This will be the second game with starting freshmen Crystal Bradford, Jessica Green, and Jas’Mine Bracey back since being suspended after a fight during a game against Ohio University on Jan. 25. With the reappearance of these three freshmen, the Chippewa basketball team aspires to regain mojo lost when they were suspended.

“The return of those players adds strength to the team by having everyone back,” said sophomore forward Taylor Johnson.

Buffalo is 0-4 against Mid-American Conference opponents at home. During these home games, Buffalo is averages 67.5 points per game while allowing an average of 79.8 points by opponents.

Head coach Sue Guevara’s main focus points for Saturday are transition defense and knowledge of the opposing team’s players.

“Buffalo contains an array of players,” Guevara added. “Some can post up and grab rebounds, while others are deadly outside of the arc.”

Johnson said he feels focusing on the defense, especially rebounding, can help the Chippewas pull off a win.

“If we can treat Saturday as every other game, and not go out with a mindset that we are going to crush them, or we are going to lose, but focus on playing together as a team, anything is possible,” she said.

Buffalo currently averages 38 rebounds per game, led by forward Beth Christensen, who averages 7.7. CMU has an average of 43.2 rebounds per game, which is headed by Bradford, with an average of 8 per game.

Buffalo’s leading scorer is guard Brittney Henderson, averaging 20.6 points per game. Bradford also leads CMU in scoring with 14.4 points per game.

Central Michigan has dropped its first five games against the East division, but at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in Oxford, Ohio. The Chippewas are still uncertain of Trey Zeigler’s status.

The RedHawks are last in the MAC East with a 7-15 overall record and 3-7 in the MAC.

Miami forward Julian Mavunga is tied for the conference lead in scoring with Toledo’s Rian Pearson, averaging 17.3 points per game.

Along with a winless record against the MAC East, CMU is in the midst of an eight-game losing streak and junior Finnis Craddock said the team has to do whatever it takes to get a win.

“Whatever we can do, whatever we can do is what it’s going to take,” he said. “Hard work and dedication.”

That hard work and dedication might need to come from the defense, which has quite possibly been its best offense lately.

In the 66-62 loss Wednesday against Buffalo, the Chippewas forced 14 turnovers and scored 21 points of them.

“It’s a huge part for us,” said head coach Ernie Zeigler said after the loss to Buffalo. “I thought guys did an excellent job of executing our game plan. We were able to get out in transition. Derek (Jackson) got a couple of alley-oop dunks out of it, and that’s how we have to manufacture points when you struggle to knock down those open ones.”

After Mavunga, the RedHawks take a huge hit offensively. Mavunga averages almost seven more points than the team’s second-leading scorer, Brian Sullivan.

Point guard Jorddan Myrick will continue to be out of the lineup because of a lingering hip injury according to Ernie.

Expect backup point guard John Morris to see extended minutes in the absence of Myrick. He played 12 minutes in Wednesday’s loss, dishing out three assists.

Trey Zeigler went flying into the Buffalo bench with 5:39 remaining during the first half Wednesday at McGuirk Arena.

Zeigler, who is Central Michigan men’s basketball team’s leading scorer, attempted to return, but couldn’t. Head coach Ernie Zeigler said it was a lower-back injury and Trey will be re-evaluated.

Despite the injury, CMU rallied without the sophomore guard, but couldn’t overcome the physical play from Buffalo.

It lost 66-62, dropping its eighth-straight game.

“It’s frustrating, because we still can’t pull out a win,” said junior guard Finnis Craddock. “It’s tough, but in the locker room, we keep telling each other that we need to stay together and we have to keep fighting to dig out of this.”

The main contributor in Trey’s absence was forward Olivier Mbaigoto.

The junior scored a team-high 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting and led a comeback that fell short.

The Chippewas went on a 10-0 run late in second half, cutting an 11-point UB lead down to one.

But the game was sealed when Buffalo forward Mitchell Watt swatted away the Chippewas chances of winning.

