Women's basketball snaps three game skid at Buffalo


Coming into the Central Michigan women’s basketball game against Buffalo sophomore guard Kylie Welch averaged 1.3 points per game.

On Saturday she scored a career-high 11 points to help the Chippewas snap a three-game losing streak as they defeated the Bulls 66-60 in Buffalo.

“She’s a really smart player,” CMU assistant coach Heather Oesterle said. “She can knock down the three when she looks to score, and that’s what we have been telling her the last couple weeks. She hit some big threes and free throws today.”

CMU leading scorer Crystal Bradford did not play, no reason was given.

Despite shooting just 27 percent from the field in the first half the Chippewas led 29-21 at the break thanks to some hot shooting from the outside by sophomore guard Niki DiGuilio. She made four 3-point shots in the first half.

Welch started off the second half nailing a 3-point. Moments later freshman forward Jas’Mine Bracey made a layup to make it 34-23 Chippewas.

The Bulls tied the game at 36 with 13:05 left in the second half. Their first lead was 42-41 at the 9:57 mark of the second half.

With 1:23 left Buffalo sophomore forward Nytor Longar made a layup to give the Bulls a 60-58 lead. On the Chippewas next possession sophomore forward Taylor Johnson made a layup and was fouled. She made the free throw but it was nullified by a lane violation.

After a Buffalo miss freshman guard Jessica Green made a layup in transition to give CMU the 62-60 lead. From there, Welch and Johnson knocked down two free throws each to seal the victory.

“I think we got them on our heels when we were in our zone,” Oesterle said. “We trapped their best player (Brittany Henderson), and we rebounded and got back in transition when we needed to. It was a good team win for us.”

DiGuilio led CMU with 12 points. Green had 10 and Johnson added nine. Bracey led CMU with 14 rebounds.

“Every game is huge for us right now,” Oesterle said. “We need to take care of business especially in our home games, were going to have to take it one game at a time.”

The Chippewas next game is Wednesday when they host Toledo.

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