Women's basketball snaps losing streak with win over Delaware State


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CMU coach Sue Guevara shouts during the fourth quarter against Ball State on Thursday in McGuirk Arena. (Max Barth | Staff Photographer)

Despite a poor showing in the first half, the Central Michigan University women’s basketball team defeated Delaware State University 91-63 on Tuesday, Dec. 16 at McGuirk Arena. 

The Hornets took at 36-33 lead into the halftime intermission.

But the Chippewas stormed back in the second half, outscoring DSU 58-27 as Head Coach Sue Guevara's team cruised to victory. 

“If a team with a 1-7 record fools you, then you are a fool,” Guevara said. “We were pretty foolish in the first half. We were undisciplined defensively. We were attacking for ourselves and not looking for other people.”

CMU scored its highest point total of the season on Tuesday and currently sit at 4-3 overall. 

“I know I’m supposed to be happy with wins, but we played better against Dayton and we lost,” Guevara said. “We have to get to the point with five seniors where the mental preparation is the same for every game we play.”

DSU put pressure on the Chippewas, in the form of a 14-4 lead in the opening five minutes.

CMU senior forward Jas’Mine Bracy kept the CMU women in the game scoring eight of the team’s first 10 points. Bracey finished the with 22 points and seven rebounds.

“I was just trying to get the team together,” Bracy said. “We weren’t together in the first half. We had to keep talking to each other and stay in the game. It’s my job as a senior to keep the team together.”

CMU was out rebounded  20-14 and turned the ball over four times in the first half.

“I went into the locker room at halftime and told my players, “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. That’s what is happening right now," Guevara said.

Moments after Guevara’s halftime speech, the Chippewas started the second half on a 12-1 run.

Senior guard Crystal Bradford took control in the second half, scoring 13 points and grabbing seven rebounds. She totaled 22 points and 10 rebounds in the win.

Bradford's latest performance made her the first player in program history to record more than 1,500 points and 1,000 rebounds during the course of a career.

Bradford was pleased with the milestone accomplishment, she said. But she wants to keep her concentration on a bigger goal.

“There are a lot of records that could be broken this year,” Bradford said. “My main goal has been to win the championship, shape and mold our freshmen, and (get) great team wins. The record is good, but I just want to keep my focus.”

The Chippewas head to the University of Minnesota this weekend for a tournament during which they will face South Carolina State University and the Golden Gophers. 

Tipoff against the Gamecocks is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday. 

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