Austin McBroom stole the ball from Jarod Oldham, but was rejected by Watt with 1:18 remaining in a four-point game.

McBroom, who scored 11 points, appeared to have an uncontested layup, but couldn’t cut it to a one-possession game after Watt sent the ball back. CMU never got closer from that point on.

“We’re going to remain confident in what we’re doing,” Ernie said after the loss.

The frontcourt tandem of Javon McCrea and Watt were a main reason why CMU still carry the losing streak.

McCrea dropped a team-high 16 points and Watt scored 15. McCrea also hauled 10 rebounds and Watt had seven.

Their ability to rebound the ball helped lead a 48-27 outburst on the glass for the Bulls.

“They’re just a one-two punch,” Ernie said. “Both of them can score. Both of them made plays down the stretch that sealed the game for them.”

CMU guard Austin Keel kept the team in it down the stretch, knocking down 3-of-5 3-point attempts, but the struggles on the glass were too much to overcome.

Ernie said the lack of ‘quality’ depth in the front court was too much to withstand losing Trey.

Buffalo’s struggles at the free-throw line (10-for-23), kept the Chippewas around and they took advantage.

CMU went to the line 20 times in the second half, making 17, but still couldn’t muster up a victory.

The Chippewas have their last chance to get a win against a Mid-American Conference East opponent at 3:30 p.m. Saturday against Miami (OH) in Oxford, Ohio.

Sophomore guard Trey Zeigler has gotten help offensively, the big men have sporadically out-rebounded opponents, but the team has not found a way to get over the hump.

The Chippewas haven’t shot above 39 percent from the field in 15 of the team’s 22 games this season. When they do, they are 5-2. Head coach Ernie Zeigler said he needs to see more confidence from his shooters.

“Some of these (missed shots) have just been point-blank layups,” Ernie said. “They’ve contributed to teams going on extended runs against us and where we’ve gone through these scoring droughts of two, three and four minutes at a time.”

Some of these extended runs have contributed to the reason CMU looks to snap a seven-game losing streak at 7 p.m. today against Buffalo at McGuirk Arena.

“I think everyone is confident,” Ernie said. “We talked about keep fighting to get better. It’s a new week, new day, and we need to keep fighting to get better. There’s a light at the end of this tunnel, and yes, we’re deep in the tunnel right now, but we got to find a way to scratch and claw and let that light shine through.”

Finding the light will be difficult against a Buffalo team that’s tied on top of the Mid-American Conference in scoring, averaging 75.4 points per game.

It won’t help that the Chippewas are thin in the front court, an aspect the Bulls dominate.

Buffalo hauled 18 offensive rebounds in a 72-65 victory Saturday against Toledo. The Bulls are fourth in the MAC in category and first in defensive rebounds.

“It’s going to be tough, because it is one of their trademarks,” Ernie said about the physicality and rebounding ability of Buffalo. “It’s definitively going to be a key, key point of emphasis for us if we’re going to have some success here.”

CMU will be without point guard Jorddan Myrick, who has re-aggregated a hip injury. Ernie said he will be held out at least until Monday.

Myrick, a freshman, has started in one game and has played in 14.

There are similarities between the Central Michigan volleyball team and women’s basketball team.

Both teams have plenty of youth, dealing or dealt with key injuries, and have faced tough losses.

The basketball team is led by three freshmen starters, Crystal Bradford, Jessica Green and Jas’Mine Bracey, who also just came off a suspension. The other two starters? Sophomores Kylie Welch and Jordan LaDuke, making up the consistent starting lineup.

Sounds like the volleyball team with freshman outside hitter Kaitlyn McIntyre leading the team in kills, sophomore setter Kelly Maxwell running the offense and sophomore libero Jenna Coates handling the defensive side of the net.

The biggest blow to the basketball team this season was the injury to junior guard Brandie Baker. She had a slow start to the season, and was just starting to turn things around until she suffered a foot injury in a loss against Hampton over break.

