MAC basketball update: CMU women leads West by one game
A late comeback from the Central Michigan women's basketball team against Ohio Feb. 9 was not enough as the Chippewas fell to 7-3 in the Mid-American Conference.
Still, CMU leads the MAC West Division with a 16-6 overall record and hold a one-game lead over Toledo and Northern Illinois, who both sit at 6-4 in the conference.
CMU travels to its rival Western Michigan Feb. 13 and to Buffalo Feb. 16 for a week of games on the road.
Ohio, who have won its last three games, boast a 20-2, 9-2 record and will put that record to the test on the road against in-state foe Toledo Feb. 13. It will be the only matchup of the cross-division teams this season.
Miami has picked up seven straight wins and is tied for second with Buffalo, who are both 8-2 and a half-game back in the East. The Redhawks and Bulls played Jan. 12 in Oxford, Ohio with the visitors taking a 66-59 win. The teams play against Mar. 3 in Buffalo, with the Bulls currently holding the tiebreaker.
The showdown between the Bobcats and Redhawks comes Mar. 6 in Oxford.
On the men's side, the first two spots of the West are flipped as Toledo has a two-and-a-half game lead on CMU. The Rockets are 8-3 and have won their last five, the latest a 78-71 win on the road over Bowling Green Feb. 9. The Chippewas are 5-5 in conference following a tough loss against Buffalo, when they were leading by as many as 18, only to fall 90-76.
With the Falcons' loss and Buffalo earning the win over CMU, puts BGSU and UB in a tie for first place in the East. The two leaders have a showdown set for Mar. 8, the regular season finale for both teams.
Women's standings
West Division
Central Michigan: 7-3, 16-6
Toledo: 6-4, 14-7
Northern Illinois: 6-4, 14-7
Eastern Michigan: 3-7, 10-11
Western Michigan: 2-7, 8-12
Ball State: 2-8, 7-15
East Division
Ohio: 9-2, 20-2
Miami: 8-2, 17-4
Buffalo: 8-2, 16-5
Kent State: 5-5, 12-9
Akron: 4-6, 13-8
Bowling Green: 0-10, 7-14
Men's standings
West Division
Toledo: 8-3, 20-4
Central Michigan: 5-5, 16-7
Northern Illinois: 5-6, 12-12
Eastern Michigan: 4-6, 10-13
Ball State: 4-7, 13-11
Western Michigan: 0-10, 6-17
East Division
Bowling Green: 8-2, 16-7
Buffalo: 8-2, 20-3
Kent State: 6-4, 17-6
Akron: 6-4, 14-9
Miami: 5-6, 13-11
Ohio: 3-7, 11-11