CMU women’s basketball wins fourth consecutive game

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Winning four consecutive games is the surest way to erase memories of a four-game losing streak earlier in the month.

Led by senior guards Kendra Holman and Heidi Warczinsky, the CMU women’s basketball team beat Ohio 59-56 Saturday at Rose Arena.

The team’s four-game winning streak puts it at 4-2 in the Mid-American Conference West Division (7-11 overall), one game behind Toledo (5-1 MAC) and tied with Eastern Michigan.

Coach Sue Guevara gave praise to Holman, who finished with 10 points off the bench, and Warcinsky, who finished with seven points and five assists.

“The game is over, we won, it wasn’t pretty, but we found a way to grind it out,” Guevara said. “Give credit to the senior guard play of Warczinsky and Holman. They came in and did a really nice job. It’s a win and we’ll take it.”

Holman was one of four CMU players in double figures for the game. She was 3-of-4 from the field and hit two free throws with 6 seconds remaining to maintain CMU’s three-point lead.

Earlier in the game, her 3-pointer sparked a 7-0 run with less than 3 minutes remaining in the first half to cut Ohio’s lead to two points.

“Kendra has done a great job of embracing her role on the team,” Guevara said. “And she is as cool as a cucumber on the free-throw line.”

After 10 minutes of back-and-forth basketball in the second half, Holman hit her second 3-pointer of the game with 4 minutes remaining. It put CMU up by five, its largest lead of the game.

Juniors Kaihla Szunko and Shonda Long led the team in points with 12 each.

Close finish

Ohio took a 53-51 lead with less than 2 minutes remaining. CMU junior Shonda Long missed a 3-point shot that landed right into the hands of Warczinsky, who banked it in to tie the game at 53.

After Ohio’s Kamille Buckner made one of two free throws, Long hit two free throws to put CMU back in front by one. On the next Ohio possession, Warczinsky drew an off-the-ball charge that led to a Szunko lay-up, putting CMU up by three with 37 seconds remaining.

“The team is finding a way to win down the stretch,” Guevara said. “Heidi is a very emotional player. She brings that intensity and that passion when she comes onto the floor.”

With the victory, it also gives the team five wins in a row at Rose Arena, and the four-game winning streak is the longest by CMU since 2006-07.

“We have our fans here and we have the support on our back,” Szunko said. “Today wasn’t a pretty game and everyone knows that, but you know what? It’s a win.”

The team now turns its attention to Kent State (4-2 MAC), who it plays Wednesday in Kent, Ohio.

“It is a battle night in and night out. In our conference, you have to respect everyone, but you fear no one.”