MOUNT PLEASANT —
The Western Michigan University women’s basketball team took a lead into halftime for the first time this season in Mid-American Conference play and dominated the rebounding battle on Saturday.
Neither of those positives were enough to provide the Broncos their first league victory, as Central Michigan dominated the second half in posting a 74-65 victory at Rose Arena.
Toledo at WMU women • Where: University Arena. • Radio: WQXC-FM 100.9. |
“We were a different team in the first half than in the second,” Broncos forward Ebony Cleary said. “(The Chippewas) penetrated well and dished it out to the open man. We need to play better one-on-one (defense) and guard the paint so they can’t pass it out to the open shooter.”
Guards Britni Houghton and Shonda Long scored 23 and 17 points, respectively, to lead the Chippewas (5-11, 2-2 MAC). CMU shot a blistering 55.6 percent (15 of 27) — including 5 of 8 from 3-point range — in the second half after trailing 34-30 at the break.
The Broncos (5-12, 0-4 MAC), meanwhile, managed just a 33 percent shooting clip in the second half, when they were outscored 44-31. WMU committed 23 turnovers, and the Chippewas outscored the Broncos 24-12 off turnovers.
“They got hot from the 3-point line and we didn’t defend it as well as we could have,” WMU coach Tasha McDowell said.
Cleary finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds — including six on the offensive end. She was 9 of 11 from the foul line.
“Ebony did a nice job finishing down low,” McDowell said.
Miame Giden added 14 points and eight rebounds for WMU, which had 47 boards to CMU’s 26.