Central Michigan won its fourth road game of the season Wednesday to remain undefeated in the MAC and firmly in control over the conference.
For the second straight game, the Chippewas came from well behind in the fourth quarter. This time they outscored third-place Eastern Michigan 28-16 to win in Ypsilanti 89-82. Saturday the Chipps outscored Western Michigan 31-15 in the fourth to win 80-70. Micaela Kelly, the MAC’s leading scorer, had 29 points, nine rebounds and five assists. At this point, I don’t think Kelly has any real competition for MAC player of the year.
Ohio was the only other team to win on the road Wednesday, beating Northern Illinois 85-79. So the Bobcats and Chippewas pick up a point in the “golf” standings (below).
Erica Johnson had a career-high 32 points for Ohio. Cece Hooks, Ohio’s all-MAC guard, didn’t play. As I write this, I haven’t been able to find out why. Hooks had been the Easter division’s co-player of the week after averaging 26.5 points last week. Three other Bobcats scored in double figures. Courtney Woods had 22 for NIU.
At home, Ball State got a good win over Buffalo. The Cardinals won 69-66 after trailing by 4 points midway in the second quarter. But behind forward Oshlynn Brown, they outscored Buffalo 27-13 in the third quarter to take a lead they never gave up. Brown scored 24 points and had 11 rebounds. Dyaisha Fair of Buffalo, the MAC’s second-leading scorer at 23 points a game, was held to a season-low 11 on four of 18 shooting, 1 of 11 from 3-point distance.
Bowling Green won its first MAC game of the season, beating Western Michigan at home 72-63. Angela Perry had 20 points and Mari Hill 16 for the Falcons, and guard Katie Hempfling had 11 rebounds, nine assists and eight points.
Akron beat Miami 70-62 in Akron. Haleigh Reinoehl had 26 points and Jordyn Dawson 24, along with 13 rebounds, for the Zips. Savannah Kluesner had 23 and 13 rebounds for Miami.
Kent State and Toledo had their midweek bye.
The ‘golf’ standings
The “golf” standings gives a team -1 for a road win (a “birdie”) and adds a point for a home loss (a “bogey.” A home win or road loss gets zero (“par”).
-4
- Central Michigan (6-0, 13-4)
-2
- Ohio (4-2, 11-6)
-1
- Toledo (4-1, 9-7)
- Ball State (4-2, 12-6)
- Kent State (3-2, 10-6)
- Buffalo (3-3, 12-5)
- Eastern Michigan (3-3, 8-9)
Even
- Western Michigan (3-3, 10-7)
+2
- Miami (1-5, 8-10)
- Akron (2-4, 9-8)
- Bowling Green (1-5, 8-10)
- Northern Illinois (1-5, 5-12)