (Nov. 30) for the first such victory since 2018.
"I think we learned a lot from the power-four teams we played," Head Coach Kristin Haynie said. "It was good to see us carry some things over to tonight.
Ayanna-Sarai Darrington (Lexington, Ky. / Frederick Douglass) led the way with 22 points—one shy of her career high—on seven-of-10 from the field and a sterling eight-for-eight in free throws. The sophomore performed well from the bench as the coaching staff elected to shake up the starting lineup.
"Coming off the bench to shoot 70 percent with eight rebounds is phenomenal. She's been working on her free throws and her focus. It was good to see that if she's going to get fouled a lot over her free throw percentage that she's going to capitalize."
Darrington was joined by Madi Morson (Canton, Mich. / Salem) in double figures with 15 points, all in the second half. The Chippewas collected 63 points from their bench.
"We're very excited about our depth. Everyone got in and scored tonight. Everyone gave really good minutes so we're proud overall of locking in, being focused."
Senior Taylor Anderson (South Lyon, Mich. / East) pulled down a career-high 14 rebounds to push CMU to a 56-30 advantage over the Beacons, the most rebounds in regulation for the Chippewas since a 73-68 victory at Marshall last February.
Central Michigan produced 19 assists across 34 field goals led by its pair of freshman point guards, Rylan Buschell (Belleville, Mich. / Belleville) and Lilah Turnbull (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Western Reserve), who combined for eight of the assists to just three turnovers.
"What we're most excited about from tonight is the 19 assists. We played really well together on both ends of the floor.
"We called the freshmen out in the locker room. That's something we've been focusing on and we're excited about their confidence heading into conference play."
Central Michigan Women's Basketball returns to McGuirk Arena for the first time since the Purdue victory on Saturday (Dec. 20, 1 p.m. ET) to open Mid-American Conference play against Northern Illinois.
"We worked a lot over finals week to just be sharper, get better and we showed that tonight. We're playing confident right now and excited to start conference play at home in front of our fans."
The eruption immediately followed a four-game stretch of programs from the Big Ten, Southeastern and Atlantic Coast Conferences—three of which ranked nationally—and included a home, comeback victory over Purdue (Nov. 30) for the first such victory since 2018.
"I think we learned a lot from the power-four teams we played," Head Coach Kristin Haynie said. "It was good to see us carry some things over to tonight.
Ayanna-Sarai Darrington (Lexington, Ky. / Frederick Douglass) led the way with 22 points—one shy of her career high—on seven-of-10 from the field and a sterling eight-for-eight in free throws. The sophomore performed well from the bench as the coaching staff elected to shake up the starting lineup.
"Coming off the bench to shoot 70 percent with eight rebounds is phenomenal. She's been working on her free throws and her focus. It was good to see that if she's going to get fouled a lot over her free throw percentage that she's going to capitalize."
Darrington was joined by Madi Morson (Canton, Mich. / Salem) in double figures with 15 points, all in the second half. The Chippewas collected 63 points from their bench.
"We're very excited about our depth. Everyone got in and scored tonight. Everyone gave really good minutes so we're proud overall of locking in, being focused."
Senior Taylor Anderson (South Lyon, Mich. / East) pulled down a career-high 14 rebounds to push CMU to a 56-30 advantage over the Beacons, the most rebounds in regulation for the Chippewas since a 73-68 victory at Marshall last February.
Central Michigan produced 19 assists across 34 field goals led by its pair of freshman point guards, Rylan Buschell (Belleville, Mich. / Belleville) and Lilah Turnbull (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Western Reserve), who combined for eight of the assists to just three turnovers.
"What we're most excited about from tonight is the 19 assists. We played really well together on both ends of the floor.
"We called the freshmen out in the locker room. That's something we've been focusing on and we're excited about their confidence heading into conference play."
Central Michigan Women's Basketball returns to McGuirk Arena for the first time since the Purdue victory on Saturday (Dec. 20, 1 p.m. ET) to open Mid-American Conference play against Northern Illinois.
"We worked a lot over finals week to just be sharper, get better and we showed that tonight. We're playing confident right now and excited to start conference play at home in front of our fans."
Team Stats
CMU
VALPO
FG%
.515
.250
3FG%
.353
.129
FT%
.850
.357
RB
56
30
TO
14
15
STL
7
5
Game Leaders
Pts
22
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
8
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
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