Down three, freshman guard Madi Morson took a pass from senior guard Jess Lawson and nailed a 3-pointer, tying the game while also drawing a foul, sending her to the free-throw line for a chance at a 4-point play. Morson knocked down her free throw to give the Chippewas a late lead.

In a closely contested game featuring 17 ties and 11 lead changes, Central Michigan found itself in the lead as the clock ran out, taking home the 73-68 victory after mounting a late-game comeback.

The Chippewas will now head into the final stretch of their season as they finish up Mid-American Conference play over the next several weeks. The team now stands with an overall record of 10-13 and a conference record of 5-6.

Both teams found success on offense to start the game as they began to trade baskets early. Freshman forward Ayanna-Sarai Darrington got herself going right after tipoff, scoring seven of the Chippewa’s first nine points. Central Michigan grabbed an early three-offensive rebounds in the first half of the first quarter as the team began the game by crashing the glass.

Morson got herself on the board late in the first quarter as she knocked down two jumpers in back-to-back possessions, giving her team a 19-17 lead.

With nine seconds left in the first quarter, Marshall junior guard CC Mays hit a shot from behind the arc to give the Thundering Herd a 24-21 lead heading into the second.

Marshall continued to hold a small lead early in the second quarter before CMU used an extended 12-4 run to climb back in the game and take the lead with 2:43 left. Lawson was the driving force as she scored eight of the 12 points in the run.

Both teams continued to battle it out as the second quarter expired, with the Chippewas taking a 39-36 lead into the locker room at halftime. There was a total of five lead changes and 10 ties in what was a back-and-forth first half.

As in past games this season, the Chippewas struggled with turnovers in the opening two quarters, giving the ball away seven times, leading to 10 points for the Thundering Herd.

Darrington, who finished the first half with 15 points, came out of the break and knocked down an early layup to add to the CMU lead.

The Thundering Herd started what would become a 7-0 run about three minutes into the second half as the Chippewa's offense hit a cold spell, and Marshall retook the lead.

Central Michigan and Marshall traded baskets throughout the rest of the third quarter, with both teams exchanging the lead. With time almost up in the third frame of play, Mays was fouled while attempting a 3-pointer, sending her to the free-throw line with a chance to take a late lead. Mays knocked down all three of her free throws, sending her team into the fourth quarter with a one-point advantage.

Marshall began to pull away from the Chippewas as they hit two free throws and two shots to open the final quarter. The Thundering Herd pushed the lead out to their largest of the game at nine before their offense ran completely cold, failing to hit a field goal for the remaining five minutes of the game. Central Michigan clawed its way back within three with about three minutes left on the clock.

With 2:35 left in the game, Morson knocked down a huge 3-pointer to tie the game before heading to the line for a free throw, taking a late lead for the Chippewas.

Marshall was ultimately unable to retake the lead as Lawson hit four free throws to close out and seal the win for Central Michigan.

Lawson secured a double-double in the afternoon win, finishing with 22 points while also grabbing 14 rebounds. The Chippewas were also led by Darrington, who also finished the game with 22 points, a new career high, and Morson, who scored 18.

The Chippewas will now have a week off as they prepare to face the Falcons of Bowling Green in their next matchup on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Late comeback seals win for CMU women's basketball

CMU women's basketball takes home the victory over Marshall

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