CMU beats LoyolaChicago, sit at 4-2
Micaela Kelly scored 23 points and Kyra Bussell added 18 on Monday as the Central Michigan women’s basketball team posted a 73- 64 nonconference victory over LoyolaChicago at the Ramblers’ Gentile Arena.
The win sends CMU into the Christmas break at 4-2, with its losses coming at Michigan and at Michigan State, which are a combined 11- 0.
“I thought it was good to get a win going into Christmas break — happy bus ride home,” said CMU coach Heather Oesterle, whose team is ranked fifth in the Collegeinsider.com Mid-major Top 25.
“We have a week as a coach
ing staff to come up with a list of things we need to get better at.”
The Chippewas seized the lead, 27-25, on a Kelly layup with 7:03 to play in the first half. CMU never trailed after that, but the Ramblers hung in and never let the Chippewas get comfortable despite several times building doubledigit leads.
CMU led by eight, 59- 51, after three quarters and Loyola crept within six, 70- 64, with under two minutes to play.
A free throw by Molly Davis
with 1:43 left made it 71- 64, and then Bussell hit a short banking jumper with 1:05 left for the final margin.
CMU held the Ramblers scoreless over the final 2:09.
“We knew it was going to be a war because this is a good Loyola team on their home court,” Oesterle said.
“I thought our players answered the challenge.”
Kelly made nine of her 13 field goal attempts and all four of her free throw tries. Maddy Watters added 12 points and Davis had 10 points and six assists.
Watters hit four 3-pointers, while Bussell had three.
Jahari Smith led the Chippewa rebounders with seven.
The Chippewas made 11 of their 28 3-point attempts (39.3 percent).
CMU entered the game averaging 11 triples per outing. Loyola entered having surrendered just 15 3-pointers in its first three games, and opponents were shooting 20.5 percent from long range.
Both teams committed 11 turnovers, but the Chippewas scored 18 points off of Loyola turnovers. The Ramblers finished with just four points off of CMU turnovers.
CMU is off until Jan. 2 when it goes to Ohio for a Mid-american Conference game. The Chippewas, who are seeking their fifth- consecutive league championship, are 2- 0 in MAC play. The Bobcats, who are ranked 12th in the Mid-major poll, are 3-1, 1-1, and were scheduled to play at West Virginia on Monday afternoon.