Central Michigan University Athletics
Saturday, January 3
Bowling Green, Ohio
2 p.m.
Central Michigan University
8-5,2-1MAC
68
at
56
Bowling Green
8-6,1-2MAC
1
2
3
4
F
Central Mich.
14
12
20
22
68
Bowling Green
11
15
11
19
56
Photo by: Drake Harlett, BGSU Athletics
Women’s Basketball Bounces Back at Bowling Green, 68-56
1/3/2026 6:36:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Morson posted 22 points, 16 in second half as Chippewas take over after tied halftime score
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio — Central Michigan Women's Basketball took down Bowling Green, 68-56, in Mid-American Conference play at the Stroh Center Saturday afternoon.
"Bowling Green is a tough place to play but we stuck together and stayed the course," Head Coach Kristin Haynie said.
Madi Morson (Canton, Mich. / Salem) led the way with 22 points, 16 of which were logged after the 26-26 halftime draw. It marked the third straight game of 20-plus in scoring, the 15th of her career.
"She's figuring out how to change her speed and get the ball when teams try to deny her. She's having more poise on the offensive end this year, seeing what the defense is doing and adjusting her game."
Senior Nekhu Mitchell (Baltimore, Md. / McDonogh) joined the reigning MAC Freshman of the Year in double figures with 17 points, 12 after intermission to go with six rebounds, four assists and two steals in 30 minutes off the bench.
The Chippewas rattled off a 10-0 run in the first quarter in response to a 5-2 start in favor of Bowling Green through the first five-plus minutes ahead of the first media timeout.
"We have to figure out how to start quicker; continue to work on not coming out flat or staying down. There was some good communication and leadership within our huddles early on that helped us out of it."
Central Michigan never allowed more than six consecutive points to the Falcons in the contest, no more than four in a row after the first quarter, held its host under 30 percent shooting from the floor, a measly one-for-16 from beyond the arc and four Bowling Green shot clock violations.
"We felt like our defense got away from us at home against Ohio [Dec. 31]. We did a really good job to come in, play that great of defense against a good team with really good scorers and shut them down. Excited about the growth we had today against a good team."
An 11-2 CMU run opened the second half with its five points from Morson to push her into double figures. Morson and Mitchell combined for 13 of the team's 20 points in the third quarter, while the Chippewas logged five assists on eight field goals.
"We picked up our movement in the second half, played a little bit faster. We got some fastbreak points too which helped open up the lead as well."
The largest spread of the contest came early in the fourth quarter as Morson improved her tally to 16 with two of CMU's 23 points via turnovers after the defense ran out the shot clock on the Falcons.
The Chippewas defeated Bowling Green for the first time since the 2021 MAC Championship run, the first time in the Stroh Center since 2019.
This meant Saturday was the first time any of the active roster had defeated the Falcons, including fourth-year Chippewa Taylor Anderson (South Lyon, Mich. / East).
"We actually played today for Taylor Anderson; she's been here all four years and hadn't beaten Bowling Green yet. We're super proud of the way the team rallied around that to come out and play how we did in the third quarter."
The Chippewas claimed victory despite losing the rebounding battle to the Falcons, 45-37, the first occurrence under Coach Haynie. CMU has outrebounded its opponent 54 times through 72 games since Haynie took over for the 2023-24 campaign.
Central Michigan Women's Basketball returns to McGuirk Arena Wednesday (Jan. 7; 11 a.m. ET) to host the 15th edition of Hoops For Hunger against Kent State. Numerous local elementary and middle schools in the mid-Michigan community will be attendance.
"Bowling Green is a tough place to play but we stuck together and stayed the course," Head Coach Kristin Haynie said.
Madi Morson (Canton, Mich. / Salem) led the way with 22 points, 16 of which were logged after the 26-26 halftime draw. It marked the third straight game of 20-plus in scoring, the 15th of her career.
"She's figuring out how to change her speed and get the ball when teams try to deny her. She's having more poise on the offensive end this year, seeing what the defense is doing and adjusting her game."
Senior Nekhu Mitchell (Baltimore, Md. / McDonogh) joined the reigning MAC Freshman of the Year in double figures with 17 points, 12 after intermission to go with six rebounds, four assists and two steals in 30 minutes off the bench.
The Chippewas rattled off a 10-0 run in the first quarter in response to a 5-2 start in favor of Bowling Green through the first five-plus minutes ahead of the first media timeout.
"We have to figure out how to start quicker; continue to work on not coming out flat or staying down. There was some good communication and leadership within our huddles early on that helped us out of it."
Central Michigan never allowed more than six consecutive points to the Falcons in the contest, no more than four in a row after the first quarter, held its host under 30 percent shooting from the floor, a measly one-for-16 from beyond the arc and four Bowling Green shot clock violations.
"We felt like our defense got away from us at home against Ohio [Dec. 31]. We did a really good job to come in, play that great of defense against a good team with really good scorers and shut them down. Excited about the growth we had today against a good team."
An 11-2 CMU run opened the second half with its five points from Morson to push her into double figures. Morson and Mitchell combined for 13 of the team's 20 points in the third quarter, while the Chippewas logged five assists on eight field goals.
"We picked up our movement in the second half, played a little bit faster. We got some fastbreak points too which helped open up the lead as well."
The largest spread of the contest came early in the fourth quarter as Morson improved her tally to 16 with two of CMU's 23 points via turnovers after the defense ran out the shot clock on the Falcons.
The Chippewas defeated Bowling Green for the first time since the 2021 MAC Championship run, the first time in the Stroh Center since 2019.
This meant Saturday was the first time any of the active roster had defeated the Falcons, including fourth-year Chippewa Taylor Anderson (South Lyon, Mich. / East).
"We actually played today for Taylor Anderson; she's been here all four years and hadn't beaten Bowling Green yet. We're super proud of the way the team rallied around that to come out and play how we did in the third quarter."
The Chippewas claimed victory despite losing the rebounding battle to the Falcons, 45-37, the first occurrence under Coach Haynie. CMU has outrebounded its opponent 54 times through 72 games since Haynie took over for the 2023-24 campaign.
Central Michigan Women's Basketball returns to McGuirk Arena Wednesday (Jan. 7; 11 a.m. ET) to host the 15th edition of Hoops For Hunger against Kent State. Numerous local elementary and middle schools in the mid-Michigan community will be attendance.
Team Stats
CMU
BGSU
FG%
.386
.291
3FG%
.500
.063
FT%
.667
.719
RB
37
45
TO
16
20
STL
6
9
Game Leaders
Pts
22
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
6
Pts
17
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
7
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
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