| by
Raymond Rolak |
| AmericaJR.com
Web Team |
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CLEVELAND
-- Of course the women’s Mid-American Conference
championship game will be for the title but there is much more
at stake. Besides bragging rights in the State of Michigan, Eastern
Michigan University and Central Michigan will be vying for the
automatic entry into the NCAA Tournament.
Eastern
Michigan (22-8) got to the final by just nipping Toledo (21-9),
59-57. Toledo had led for 39 minutes of the game but a late EMU
furry got the win for the Eagles. Paige Redditt got a layup at
1:09 for the first EMU lead of the game. Tavelyn James and Natachia
Watkins each had 19 for the winners.
EMU coach
AnnMarie Gilbert said post game, “What a great game, I am
really thrilled with the way our team played. We got outplayed
for most of this game.” She added with enthusiasm, “How
about those Eagles.”
The CMU
women (20-14) upset Bowling Green (24-6), 69-66 in the other semi-final
and had to hold on at the finish.
CMU freshman
Crystal Bradford scored a game-high 20 points in the contest,
including seven straight down the stretch. She also grabbed 12
rebounds and dished out eight assists.
This will
be the Chippewa’s first title game since 1991. “We
survived,” head coach Sue Guevara said. “I’m
very happy with this team right now. Bowling Green played a hard
game and they are a great program, but this is a big step for
our program to get into the championship game.”
It was
the youth for Central Michigan that powered the win. In addition
to Bradford’s spectacular performance, freshman Jas’Mine
Bracey scored 12 points and pulled down 12 boards, while sophomore
Taylor Johnson finished with 14 points. Additionally sophomore
Niki DiGuilio scored 12 points off the bench and freshman Jessica
Green scored eight points and pulled down eight boards.
The loss
for Bowling Green State University means that since 2003 they
will not be in the MAC women’s finale.
Regarding
EMU and CMU and the championship tilt, in the two times they faced
each other this season, each team won at home. The rubber match
at Quicken Loan Arena in Cleveland will be televised by Sports
Time Ohio.
Related
Story: University
of Detroit-Mercy Goes To NCAA Big Dance
