Women's basketball blown out by No. 1 South Carolina


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Crystal Bradford goes up for a shot against Ball State at McGuirk Arena on Thursday. CMU won in overtime 85-72. (Max Barth | Staff Photographer)

The Central Michigan University women's basketball team was blown out by the top-ranked team in the nation on Saturday. 

A season-high 23 turnovers led to the Chippewas' 80-45 loss to the South Carolina University Gamecocks in the first of CMU's two games during a tournament at the University of Minnesota this weekend .

CMU led for 54 seconds when senior guard Crystal Bradford hit a jump shot during the opening minute of the game, but soon lost the lead and never got it back. 

Forty five is the lowest point total CMU has scored since the 2010-11 season when the team scored only 45 points against Northern Illinois University that season.

It was the first time CMU has ever faced the No. 1 team in the country.

The Gamecocks had five players score in double-digits, including double-doubles from sophomore Alaina Coates and senior Elem Ibiam. Junior Tiffany Mitchell led SCU with 18 points and pulled in four rebounds.

The Gamecock defense gave the CMU offense problems both on the perimeter and the glass. CMU shot 0-for-6 from 3-point range in the first half. It was the first time this season the Chippewas did not make a 3-point shot in the opening period. 

The CMU women finished the game 31 percent from the floor, another season low. 

The Chippewas were outrebounded 48-36, and gave up 16 offensive rebounds. 

Bradford led CMU with 20 points and four rebounds. Guard Lorreal Jones tallied 10 points and managed eight rebounds.

CMU  fell to 4-5 on the season and the Gamecocks moved to 11-0 on the year. 

The Chippewas face host team UM at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 21. 

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