CMU women's basketball clinch MAC tournament spot
The Central Michigan University women's basketball team cheers as freshman guard Madi Morson scores a 3-pointer in McGuirk Arena, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (CM Life | Jasmine Brookins)
Central Michigan women's basketball is MAC tournament bound, thanks to an overtime victory Wednesday over the University of Miami (Ohio).
With 1:06 remaining in regulation, freshman guard Madi Morson sank a contested jumper to put CMU ahead of Miami (Ohio), 60-54, capping a 6-0 run. However, a three-point answer brought the RedHawks within three.
The Chippewas missed a key shot, setting up Miami’s final possession. RedHawks forward Katey Richason drilled a deep three with 13 seconds left to force overtime at 60-60.
The Chippewas controlled the momentum in overtime, and guard Lisa Tesson was sent to the line shooting two in the final minutes. She made both, and the Redhawks were unable to make a shot to tie up the game.
The Chippewas return from Oxford with the 69-66 win and a punched ticket to the Mid-American Conference Tournament next week. CMU is now 13-16 on the season.
The game began with an 8-0 run by Miami (OH) that the Chippewas found themselves catching up to. A jumper in the second quarter from center Taylor Johnson would give CMU its first lead of the game. The back-and-forth contest throughout the duration of regulation saw eight ties and three lead changes.
That was when, Morson sank the contested jumper to put the Chippewas ahead, 60-54 and set the RedHawks up for the back-to-back three pointers that sent the game into overtime.
The Chippewas quickly regained control in the extra period. A Jess Lawson putback offensive rebound gave CMU a 62-60 lead, and Tesson followed with a three-pointer to push the advantage to five.
The RedHawks responded with a layup from Richason, but Morson kept CMU in front by hitting two crucial free throws with just over a minute left.
In the final seconds, Miami capitalized on free throws to cut the deficit to one. Forced to foul, the RedHawks sent Tesson to the line, where she calmly sank both free throws to extend CMU’s lead to 69-66. Miami's last-second three-pointer fell short, sealing the Chippewas' tournament-clinching victory.
CMU overcame early struggles, shooting just 36.8% from the field but dominating the boards with a 53-33 rebounding advantage. The Chippewas also capitalized on second-chance opportunities, scoring 17 points off offensive rebounds.
Forward Ayanna-Sarai Darrington was a force in the paint, grabbing 16 rebounds and scoring nine points. Lawson contributed a prominent defensive effort with 12 rebounds, three steals and two blocks.
The Chippewas will return to Mount Pleasant to celebrate their seniors in the last game of the regular season against Akron at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
