All for one, one for all: Central Michigan's 'big three' shows up, just not at same time


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Senior guard Presley Hudson shakes hands with the Michigan State coaching staff after her first round loss in the NCAA Tournament on March 23 at the Joyce Center.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — With nowhere to run and nowhere to hide in the fourth quarter, the trio of Presley Hudson, Micaela Kelly and Reyna Frost showed up to play.

For the first time all game, the three Chippewas were operating on the same brain wave, and Central Michigan women's basketball nearly pulled off a comeback against Michigan State because of it.

But coach Sue Guevara was unable to utilize the "big three" in unison for the first three quarters. Normally, it happens naturally. This time, however, each member had impressive moments over short periods of time.

No. 8 Central Michigan fell to No. 9 Michigan State, 88-87, in the NCAA Tournament first round on March 23 at the Joyce Center in South Bend. Frost scored 34 points, Kelly chipped in 24 and Hudson had 20 in the loss.

The matchup was the first between the schools since 2005. Neither Guevara or Merchant were coaching their respective team back then.

"We tried to schedule Michigan State a couple of times, it just never worked out," Frost said. "You always want to play the big schools and get your name out there."

The Chippewas finished the 2018-19 season with a 25-8 record, coming just a year after a run to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.

Frost owns first half

Frost opened the scoring with a layup just 15 seconds in, but Michigan State tested the Chippewas early and often.

Luckily for Guevara, Frost took over. She scored 15 of CMU's 20 points in the first quarter. All the while, Michigan State controlled a 25-20 advantage.

Frost scored a layup inside to give the Chippewas a 38-37 lead with 2:36 left in the first half. She had 25 points at the time and didn't score for the final 150 seconds before halftime.

Nobody else showed up.

"I didn't like how our guards were playing," Guevara said. "March is about guard play, and they were non-existent. I thought Pres passed up some shots. Made some fancy passes instead of making a layup."

Senior forward Reyna Frost walks off the court after a first round loss to Michigan State on March 23 at the Joyce Center.

The one-point lead Frost carved out was gone, as the Spartans controlled a 43-40 edge at the break.

Outside of Frost's 25 points, Hudson had just four points, and Kelly had six.

"I went in at halftime and challenged our perimeter players," Guevara said. "I didn't think they were aggressive, looking to shoot the ball, looking to attack.

"Yeah, you're going to make an adjustment on Reyna. Who wouldn't? Our guards did a better job taking shots and attacking in the second half to ease some of the pressure off of Reyna."

Sophomore guard Micaela Kelly takes a lay up on March 23 at the Joyce Center.

Kelly emerges in third quarter

Frost, once on-pace for a 50-point performance, went silent in the third quarter, as Michigan State defenders doubled down on any possible occasion. 

MSU's Sidney Cooks made it 51-40 for Suzy Merchant's group out of halftime. Then, Kelly started her heroic quarter with a step-back triple right out of CMU's timeout with 8:44 to go in the third.

Back-to-back buckets from Kelly just a few minutes later had the Chippewas down just six points, 56-50.

"Each year, I want to get better," Kelly said. "Winning is fun. Losing hurts. I just want to grow. I have to continue to develop as a player, especially with the coaches I have around me."

At the end of the third quarter, Michigan State controlled a 66-61 lead. Without Kelly's 14 points in the third, the Spartans would've likely pulled well into the driver's seat.

"I wish we would've been able to do in the first half what we did in the second half," Guevara said, referring to guard play.

Frost had two points in the third.

Hudson joins; Chips nearly come back

Even though she'd been there all game, Hudson was the reason for fans getting on their feet at the Joyce Center. As she has for four years, Hudson made the big shots when it mattered most.

Hudson opened the final 10 minutes with a layup to trim CMU's deficit to three points with 9:39 remaining. 

The guard from Wayland, Mich., scored four-straight points on a jumper and two free throws, making it a 72-70 game.

Once again, with 5:31 remaining, Hudson sent Chippewa fans everywhere into a frenzy by knocking down an essential 3-pointer for a 75-71 lead.

Michigan State responded, but this time, there were Frost and Kelly rushing to Hudson's rescue.

Hudson got help from her teammates on a few possessions, but it was her game down the stretch. She made it 84-82 on a jumper with 1:43 to go. Just 80 seconds later, Hudson gave the Chippewas an 87-86 lead on a 3-pointer.

Only 20 seconds remained. Michigan State had one possession remaining.

The Spartans capitalized, despite Hudson's strong fourth quarter - accompanied by teammates Kelly and Frost.

Kelly missed a highly contested shot at the buzzer. The Chippewas were sent back to Mount Pleasant, losing 88-87.

"We had a great shot at the end," Guevara said. "I think when you look at our big three, on the last play there, all three of them touched the ball. (Kelly) had a shot and it didn't go in."

With the win, Michigan State takes on Notre Dame in the NCAA Tournament second round on March 25.

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