Women’s basketball prepares for postseason rematch with IUPUI
The Central Michigan women’s basketball team will face a familiar foe in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) Thursday.
CMU (22-10) hosts Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis in the first round of the WNIT at McGuirk Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
The Chippewas loss to IUPUI, 72-66, in the first round of the 2014 WNIT.
“It was a very physical game,” said senior Da’Jourie Turner about the 2014 matchup. “It’s a new year and a new team, so I don’t expect it to be the same outcome.”
Senior forward Chelsea Lynn said she doesn’t see this game as a revenge game because both teams have mostly new rosters.
“We’re a whole different team, so everything is going to be different,” Lynn said. “We’re going to treat them like our biggest game and we’re going to do what we need to do to have a positive outcome.”
The Jaguars (20-10) enter the game on a two-game losing streak including a 62-51 Summit League quarterfinal loss to Nebraska-Omaha.
IUPUI has three players averaging double digits in scoring led by sophomore Danielle Lawrence.
Lawrence leads the Jaguars in scorer at 13.2 points per game, while junior Mikale Rogers averages 12.8 points and seven rebounds and senior Akilah Sims averages 11 points.
Even though CMU didn’t reach the NCAA Tournament, the Chippewas can still make history by earning their first postseason win in program history. The team lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in 1983, 1984 and 2013. The other three postseason trips came in 2011, 2012 and 2014 in the WNIT — all with first round exits.
Head Coach Sue Guevara said playing in any postseason tournament is a plus for this season considering the preseason expectations.
“Team 48 still has an opportunity to accomplish a first that hasn’t happened in our program,” Guevara said. “What we have to do is focus on the process to get the result we want.”
Sophomore forward Tinara Moore said playing in the postseason extends the season and adds more memories for the current squad.
“It’s just fun because we have another game, so the season’s not over,” Moore said. “This is the most fun I’ve had on a team and it’s just exciting to have another game.”
Win or lose, Guevara said this team has already accomplished enough to be proud of.
“It’s successful that we’re here,” she said. “I’ve said this all along, no one expected us to be in any kind of postseason play, so this has already been a successful season. Now, we get to build and play another game, and that in itself is a success."
