Slow start too much for CMU women's basketball in MAC Tournament
For the second year in a row, the Chippewas find themselves going home after the first round of the conference tournament
Central Michigan University senior guard Taylor Anderson and senior forward Demetria Prewitt high five after Anderson shoots a free throw attempt at the Mid-American Conference women’s basketball quarterfinals at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. Anderson and Prewitt played in their last collegiate game of basketball totaling a combined 23 points. (CM-Life | Jasmine Brookins)
After starting the fourth quarter 0-for-11 from the field against Central Michigan, Ohio University needed an offensive answer. With 3:04 left, junior Bailey Tabeling delivered, sinking a 3-pointer to give the Bobcats the momentum they needed to finish off the Chippewas and advance in the Mid-American Conference Tournament.
Ohio had other plans, spoiling Central Michigan's stay in Cleveland by sending it home in the first round of the tournament. A slow start from the Chippewas along with a strong shooting performance by the Bobcats and 33 points from Tabeling propelled Ohio to the 89-88 win.
For the second year in a row, Central Michigan earned a spot in the MAC Tournament, this time as a No. 4 seed. After a first-round exit at the hands of the Toledo Rockets last season, the Chippewas were looking for a better result this time around against the No. 5 seed Bobcats.
“We started out just giving up way too many baskets in the first quarter,” head coach Kristin Haynie said. “We felt like our defense got away from us to start the game. As the game got going, we did do a better job of locking in on the defensive end, but credit Ohio as well for knocking down shots.”
Central Michigan had four players record double-digits in scoring, led by sophomores Madi Morson and Ayanna-Sarai Darrington who scored 23 and 20 respectively. Darrington added 11 rebounds to notch a double-double along with her teammate senior Taylor Anderson, who scored 13 and grabbed 12 rebounds.
Central Michigan University sophomore guard Madi Morson listens as coach Kristen Haynie talks to the team in between periods at the Mid-American Conference women’s basketball quarterfinals at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. Morson scored a total of 23 points against the Ohio University Bobcats. (CM-Life | Jasmine Brookins)
Just a year after winning MAC Freshman of the Year, Morson won the title of MAC Player of the Year for the 2025-26 season.
“In basketball, you talk about being 50, 40, 90, you know, 50% from the field, 40% from the three and 90% from the free-throw line,” Haynie said. “And that's incredible. And not a lot of players, even in the pros, can do that, and she almost had that. So it just goes to show her work ethic that she put in in the offseason. … She's gonna continue to get better.”
In the postgame press conference, Haynie put a lot of weight into how the quarterfinal match began. The Bobcats were scorching hot to start the game, shooting 10-15 from the field and 5-7 from behind the 3-point line.
“We can't start out (the) MAC Tournament in the hole like that,” Haynie said. Them scoring 27 points in the first quarter is way too many points. So we scored enough to win the game, but just disappointing in our defensive effort in the first half.”
Tabeling scored 11 of her 33 points in the first quarter, making her impact early.
“She's a great player,” Haynie said. “Even when you have defenders on her, she still gets her shot off and makes shots. So just credit her, I mean, just her efficiency and her passion for the game. She's definitely hard to guard, and she led them today for the victory.”
Haynie said Ohio was able to dictate on offense early because of the style of play the Bobcats use, a style she said is able to confuse defenses.
“They just play a different style than what we see,” Haynie said. “He's (Bob Boldon) a great coach. It's a great offense because in practice and in games you don't really play against that style.”
Haynie also criticized her team’s 3-point and transition defense. Highlighted by the first quarter success, the Bobcats made 13 shots from deep during the 40 minutes of play. On transitions, Central Michigan gave up 25 fast-break points to the Bobcats overall, 10 of which came in the first quarter.
“When we score, we gotta sprint back, it's not time to rest,” Haynie said. “So they did a great job pushing the ball, and that's where we lost the game, was transition defense and then giving up too many threes in the quarter court.”
Foul trouble was also a problem for the Chippewas early. Darrington scored the first eight points of the game before picking up two fouls. Not only did the foul trouble force Darrington to miss a lot of the first half, but it also forced her to change the way she approached the game.
Central Michigan University sophomore forward Ayanna-Sarai Darrignton fights for the basketball during the Mid-American Conference basketball tournament against Ohio University at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. Darrignton scored 20 points during the game. (CM-Life | Zoey Morse)
“ I just had to lay off of extra pressures and just not be as productive as I could be on the defensive end,” Darrington said.
Despite the tough start to the game, the Chippewas were able to climb back into it by halftime. After being down by as many as 11 with 4:22 left in the second quarter, the Chippewas put together some offensive possessions and cut the lead down to just four going into the break.
“We talk about just chipping away,” Haynie said. “We're not gonna get it all in one possession, and it starts with defense and getting stops. … Our goal was to be down five at the half, and we got it down to four. So that just shows the mental toughness of this team and just the heart of not giving up.”
The two teams kept it close throughout the third quarter, setting up a tense finish. Central Michigan’s defense shined in the fourth, shutting down the Bobcat offense for much of the period. Ohio, however, found the spark they needed late to finish off the victory.
As the team now enters the offseason, Anderson, who is graduating from the program, said that the team is headed in a positive direction.
“This team means a lot to me,” Anderson said. “We definitely started from the trenches when I first got here, and obviously we got better over time. We got to Cleveland last year, fell short and then fell short again. So it's sad, but I hope this is a lesson for our underclassmen for next year.”
