2008 Woodie Awards
Women's first MAC win comes at Kent
By: Dave Jones
Issue date: 2/11/08 Section: Sports
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Staff Reporter
The women's basketball team waited eight games to get its first Mid-American Conference win.
So CMU did not mind waiting another five minutes to get it.
It took overtime, but the Chippewas finally found themselves on the winning end of a MAC game Saturday in Kent, Ohio. Central beat Kent State 87-70 behind the scoring efforts of guards Angel Chan and Candace Wilson.
The overtime win also broke the team's 10-game losing streak.
"It's nice for it to bounce our way," said coach Sue Guevara. "We've been so close."
Chan finished with a career-high 25 points. She shot 8-of-16 from the field, including 5-of-11 from 3-point range.
Chan was especially dangerous in the overtime - she scored 15 points in the extra frame. She hit three consecutive 3-pointers to start overtime and the team was off on a 17-0 run.
CMU outscored Kent State 19-2 in the overtime, and held KSU without a field goal until just 36 seconds remained.
Four players finished in double-figure scoring with key contributions off the bench for CMU.
"People hit shots and rebounded the ball," Guevara said. "It was key in overtime and just before overtime."
CMU (5-17 overall, 1-8 MAC) found itself up seven points at halftime before taking a 12-point lead to open the second half.
"Everybody did their role," Chan said. "Everybody boxed out."
However, CMU allowed KSU back in the game and the Golden Flashes tied the score with less than eight minutes left.
"We missed some easy shots inside and they did a decent job of attacking us and getting to the free throw line," Guevara said.
But instead of folding, Central sustained Kent State's run.
KSU (6-15, 3-6 MAC) took a four-point lead into the final minute of the game, 68-64. But layups by junior guard Latisha Luckett and sophomore guard Kendra Holman tied the game with 14 seconds remaining.
"We just came together," Chan said. "No one got scared and no one got panicked."
Central had a chance to win the game after a steal by sophomore forward Britni Houghton, but Wilson missed a last-second shot.
All four guards finished the game in double figures - Chan (25), Luckett (13), Wilson (21) and sophomore Kendra Holman (10).
Houghton rounded out the starters with nine points and six rebounds. She also had some great defensive contributions, Guevara said.
"It's perseverance in games like this," she said.
For Chan, earning the team's first conference win of the season was overdue.
"It is a relief," Chan said. "It's about time."
sports@cm-life.com
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