The volleyball team also battled injuries of key upperclassmen all season. Junior right-side hitter Jocelyn VerVelde came into the season with high hopes, but was out most of the season. Junior outside hitter Val DeWeerd was out for a bit. And senior middle blocker Kaitlyn Schultz, who was the centerpiece to head coach Erik Olson’s team, missed a few matches resulting in some tough weeks for the team.

Basketball has lost some difficult games against Eastern Michigan, Toledo, Hampton, Bradley and Northwestern, and at Kent State.

The team also faced turmoil following a fight on Jan. 25 at McGuirk Arena against Ohio. Three players were suspended from CMU.

The volleyball team faced struggles throughout the season too. The Chippewas lost decisively against Northern Illinois, Western Michigan, Ball State, EMU and Elon.

But look at how their season ended.

Despite the inconsistent regular season the CMU volleyball team qualified for the MAC tournament as the No. 6 seed. The Chippewas took out the No. 3 seeded Broncos, No. 2 seeded Bobcats and the top-seeded Huskies en rout to the programs first MAC Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance in program history.

That was behind a healthy Schultz and experienced youth.

Maybe the basketball team can copy the volleyball team’s story.

If Baker provides some leadership to this young but experienced team, it could be dangerous.

Freshmen guards Crystal Bradford and Jessica Green, and freshman forward Jas’Mine Bracey all played in their first game since Jan 25. They were suspended during the Chippewas losses against Bowling Green and Miami after being suspended for fighting.

Bradford scored 15 points and Green had 11, but CMU still lost its third-straight game.

The key stretch came with the score 76-73 with 6:40 to go. That’s when the Zips made two free throws. Then Akron junior guard Taylor Ruper made a 3-point shot to make it 81-73. Akron went 13-14 from the free-throw line down the stretch to pull away for the win.

In addition to Bradford and Green, the Chippewas (12-12 overall, 4-6 Mid-American Conference) had six players in double figures. Sophomore guard Niki DiGuilio led CMU with 17 points. Senior guard Brandie Baker had 13, sophomore Jordan LaDuke scored 12 points and hauled down 10 rebounds, while sophomore Taylor Johnson scored 10 points.

CMU will not play again until next Saturday, when it travels to Buffalo.

“They were just better,” said Ernie Zeigler. “Better than us at every position.”

And after a 68-42 loss against Ohio Saturday in Athens, Ohio, the Central Michigan men’s basketball head coach is now tasked with finding a way to change course. His team has lost seven straight games — at one time looking like it would be able to compete for a Mid-American Conference West Division title, now fighting to stay out of the league basement.

In what has become a sure bet the past few seasons, CMU struggled offensively out of the gate. The Chippewas fell behind 9-1 in the first three minutes after following a triad of 3-pointers from guards Nick Kellogg and D.J. Cooper.

A Trey Zeigler jumper with 10:16 to go in the first half cut the Bobcats’ lead to 15-11, but that was as close as CMU got the rest of the game. And despite its initial scoring burst, Ohio struggled to shoot the basketball in the first half – shooting just 32 percent from the field and went 4-for-20 in 3-point attempts.

The caveat? The Chippewas weren’t any better, and closed the half shooting 30.8 percent and 1-for-12 from long range. Throw in nine turnovers and 12 OU points off those turnovers and the Bobcats end the half with a comfortable 33-20 lead.

“It’s very difficult (to come back) when you’re playing against a good team, and we’ve been playing against some good teams,” Zeigler said, referring to Ohio’s MAC-best 19-4 overall record and the Chippewas recent losses against perennial MAC East contenders Akron (16-7, 8-1 MAC) and Kent State (16-6). “To overcome going down by double digits early, it makes it very difficult to come back against very good teams.”

The defensive struggles continued in the second half, with OU extending its lead to 16 on a 3-point bucket  from Kellogg (14 points on 5-of-11 shooting) within the first 30 seconds. When junior forward Olivier Mbaigoto responded with a jumper on the  next CMU possession, Ohio junior forward Walter Offutt (game-high 17 points, including four 3-pointers) answered with another 3-pointer of his own.

