Moore, Hudson with record nights in win over NIU
Tinara Moore scored a career-high 36 points in Central Michigan women's basketball's win over Northern Illinois at McGuirk Arena.
The Chippewas (22-4, 14-1 MAC) defeated the Huskies (13-13, 5-10 MAC) by a score of 91-77.
“I was just taking my time going strong to the basketball and listening to my coaches,” Moore said. “Really just reading the defense.”
In addition to Moore’s individual record, Presley Hudson set a program record with 13 assists.
“I was able to get past my player and the posts were able to finish their layups,” Hudson said. “They did a good job and had a lot of and-ones.”
CMU jumped out to an early 8-2 lead, but a 10-0 run by the Northern Illinois gave the Huskies the lead halfway through the first quarter.
The Chippewas shot 0-for-8 from 3-point range in the quarter, but 10 points from Reyna Frost led CMU to an 18-18 tie at the end of the first.
After not scoring in the first quarter, Hudson hit four 3-pointers before the midway point of the second quarter to give Central Michigan a 38-29 lead. The Chippewas would take a 47-39 lead into halftime.
“They went to their 2-3 and lost me in that,” Hudson said. “My players were able to find me and I was able to knock down shots.”
After a tightly contested start to the third quarter, Hudson euro-stepped her way to the basket to give CMU a 10-point lead, but NIU would cut into lead giving Central Michigan a 65-58 lead at the end of the quarter.
With just over a minute remaining in the quarter, Tinara Moore recorded her 65th block of the season to break her own program single-season record set last year.
Moore than scored eight early fourth quarter points to give the Chippewas their biggest lead yet at 14 points.
Freshman Maddy Watters then gave CMU a spark off the bench scoring six straight points helping Central Michigan close out the game.
“We’ve really been working with Maddy a lot to get the confidence to shoot the ball,” said Chippewas head coach Sue Guevara. “She’s got a nice shot.”
Moore recorded her 37th career double-double with 12 rebounds in addition to her 36 points. Hudson picked up her first double-double of the season with 17 points and 13 assists.
Reyna Frost also posted 20 points and 9 rebounds, while Micaela Kelly, Cassie Breen and Watters each scored six points for the Chippewas.
Mid-American Conference leading-scorer Courtney Woods led Northern Illinois with 30 points.
Central Michigan travels to rival Western Michigan on Saturday with a chance to outright clinch the MAC East Division.
