Dealing aces: Chippewas handle host Evansville to win second non-conference tournament

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Senior guard Shonda Long was named Most Valuable Player of the Aces Classic tournament this weekend after the CMU women’s basketball defeated Evansville 96-83 Saturday in Evansville, Ind.

Long and senior Kaihla Szunko were both named to the all-tournament team, as the Chippewas captured their second tournament championship of the season.

Long paced the Chippewas, hitting five three’s and scoring a season-high 27 points. CMU charged in the first half with a 20-3 run over a six minute span that put the team up 10 points at halftime.

Their 6-2 record ties the best start under current head coach Sue Guevara.

“We are working for a bigger championship, but these tournaments give them a great feeling that is for sure,” Guevara said. “The team gets the next three days off to focus on academics. This is a good confidence builder.”

The six wins on the road eclipse last season’s total of two and gives the team an edge as it draws closer to the Dec. 18 home opener.

Szunko scored 24 points and grabbed nine rebounds in the game, also adding two blocks and two steals. Freshman Taylor Johnson earned her third double-double of the season Saturday, scoring 15 points and grabbing 10 boards.

Freshman Niki DiGuilio and sophomore Brandie Baker scored 11 and 10 points, respectively, giving the Chippewas five players in double figures for the game.

“It is really hard to say who I thought played the best because we had so many people in double figures,” Guevara said. “Our bench was very productive today.”

The Chippewas shot 50 percent in the game, including 60 percent in the second half. Evansville finished the game at 48 percent shooting and 50 percent from beyond the arc.

CMU outscored the Aces in the paint by a 54-34 advantage and grabbed 11 more rebounds. The Chippewas also used 26 second-chance points to keep the Aces out of reach.

The team wraps up its season-opening and program-record nine-game road trip against Northwestern in Evanston, Ill., on Dec. 11. The team’s home opener at McGuirk Arena is Dec. 18 against Ole Miss.