The Kent Golden Flashes earned the top seed in next week's Mid-American
Conference tournament with a 72-49 win on the road February 25 at Akron.
Carrie Nance led three Kent players in double figures with 17 points and
added six assists, while Katalin Kollat and Lisa Wube added 13 and 10
points, respectively, off the bench. Kent (22-5, 15-1) won its seventh
straight game despite receiving only seven points from Dawn Zerman, all
of her points coming at the free throw line. Akron (11-16, 7-9) was
paced by 18 points from Cheryl Bowles and 12 from Erica Glover. The
Zips, who are the No. 9 seed in the tourney, will travel to face Buffalo
in the first round Monday, while Kent will face the winner of that game
Thursday at Public Hall.
Western Michigan is the No. 2 seed and finished the regular season with
a 17-10 overall record and a 14-2 mark in league play after dropping a
93-65 decision at Eastern Michigan. EMU seniors Jessica Henry (29
points) and Amy Crickard (26) combined for 55 of the Eagles' points,
while holding WMU's Kristin Koetsier, the league's leading scorer, to
nine points. Shelsea Erving and Brooke Gallert each had 14 points for
the Broncos and were two of six WMU players to foul out. EMU (14-13,
8-8) won its second straight game and earned the No. 5 seed, while the
loss ended the Broncos' seven-game winning streak. The Eagles will host
Northern Illinois on Monday, with the winner facing the winner of the
Marshall-Miami game.
Toledo captured the third and final first round bye with a 70-55 home
win against Northern Illinois. Senior Jennifer Markwood was one of
three Rockets in double figures with 19 points and also added a
game-high 10 rebounds. Tara Overaitis added 14 points and eight
rebounds for Toledo (12-14, 9-7), which will face the winner of the
Central Michigan-Ball State contest on Thursday. Northern Illinois
(6-21, 5-11) was led by 19 points from Charbea Haller and 10 from
Michelle Johnson.
Garnering the fourth seed is Miami, which defeated Ohio, 69-63, in
Oxford. Five Miami players netted double figures in points, led by
freshman Heather Cusick's 20 points. The RedHawks (15-11, 9-7)
registered 17 steals, 13 of which came from Cusick (7) and Hollie Nelsen
(6). Brittany Collins paced Ohio with 16 points off the bench. Miami
hosts No. 13 Marshall, while 10th-seeded Ohio (11-16, 6-10) travels to
seventh-seeded Bowling Green.
Ball State held off Central Michigan, 92-86 in overtime, as the two
teams combined for 28 made three-pointers. The Cardinals (15-12, 8-8)
were led by freshman Laurie Kitts' career-tying 28 points, including a
school-record eight three-pointers. Freshman Tamara Bowie added 20
points and 12 rebounds, while Christy Jones added 18 points and 12
caroms. Central Michigan (9-18, 6-10) was led by Jodi Culbertson's 32
points, who set a CMU mark with nine three-pointers made. Shelly Woods
added 24 points and 14 boards for the Chippewas, who will return to
Muncie for Monday's first round tournament game with the Cardinals.
Bowling Green overcame a seven-point halftime deficit to defeat Buffalo,
63-62. Francine Miller led the Falcons with 22 points, while Jaymee
Wappes added 14 points and five rebounds. BG (10-16, 8-8), which won
its fourth straight game, will host Ohio, while Buffalo clinched the
eighth and final home court. Tiffany Bell led the Bulls (17-10, 7-9)
with 33 points, with Mari McClure chipping in 15 points.
Mid-American Conference Women's Basketball Tournament
Monday, February 28 (campus sites)
Game #1 - No. 10 Ohio at No. 7 Bowling Green, 7 p.m.
Game #2 - No. 11 Central Michigan at No. 6 Ball State, 7 p.m.
Game #3 - No. 9 Akron at No. 8 Buffalo, 7:30 p.m.
Game #4 - No. 12 Northern Illinois at No. 5 Eastern Michigan, 7 p.m.
Game #5 - No. 13 Marshall at No. 4 Miami, 7 p.m.
Thursday, March 2 (Quarterfinals)
(Public Hall, Cleveland)
Session I
Game #6 - Winner Akron/Buffalo vs. No. 1 Kent, 1 p.m.
Game #7 - Winner Northern Illinois/Eastern Michigan vs. Winner Marshall/Miami, 3:30 p.m.
Session II
Game #8 - Winner Ohio/Bowling Green vs. No. 2 Western Michigan, 6:30 p.m.
Game #9 - Winner Central Michigan/Ball State vs. No. 3 Toledo, 9 p.m.
Friday, March 3 (Semifinals)
Session III
(TV: Fox Sports Net)
Game #10 - Winner Game #6 vs. Winner Game #7, 6:30 p.m.
Game #11 - Winner Game #8 vs. Winner Game #9, 9 p.m.
Saturday, March 4 (Championship Game)
Session IV
(TV: Fox Sports Net)
Game #12 - Winner Game #10 vs. Winner Game #11, 5:45 p.m.