MAC West title on the line for women's basketball on senior day

While the Central Michigan women’s basketball team is on the verge of winning a Mid-American Conference West title, head coach Sue Guevara said wants people to remember what Saturday is all about.

“Our players understand the significance of this final game and that we have a chance to make history,” Guevara said. “We can win a MAC (West) title and they get that, but it is senior day, and that is for Jewel (Cotton) and Jasmine (Harris). It’s for all the hard work they have put in since we lost in the tournament last year.”

For senior forward Jewel Cotton, who will be playing in her final game at McGuirk Arena Saturday at 1 p.m. against Eastern Michigan, that buzzer beater loss to Buffalo in last year's MAC championship game still lingers in her mind.

“Anyone who was on last year's team obviously still uses that game for motivation and that's why getting to our goal of being back there is so important,” Cotton said. “Senior day is important, but winning the game and getting a (MAC West) championship is a step toward the goals we’ve had all season long."

Junior guard Cassie Breen understands how important this game is for them, but knows where the team's main focus is at.

“We’re really going to miss Jewel (Cotton) and Jasmine (Harris) after these last couple of weeks,” Breen said. “They both lead the team in their own ways, and everyone on this team is essential to us having success. I know that’s what everyone wants, so winning Saturday will be important for us going into the (MAC) Tournament.”

Guevara has worked with these two seniors for awhile now, and said they have good roles on and off the court.

“They are both tremendous young women." she said. “I’ve watched both of them grow. They understand roles, accept their roles, help their teammates and they are both good students.”

Earlier this season, Harris spoke about what she wants to see her team accomplish by the end of the year.

“As a team, I would like to see us get better each game and grow into the MAC championship team we are capable of being,” she said.

With a win Saturday, CMU (22-7, 14-3 MAC) would clinch at least a share of the West Division regular season crown for the third time in four years.

Game Preview
  • The first time the Eagles and CMU met, the Chippewas blew past them in Ypsilanti, 104-63 on Feb. 4.
  • Junior forward Tinara Moore led the Chippewas, recording 27 points and 13 rebounds.
  • Every player on CMU’s active roster scored. Harris and redshirt freshman forward Aaliah Hill scored a season-high 10 points.
  • EMU's Sasha Dailey scored 25 points and had a pair of steals against the Chippewas.


Looking at the Eagles

  • EMU (6-23, 1-16) comes in riding a nine game losing streak, with the only conference win coming against Bowling Green on Jan. 25.
  • Dailey leads the Eagles in scoring at 16 points per game and leads the team in steals with 66 total. Outside of Dailey, three other EMU players average double-figures: Phillis Webb (15.2) who also leads the team in rebounds per game, averaging 8.4 per, Micah Robinson (10.4), and Sheyna Deans (10.2).
  • EMU ranks towards the bottom of most scoring categories, coming in at last in 3-point field goal percentage (27.3), Eleventh in field goal percentage (36.6) and scoring offense (62.4), and is tenth in scoring defense (71.0).
  • Regardless of what EMU does against CMU in the season finale, they will finish dead last in the MAC West and Conference, making them the No. 12 seed for the MAC Tournament.


Trending for CMU

  • With CMU’s most recent 94-73 win over the Western Michigan on wednesday, CMU evened up their road record to 6-6 on the year.
  • Guevara has 298 wins as a head coach, with 174 of those wins coming at CMU.
  • Sophomore guard Presley Hudson continues to lead CMU in scoring as she has done for a majority of the season, at 17.6 points per game, good for fifth in the MAC. Moore is second averaging 16.3 points per game. Breen (14.1) and Cotton (10.9) round out the Chippewas' double-figure scorers.
  • CMU has the second highest scoring offense in the conference at 79 points per game, but is just ninth in scoring defense, allowing 70.4 points per. CMU ranks in the top three for the following categories: second in field goal percentage (45.0), second in free-throw percentage (76.9), and first in 3-point percentage (36.5).
  • Ball State (21-8, 14-3) is the team CMU is competing against for first place in the MAC West. If both teams win on Saturday, they will split the title. If one wins and the other loses, the winning team would would own the title. If both teams lose they would also share the title. Regardless, the Chippewas and Cardinals will be the top two seeds in the MAC tournament.

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