Expect more changes to the women’s basketball team’s starting lineup as the CMU returns to Rose Arena at 4 p.m. Saturday against Miami University.

Coach Sue Guevara was unhappy with the team’s front court production in its 82-76 loss at Kent State on Wednesday and said changes will be made to the team’s starting five.

“I’m not happy with the production of our forwards right now,” Guevara said. “I just don’t feel a sense of urgency, so I have to do some things – whether it’s sitting, not starting, more drills and more production in practice – until I can get some rebounds and some defense. When we have a 5-foot guard who gets four rebounds and outrebounds our forwards, we have a problem.”

Junior Kaihla Szunko had nine points and seven rebounds against the Golden Flashes, while senior Britni Houghton scored five points and grabbed one rebound. Sophomore Skylar Miller had four points and two rebounds in 27 minutes.

Junior forward Laura Baker scored six points in 14 minutes and Sherryia Armstrong picked up a foul in the only minute she played.

“It was just a lack of communication on our part,” Houghton said. “Coach is going to make some changes and hopefully it betters the team. We have each other’s back and we’re holding each other accountable.”

Despite an underachieving frontcourt, the CMU bench contributed 47 points on Wednesday, including a career-high 18 points from freshman guard Rachel Mauk.

“Coach has been talking to me about getting my opportunity and chance to take it and I finally got my chance,” Mauk said. “I was really down on myself at the beginning of the season, but now I’m just trying to stay positive.”

Miami (5-15, 3-4 MAC) snapped a three-game losing streak on Wednesday with a 96-51 win against Northern Illinois.

The RedHawks are led by 5-foot 10 freshman guard Courtney Osborn, who averages 18.4 points per game.

“They’re an explosive team – they mix up their defenses, press,” Guevara said. “It’s going to be a matter of us taking a little bit more pride in defending our home court.”
CMU has not won against Miami since 2000, losing nine consecutive and 21 of the past 23 games. The Chippewas lost 83-78 in last year’s meeting.

E-mail the author: Aaron McMann