CMU falls to Ball State, still in race for MAC West Title


With a chance to secure at least a share of the Mid-American Conference West Division against Ball State, the Central Michigan women’s basketball team gave everything it had in the second half trying to do so.

Unfortunately for CMU, the Cardinals' start to the game was too much for the Chippewas to overcome.

CMU (21-7, 13-3 MAC) fell to the Cardinals by a final score of 81-73 in a game that was close until the finish. The loss snaps the Chippewas’ seven game winning streak.

Head coach Sue Guevara said that this win isn't the end of the world for CMU, and that the first quarter was a big reason for the loss today.

"You can't lose a game in the first half, but I thought we lost the game in the first quarter," Guevara said. "For whatever reason I felt like we played uninspired, and we looked intimidated. We seemed to be playing on our heels and our body language wasn't good, so I talked to them about playing with a sense of urgency and that's what we need to do against Western Michigan."

BSU's (20-8, 13-3) win evened up the season series at 1-1, and puts them in a tie with the Chippewas atop the MAC West standings with two games left in the regular season.

While the game was close until the finish and CMU played pretty even with the Cardinals for the final three quarters, it was the start of the game that decided CMU’s fate.

Ball State opened the game on a 13-2 run, which seemed to stun CMU until the quarter was over.

CMU shot just 20 percent (3-for-15) and went 0-for-4 from 3-point range, while turning the ball over six times and allowing eight points off of those turnovers. It resulted in a 20-6 score going into the second quarter.

That’s when the Chippewas started to turn the tide in their favor.

Junior guard Cassie Breen hit a couple triples that helped CMU go on a 14-4 run to open the quarter, making it 24-20.

Ball State answered with a couple of small runs of their own, making the score 40-30 at halftime.

The Cardinals were shooting 47.1 percent from the field while the Chippewas were shooting just 40 percent and was only 2-for-8 (25 percent) from 3-point distance. Ball State was 5-for-11 from beyond the arc. CMU had eight turnovers that gave Ball State 12 points, while the Cardinals turned it over five times but only allowed two points.

After a back and fourth start to the third quarter, CMU found a hot streak that changed momentum in the game for awhile.

Breen and junior forward Tinara Moore hit a pair of triples, leading CMU on a 8-0 run that tightened the game up at 48-46 with just over five minutes left in the third quarter.

Then with the fourth quarter approaching, Moore hit a and-one bucket and completed the play with the free throw, giving the Chippewas their first lead of the game 57-56 at the 1:48 mark.

CMU was trailing 58-57 going into the fourth quarter with the teams trading buckets until Ball State hit their dagger.

Destiny Washington, who had 21 points off the bench to lead Ball State in scoring, hit a huge 3-pointer after an offensive rebound to put the Cardinals ahead 75-71 with just 2:01 left in regulation.

Sophomore guard Presley Hudson had a chance to pull CMU within one point, but had her 3-point attempt blocked and CMU had to foul with just 18.3 seconds left, putting the game out of reach.

CMU ended the game shooting 45.9 percent from the field and 45.5 (10-for-22) from 3-point range. Ball State out-rebound CMU 37-32, and CMU committed 11 turnovers to just six for Ball State.

Guevara said that the team needs to get some rest and come back and be ready for Western Michigan.

"I told them to take 24 hours and do whatever they need to do to get over this loss," Guevara said. "We nee to get some rest and comeback ready for a tough team (WMU). The sky hasn't fallen, we still have plenty to play for."

Moore led CMU in scoring with a game-high 25 points and added three blocks, passing Ann Skufka’s program record for the most blocks in in a single-season, which is now 63 for Moore.

Only two other Chippewas finished in double figures, starting with Breen who had a solid game with 23 points on 6-of-10 shooting from 3-point range. Junior guard Aleah Swary totaled 14 points off of the bench.

CMU will stay on the road for their next contest against Western Michigan on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. tip. CMU won the first meeting 94-83 at McGuirk Arena on Feb. 11.

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