From there on out, scoring droughts stifled any opportunity for the CMU offense. After Mbaigoto’s jumper at the 18:59 mark, the Chippewas could not muster a field goal — Mbaigoto did make three free throws — for more than five minutes. Later in the half, a four-minute scoreless span was ended when Mbaigoto hit a 3-pointer with 7:45 to go, but Ohio’s lead had blossomed to 20 points. The Bobcats improve to 19-4 overall, a MAC-best, and 7-1 in the league.

Mbaigoto led the team with 14 points on 4-of-8 shooting, while the three scorers relied upon for most of the offensive production (sophomore guards Trey Zeigler and Derek Jackson and freshman Austin McBroom) combined for just 24 points and nine rebounds. Trey had most of those with 10 points and six rebounds.

CMU (7-15, 2-7 MAC) converted just 27 percent of its shots in the second half. Ohio shot a much-improved 50 percent, including 7-of-10 from behind the 3-point line.

“You have to give Ohio credit,” Ernie Zeigler said. “They did a really good job of keying in on our main offensive options, and we struggled to make some open shots as well. They came in with a great gameplan, from the coaching on down. They dominated us in every area.”

And now CMU turns its attention to Buffalo, a team that pushed the Chippewas around — beating them by double digits — twice last season, even knocking them out in the first round of the MAC tournament. The Bulls enter Wednesday’s game at McGuirk Arena 14-6 overall and 7-2 in the MAC, and could very well be CMU’s final chance to try and turn around a once-promising season.

Despite the seven-game slide, Zeigler said he and his staff will continue pushing and teaching his players along the way.

“When you have a young team, that’s all you can do,” Zeigler said. “I’m my stated self. I’m always extremely confident in what we’re doing and how we’re going about it.”

It was a rough Wednesday night for the Central Michigan women’s basketball team from start to finish losing to Miami 79-57.

The RedHawks (17-5, 7-2 MAC) jumped out to an early 11-0 lead behind two 3-pointers from senior guard Maggie Boyer.

Miami did not slow down from behind the arc hitting nine 3-points. The RedHawks were 43 percent from three.

“We had the same shots, and it was because before the game we said we were not going to help  (Maggie) Boyer and (Courtney) Osborn and we did, it went in one ear and out the other,” said head coach Sue Guevara. “When you have shooters like that it’s tough to catch up.”

The Chippewas (12-11, 4-5 MAC) had plenty of open looks, and after trailing by 20 points in the first half they cut the lead to 11 points with 3:08 left in the half.

But they could not get any shots to fall while the RedHawks, true to form, hit back-to-back 3-pointers to end the half.

CMU would never cut the deficient back to 11 points as MU ran away with the game in the second half.

“When your frustrated on the offensive end you need to take it out on the defensive end, and that was probably one of the most embarrassing things,” Guevara said. “They pushed the ball down our throats, and I think it was because we weren’t getting back.”

Sophomore forward Taylor Johnson led the team in scoring and rebounds with 13 points and seven boards. She also got in foul trouble, and with the rest of the team struggling offensively it put the burden on the bench.

Junior guard Brandie Baker, in her second game since returning from an injury, scored 11 points on three 3-pointers and had six rebounds.

Junior guard Brandie Baker fights her way to the basket during the second half of Wednesday night's game against Miami at McGuirk Arena in Mount Pleasant. Baker finished the game with 11 points and six rebounds during the 79-57 loss to the Redhawks. (Andrew Kuhn/Staff Photographer)

“Until we find someone who can consistently score for us we’re going to be in big trouble,” Guevara said. “Our energy level was low … so you bring in some subs and it didn’t get any better.”

The Chippewas will be welcoming back freshmen guards Crystal Bradford, Jessica Green and freshmen forward Jas’Mine Bracey after serving their two-game suspensions this weekend.

They’re hoping that getting back their top three scorers back the team can not only find some consistent scoring, but will be able to put last week’s incident behind them.

