Posting up Numbers: Moore, Frost part of youth movement down low
Neither freshman forward Reyna Frost nor sophomore forward Tinara Moore was guaranteed a starting spot on the Central Michigan women's basketball team. They both have started about half of CMU's games this season on the bench.
Moore and Frost have posted career highs in points with 35 and 27 respectively, working their way from the bench into the starting lineup.
Head Coach Sue Guevara filled the team's post presence with two underclassmen who — in the early Mid-American Conference season — are hurdling over the competition.
Entering Wednesday's home contest against Northern Illinois, both were in the top four in the MAC in rebounding. Moore is third in the MAC with 132 rebounds (9.4 per game) while Frost is behind her with 113 rebounds (8.1 per game).
The team is second in the MAC in defensive rebounds with 419 (29.9) and a large part is due to Moore and Frost.
“We’ve been focusing on the rebounding and the scoring came off the putbacks," Frost said. "We’re running the floor more so I think it’s just all flowing better.”
Moore Aggressive
Moore worked extensively on her game during the summer after averaging 1.9 points and 2.6 rebounds in 2014-15. Now, she is third in the MAC in field goal percentage (.583) and first in conference games (.735). She also has the most rebounds in conference games this season with 47 (15.3 per game).
“It just shows from last year to this year how much I’ve grown as a player and how much work (I had) to put in the offseason to become the player I am now," Moore said.
Moore began the season as a starter, but had to come off the bench in a 64-61 loss to Memphis on Dec. 15. In five games as a bench player, she recorded three double-doubles.
She called the bench role a "motivator." She worked her way back into the lineup against Buffalo and recorded 10 points and 15 rebounds. The next game, she made history.
Moore scored a career-high 35 points and grabbed a career-high 20 rebounds in a 97-77 win over Akron on Saturday, Jan. 9. She was a perfect 16-of-16 from the floor and is one of two players in NCAA history to do so — the first since 1988.
“After the game, I didn’t know I was 100 percent," Moore said. "Then a lot of people were informing me. I didn’t know it was a record. When I heard it was a record I was nonchalant about it. I didn’t think it was too big of a deal. I think it’s still pretty normal.”
Moore's efforts against Akron earned her MAC West Player of the Week honors.
“It was pretty nice to see that," Moore said. "I’ve been working hard in the games defensively and offensively. It was a really nice accomplishment for me. I’ve never won that before.”
Guevara said that she thought Moore's award was well-deserved but was pleased with other aspects of her game.
"She went after the ball," Guevara said. "She had 20 rebounds. The ball didn’t just drop in her hands. She went after it. That was probably the best thing for me, to see her take command of the ball.”
No longer the big fish in a small pond
Frost starred at Reese High School, where Guevara said Frost herself was "the biggest kid that she played against." Now, Frost is learning to play with people her size as an underclassman and is focused on one thing: rebounding.
“I want to make sure I get a lot of rebounds because that helps every single team, no matter who you’re playing or who you’re playing with," Frost said. "I wasn’t sure how I’d do but I really made the mind focused to go after as many rebounds as I can.”
Guevara said Frost hopes to leave CMU with the all-time rebounding record. The record is held by Julie Roberts (1,089) and has not been broken since 1981. Frost entered Wednesday 976 boards away.
“She has really been a sponge as far as learning the technique of her footwork, of her hands and what moves to use," Guevara said. “She has a nose for the ball. Now it’s getting her offensive game together and having her understand the concepts of defense.”
Frost credits guards such as senior Da'Jourie Turner, sophomore Cassie Breen and freshman Presley Hudson for giving her and Moore the ball, even when the two pass it back out.
“They also look to pass it back in and a lot of teams don’t expect that," Frost said. "Me and Tinara need to be strong with the ball. We’ve been finishing well so as long as we continue to that, we’ll be hard to stop.”
Frost replaced Moore in the starting lineup against Memphis. Frost's breakout game was the MAC opener against Kent State on Jan. 2, where she posted a career-high 27 points and nine rebounds.
“I was just focused," Frost said. "I wasn’t thinking. I was just playing, I guess. I really focused on rebounding and I had a lot of putbacks that game. I’m more comfortable out there so I can finish better.”
Building a Dynamic Duo
CMU fans are just getting their first glimpse of Moore and Frost together, as the two will be a staple in the CMU frontcourt for the next two seasons.
“We’re both underclassmen so we’re still both new to this game," Frost said. "Now that we’re more experienced and understand the offense, the defense and understand what Central Michigan women’s basketball is about, I think we’re more comfortable in our positions. We’ve been able to work up to that role. We’re getting better and hopefully we continue to improve.”
Guevara credits Associate Head Coach Heather Oesterle, who works with the post players, for her work with Moore and Frost.
"She has done a very, very good job of helping both of them develop their games, their technique, their footwork, their countermoves and really instilling some confidence in them,” Guevara said.
Frost said Moore "destroyed" her in scrimmages during the summer, but helped her transition into the college game. Moore was in Frost's position a season ago.
Moore also called Frost "very physical and aggressive" and emphasized that they both are in the gym before practice working on their game.
“All the other teams better watch out," Moore said. "Hard work does pay off."
While the two have found success so far in their first year playing together, Frost warns that the duo needs to continue its production, especially with rebounding.
“We just still need to be relentless," Frost said. "We need to be focused going after every shot when we’re outside. We need to crash the paint. We need to box out and be strong with the ball, and think every ball is going to be ours.”
Frost and Moore are the heads of a young nucleus of post players Guevara has on her roster. CMU also has redshirt forward Jewel Cotton, sophomore Karli Herrington and Aaliah Hill, who is redshirting this season as a freshman.
“I like where the light is shining," Guevara said. "I like how the future looks.”
