Women's hoops put streak on the line against Memphis, Dayton
After a strong showing at the Las Vegas Tournament, Central Michigan University's Women’s basketball is looking to keep the momentum rolling.
Following back-to-back wins against Richmond and Oregon, the Chippewas are hitting the road again to face Memphis University and the University of Dayton this weekend.
“Las Vegas was a good experience,” said senior Jessica Green. “We had a good time down there, but it was definitely a business trip. It gave the freshmen and the team some confidence going into Memphis.”
The team’s confidence has grown in defense and in the bench.
CMU has allowed an average of 66 points per game this season, four points fewer than last season. Three teams were able to score more than 80 points on the Chippewas in the first four games of 2013. In 2014 with the newly adopted pack line defense, no team has been able to score more than 71 points.
“We wore the other team down,” Head Coach Guevara said. “That was because of my ability to play nine people.'
The Chippewas will need to look to their bench against Memphis due to an injury sustained by sophomore Jewel Cotton. In the first half against Oregon, Cotton had to be helped off the court after tearing her ACL.
“When Jewel went down against Oregon, it was tough,” Guevara said. “We had some tears on the bench because of how she went down. Everyone fears for the worst. Unfortunately, it became true.”
Now CMU must look for a way to replace Cotton, who was averaging 7.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.
“After Vegas, at our first practice, I asked the team what Jewel brings to the table,” Guevara said. “I’m not looking for one person to pick all of her production up. It’s going to be a variety of people who will do it for us.“
One of the players looking to take on this role is senior Lorreal Jones. The Detroit-native has averaged 8.3 points per game and is second in the team averaging 6.5 rebounds.
Jones admits she had a quick start to the season, and she knows she can improve.
“I’m growing on the team,” she said. “My performance isn’t exactly where I want it to be, but it is the little things I need to work on to help the team. I’m going to grow from here because I can only get better. I’m just going to keep doing what I’ve been doing. I can’t become complacent.”
Another player the Chippewas will look to fill the void left by Cotton’s injury is freshman Cassandra Breen.
“You wouldn’t think a freshman would be coming out ready to play,” Green said. “She has had some big plays this season. She still has some things she could work on, but she has been doing well.”
Breen has hit 50 percent of the 3-pointers she has attempted this season.
As for the competition, Memphis is sporting a 3-4 record with losses against Minnesota and Illinois. The Tigers average 66 points per game and is led by junior guard Ariel Hearn who has scored 123 points this season.
“They are guard oriented,” Guevara said. “They have a couple kids who like to get into the paint. They mix up their defense playing a little zone and a little man. They are similar, but different from Kentucky. We have to keep them out of the paint and make them shoot outside shots.“
CMU has a long history with the Dayton Fliers, playing them twice last season. Seniors Andrea Hoover and Ally Malott will be looking to avenge a final second loss at the hands of the Chippewas last December.
The seniors are both averaging double-digit points this season and lead the team in rebounds.
“That game a whole week away,” Guevara said. “I’m looking forward to the challenge Memphis is going to give us before we talk about Dayton.”