“Has it been easy no, everywhere I go the first thing people do is put their fists up,” Guevara said. “That’s tough … let’s let it go and move on.”

CMU will be looking to get off its two-game skid Friday when it travels to Akron.

Wednesday’s game will be the Chippewas second without freshman guards Crystal Bradford and Jessica Green and freshman forward Jas’Mine Bracey. They were all dealt two-game suspensions following a fight between CMU and Ohio last Wednesday.

Those three also make up the team’s top scorers. Without them in the lineup, Taylor Johnson has stepped up in their absense.

She scored 18 points against BGSU including the game-tying basket with a second left.

Those three also make the team’s three leading scores.

Head coach Sue Guevara is confident her team will use the close game Saturday as inspiration to play well against another top Mid-American Conference team in Miami, Ohio. Guevara plans to use the same starting line-up she had against BGSU since it worked well, even without its three top scorers.

CMU will rely on the sixth man in the stands.

“The basketball team feeds off the energy from the fans and uses it to push themselves,” Guevara said.

On the court, she wants to see her team get back to the basics.

“If we can focus on the process and fundamental aspects of basketball rather than trying to just outscore the other team, while continuing to work on transitioning between offense and defense, a win is easily within reach,” Guevara said.

CMU is looking to gain ground on MAC-West-leading Eastern Michigan and Toledo. Miami is in second place in the East and trying to catch BGSU.

Miami has the third-highest scoring average in the MAC with 69 .8 points per game. The Redhawks leader is Courtney Osborn, who scores 19 points per game, also third best in the conference.  Kirsten Olowinski cleans up missed shots leading the conference with 10.4 rebounds per game.

CMU lost its sixth-straight game 67-60 Tuesday night against Kent State at McGuirk Arena, falling to 2-6 in MAC play.

“Wow, the frustration continues,” head coach Ernie Zeigler said. “Our kids gave great effort and I’m really pleased with how were fighting and battling, but unfortunately, you have to be able to execute in certain situations.”

The frustration mounted after halftime when CMU allowed one of its patented second-half runs, allowing KSU seven-straight points to open the half.

The Chippewas have allowed major runs to open the second half in games against Tennessee State, Western Michigan and now KSU.

CMU controlled the first half, but a late 3-pointer from guard Randall Holt tied the game at 32 heading into the locker room.

Holt, who had his third 20-plus point game of the season, had a game-high 23 points.

“When you’re playing against teams that have the balance, which we’re hoping to get, you have to pick your poison,” Zeigler said. “And Justin Greene, we knew he could have that type of night, so you’re giving attention to him because we are so limited with our depth up front. We were looking to double him…trying to spy him and they got multiple guys that can make shots. Holt, he did a heck of a job.”

CMU found scorers to surround guard Trey Zeigler in the first half, something that has been lacking. Junior forward Olivier Mbaigoto was aggressive offensively, scoring his six points all from the foul line, but was absent in the second half, scoring just two.

Freshman point guard Austin McBroom continued his hot scoring touch. He had nine in the first half, finishing with a team-high 19 points.

“We just need to be able to finish in the clutch,” Trey said of the six-game losing streak. “We had the game until the end. Too many mistakes, missed shots, missed free throws, turnovers. We’ve got to be able to finish.”

With 14:21 remaining, and the Chippewas down nine, Ernie was whistled for his second technical foul in as many games.

Holt extended the lead to 11 on the technical free throws, but CMU fought back. A jumper by center Andre Coimbra with 10:26 remaining shaved it to a two-point game, but it never was closer.

Despite the loss, CMU showed hustle throughout, especially in the first half. The team out-rebounded the Golden Flashes 19-10 in the first half, and hauled down nine offensive boards. That translated into an 11-1 advantage in second-chance points.

CMU fell 3 and a half games behind Eastern Michigan for the MAC-West conference lead.

The Chippewas have dropped their past three home games. They go on the road at 2 p.m. Saturday against Ohio in Athens, Ohio. The Bobcats are 17-4 overall and 5-2 in MAC play.