Off the mark

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Things were looking good for the women’s basketball team with just more than four minutes left in Sunday’s game against Ball State.

CMU held a 67-62 lead against the Mid-American Conference West Division leaders after a layup by freshman Brandie Baker. But the Chippewas did not score the rest of the game and lost 71-67 at Rose Arena.

The loss severely hindered CMU’s chances for a first-round bye in the MAC Tournament with four games remaining. The team is four games back of second-place Toledo in the division, which holds the second bye.

“We had the division leaders on the ropes and they got away,” said coach Sue Guevara.

With CMU down three, sophomore Shonda Long’s 3-pointer with 22 seconds left missed, but was rebounded by junior forward Britni Houghton, who found Long for another opportunity. She missed another with nine seconds left, and BSU grabbed the rebound and sealed the win at the free throw line.

BSU senior guard Porchia Green made a 3-pointer to reduce CMU’s lead to 67-66 after sophomore Emily Maggert split a pair of free throws.

Junior forward Danielle Gratton put the Cardinals ahead by one after making two free throws and senior guard Kylie Jarrett sealed with the win with a steal from an overthrown pass by freshman Brandie Baker – one of four turnovers the Chippewas committed in the final four minutes.

“We basically handed them the game,” said junior forward Britni Houghton. “We worked so hard in practice and we knew what their strengths were,”

Houghton paced the Chippewas with 23 points coming off the bench and senior guard Latisha Luckett added11.

Houghton made 90 percent (10-of-11) from field goal range.

Shonda Long, who started the past five games, shot 2-of-13 from the 3-point line and went 3-of-15 to finish with eight points.

Jarrett went 5-of-8 in the first half from the 3-point line and led the Cardinals with 21 points. Green followed with 15.

Luckett and Long sparked CMU with a 6-0 start and forced BSU to call a 30-second timeout.

The Chippewas led by as much as seven in the first half along with three lead changes.

A 7-0 BSU run started by freshman Patrice King gave the Cardinals a 36-33 lead with 2:25 remaining in the first half.

The Cardinals scored 24 of their 39 points in the first half by making 9-of-19 from the 3-point line.

“We had to be more aware,” Houghton said. “We really had to get a hand in the face.”

Junior guard Heidi Warczinsky hit a crucial 3-pointer to increase CMU’s lead to 58-53 with 8:44 remaining in the game.

Two minutes later, Warczinsky quickly got two fouls for being aggressive on the defensive end of the court.

“It was nice to see her play the aggressive defense,” Guevara said. “She has been struggling in practice lately so it was nice to see her get into it.”

CMU shot 44 percent (26-of-59) while holding BSU to 39 percent (23-of-59).

The Chippewas excelled in scoring bench points 42-18 (23 from Houghton) and points off turnovers 20-17.

Like the last meeting between the two teams, CMU was outrebounded, this time 37-35.

BSU has now won 17 of the last 18 meetings between the two teams.

Guevara said one of the key reasons for the loss was the team’s poor shooting down the stretch.

“We had some key players not shooting the basketball,” Guevara said. “We need to win so the players can get the confidence to shoot the ball in a pressured situation.”

Guevara said the team still does not know how to finish games.

“We are still learning how to win,” Guevara said. “I am looking for players who want to win and not just players that are playing to not lose.”

The Chippewas totaled 14 turnovers, 11 of those in the second half against BSU, three less than their average. CMU leads the MAC in turnover margin.

CMU (14-12 overall, 6-6 MAC) will travel to its rival in Kalamazoo to face Western Michigan at 7 p.m. Wednesday at University Arena.

Think pink

Despite the 71-67 loss to the Mid-American West Division leader Ball State, the women’s basketball team won in another aspect on Sunday afternoon at Rose Arena.

CMU hosted its National Girls and Women in Sports Day to celebrate the upcoming of women athletics.

Rose Arena was swarmed in pink as fans received free admission for attending the game in a pink top.

The women’s basketball team dressed up with pink headbands, socks and shoelaces.

Junior guard Heidi Warczinsky enjoyed the pink theme while raising money for breast cancer.

“It is great to help out because it is a big issue for women,” Warczinsky said as she signed autographs. “Besides, it is a chance to wear pink and I actually like the pink on me.”

BSU senior guard Porchia Green, along with other teammates, showed their support by wearing pink headbands and shoes.

BSU had a similar event last week when they hosted “Think Pink” during Valentine’s Day weekend to raise money for breast cancer.

Green’s jersey was put up in a silent auction.

Sunday’s event raised $522 and they money will go towards the WBCA Kay Yow Foundation.

Sigma Chi was the $500 winner of coach Guevara’s CMU Pink Zone Challenge.

Junior forward Britni Houghton said she was elated about the amount of money that was raised.

“We are blessed to be a part of this and it is awesome to aware everyone of cancer,” Houghton said.

sports@cm-life.com