Long’s career day helps CMU cruise past Buffalo in MAC tournament quarterfinals

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CLEVELAND – For the first time since 1992 the Central Michigan women’s basketball team has advanced to the semifinals of the Mid-American Conference tournament.

It was clear from the opening tip that senior Shonda Long did not want this to be her last game as a Chippewa.

Long scored a CMU school-record 40 points, and a MAC tournament record seven 3-pointers, helping the Chippewas knock off Buffalo 90-69 at Quicken Loans Arena.

“Our focus really was to defend, deny and rebound,” said head coach Sue Guevara. “Our players executed our game plan. I am very happy for these players and for our program.”

It was a slow start out of the gate for CMU, which found itself down 16-10 nearly midway through the first half. The team was struggling from the 3-point line and senior Kaihla Szunko made her way to the bench after picking up two quick fouls.

But Long showed her senior leadership by getting to the free throw line and creating space. Once the jitters left, the confidence came and Long went on a tear.

Long and freshman Niki DiGuilio combined for 27 points in the last 7:28 of the first half, giving the Chippewas a 47-31 halftime lead.

“I was really happy going to halftime with that lead without Szunko,” Guevara said. “She’s (DiGuilio) MAC Freshman of the Year, she’s a scorer and she’s got the green light to shoot.”

DiGuilio finished the game with 19 points in a very impressive MAC tournament debut. Szunko finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds, earning her 19th double-double of the season.

CMU freshman forward Taylor Johnson cheers her team on from the bench during the second half. Johnson played 17 minutes and finished the game with seven points and seven rebounds in the Chippewas' win. (Andrew Kuhn/Staff Photographer)

Long hit 11 of her last 15 shots attempted, as CMU pulled away down the stretch. Sophomore Brandie Baker finished with six points, nine assists and 10 rebounds, coming close to a triple-double. Her all-around play gave the team an element they were missing in last year’s tournament.

For the Bulls, their season is now finished. But senior Kourtney Brown, named MAC Player of the Year on Monday, did not want to go home. She turned it on in the second half, finishing with 24 points and 15 rebounds, nine of which came on the offensive glass.

But Buffalo simply had no answer for Long, giving up the lane out of pure respect for her 3-point shot, giving her room to shoot.

With the 40-point performance, Long moves into sixth all-time on the CMU career scoring list.

“I wanted to get to the semifinals – I didn’t want our season to end just yet,” Long said. “We know that if we keep working the ball it will come sooner or later.”

CMU had good ball movement all afternoon, finding the shooters and finding Szunko down low in the second half.

With the win, the Chippewas picked up its 20th win of the season as they continue their push for a bid to play postseason basketball.

They will have Thursday off before their semifinal matchup against Bowling Green at noon Friday.

“I felt like they (Szunko and Long) came out very hard. This is their senior year and they have seen other teams go down,” Baker said. “I didn’t want my seniors to go out like that so we had to buckle down and play a good game and keep going.”