CMU loses three games during break
The women’s basketball team went into the holiday break undefeated and on its best start in school history.
And even though it lost two games, the team has a new found confidence.
The women entered Mid-American Conference play with the second ranked scoring defense, allowing only 56.0 points per game.
Senior Chasidy Myers helped the team to a third-ranked field goal percentage (.418), while shooting .545 herself.
Senior Casey Manning came up big for the Chippewas, scoring 69 points in five games and enters conference play fourth in the MAC in steals with 32.
Michigan State 75, CMU 50
December 30
2005 National runner-up Michigan State proved to be too much for the women’s basketball team in a 75-50 loss.
The Spartans at one point had a 32-point lead but CMU kept fighting ending the game on a 13-8 run as they shot 22 percent fewer than MSU.
Senior Casey Manning turned in an overall solid performance, leading the team with 15 points, seven assists, six steals, six rebounds and two blocks.
Central was out-rebounded (32-27) and had more turnovers (29-27) than MSU.
“We played real well the last 12 minutes of the game; I just think that we came out a little intimidated,” Kleinfelter
said. “We forced 25 turnovers on them so I was happy with that. Our defense cranked it up we just couldn’t score.”
CMU 65, Saint Louis 55
December 28
Senior Chasidy Myers scored a career high 22 points while helping the women’s basketball team beat Saint Louis 65-55.
Myers also recorded the second double-double of her career, tying her career high of 11 rebounds. But it took a 13-3 run at the end to clinch the game as both teams were tied at 52 with about five minutes left to play. Central put up its best shooting performance of the season hitting .483 from the floor and holding SLU to .355 shooting percentage.
“They were a hard matchup, a lot of small forwards that were tough to matchup with,” Kleinfelter said. “This is a team that I have a lot of respect for. They gave some good teams in the Mid-American Conference a very tough time and we beat them by 10.”
CMU 66, Jacksonville 54
December 19
For the second consecutive game and the fourth time this season the women’s basketball team had four players score in double digits as it beat Jacksonville 66-54. Senior Erin Kuhl led the way with 14 points while junior Ann Skufca added 12 and seniors Casey Manning and Chasidy Myers each put up 11. Central’s defense was a big factor as it held Jacksonville to 26 percent shooting and .17 percent from three point range in the second half. Once again, the Chippewas had more rebounds and shot more free throws than the opposition.
“By this time it was a third game in four days and we didn’t have much left in us,” Kleinfelter said. “But our kids found a way to win against a very young and very athletic team.”
CMU 75, Troy 63
December 17
Bouncing back after its first loss the women’s basketball team beat Troy in convincing fashion with four players scoring in double digits. On the second consecutive day senior Casey Manning led the team with 18 points, adding seven assists, six steals and one rebound in the 75-63 win. Turnovers and free throws were key for the Chippewas as they forced 23 Troy turnovers and were 22-of-24 from the line. Manning and senior Chasidy Myers were named to the all-classic team as Central finished second in the University of Central Florida Holiday Classic.
“Troy was probably our best game,” Kleinfelter said. “Troy had beaten Central Florida earlier in the season, our defense was good and our offense was good and our upperclassmen really pulled through.”
Central Florida 57, CMU 48
December 16
The women’s basketball team suffered its first loss of the season in a defensive battle, losing 57-48 to Central Florida.
Both teams shot under 34 percent from the floor but UCF out-rebounded and shot more free throws than the Chippewas.
Central held a lead until five minutes left in the game when UCF hit two three pointers to take the lead in what was part of a 22-6 run to end the game. Casey Manning led the team with 13 points and eight rebounds despite being in foul trouble much of the game.
“This was the most physical game we played all year,” Kleinfelter said. “They took us out of our game and we couldn’t get to the free throw line. They were a very good ball club.
