COLUMN: Women's basketball shows promise
When the Central Michigan women’s basketball team’s schedule was released earlier this school year, there was no denying that the Chippewas would be tested early and often in 2014.
Top-ranked teams like Kentucky University and South Carolina University loomed large while tricky neutral-court face-offs against teams in power conferences lurked behind them.
Head Coach Sue Guevara had crafted the hardest nonconference schedule in the Mid-American Conference once again.
To make the schedule even more of a challenge, the team had doubts about senior Crystal Bradford recovering from a knee injury and had to fill holes left in the team by the departures of sharpshooters like Niki DiGullio and Taylor Johnson.
Now, just four games into the 2014-15 season, a lot of those doubts have faded away.
CMU’s 3-1 record is its best start since the 2010-11 season.
The women have jumped out to this quick start against much stronger opponents.
While it has only been four games, the upside for this Chippewa team is tremendous. They are allowing fewer points per game against better opponents and are starting to get into a rhythm on offense.
Bradford has responded well to her off-season recovery and has picked up where she left off. Thirty four points against a strong Oregon team is a sign that she will continue to dominate games even though she is recovering.
Imagine what Bradford will do when she is 100 percent healthy.
Bradford has only missed once from the free-throw line this year compared to the 51 percent she shot last season. If she continues hitting from the charity stripe, the Chippewas will put away teams quicker than they did last season.
Point guard Jessica Green looks like more of an attacking player than in previous years. If she continues her growth as an attacking player, she will be a good counter punch to Bradford.
Let’s not forget about the freshman, either. Cassandra Breen has been electric in her first four games as a Chippewa. She’s shooting 50 percent from long range and has come up big for the Chippewas any time they have needed her.
This nonconference schedule has brought out the best in the Chippewas.
This is exactly what Guevara wants. She has preached that a tough nonconference schedule will prepare her team for the conference schedule.
In past seasons, the team would take lessons from losses. Now, they are taking lessons from wins, gaining confidence and building momentum.
And the best part is that it’s only December.
