Chippewa sharpshooter Maddy Watters selected for NCAA 3-point competition
Central Michigan women's basketball coach Heather Oesterle had to make a phone call.
During March, coaches can lose track of time preparing for opponents and travel. Oesterle missed the first correspondence from one source in particular, but when she received a second email from a representative of the NCAA 3-Point contest, she cracked a smile.
"I saw (the email) and thought, 'Oh my gosh, this is so exciting," Oesterle said.
With Director of Player Development Reyna Frost by her side, Oesterle read the email and picked up her phone and called Rockford senior guard Maddy Watters.
The purpose of the call? Informing the Rockford native that she was selected to participate in the NCAA 3-Point Championship.
"She was excited, a little nervous," Oesterle recalled. "I'm like, 'Don't worry, we've got a little time to prepare. So she'll be good."
The event will be held at 9 p.m. on April 1 in Indianapolis, Indiana during the men's Final Four.
As a Chippewa, Watters is a career 40-percent shooter from beyond the arc. As it stands, she's made 181 career 3-pointers, which ranks seventh in program history. Her 2020-21 season mark of 44 percent currently ranks second in program history for percentage in a single season.
Her season percentage ranks third in the Mid-American Conference and 12th nationally.
"I'm excited to be part of it," Watters said.
Watters' selection marks the second time that a Chippewa woman has been chosen to participate in the event.
"It's great for our program to be on the national stage," Oesterle said. "ESPN2 with Central Michigan on the screen is big time."
The last Chippewa to participate in the competition, CMU all-time leading scorer Presley Hudson, won the competition in 2019. Hudson hit 77-of-100 shots to knock off Loyola-Chicago's Clayton Custer in the final round.
"(Hudson) definitely gave me some big shoes to fill," Watters said.
During her time at CMU, Watters has transitioned from role player to starter, taking her main skill of 3-point shooting and developing it over time. As a freshman, she averaged just 11 minutes a game, scoring just 1.5 per while taking just 31 shots from beyond the arc.
Fast forward to her senior season, and Watters has rocketed past those numbers. Her development has been integral to the program's continued rise, and her MAC Tournament performance was a big reason why the Chippewas claimed the championship and the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
"She was outstanding in all three games," coach Heather Oesterle said.
The remainder of the Slam Dunk & 3-point Championships field is yet to be announced.
CMU is a 12-seed in the NCAA Tournament and will play fifth-seeded Iowa in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at noon March 21 in the Alamodome.
