Central Michigan Tops Richmond on Thanksgiving
Courtesy of Central Michigan Athletic Communications
Central Michigan 61, Richmond 56
LAS VEGAS, Nev. - The Chippewas opened the South Point Thanksgiving Shootout with a 61-56 victory over Richmond Thursday to hand the Spiders its first loss of the season.
CMU (2-1) struggled early to get things going offensively, and were held to just one point more than six minutes into the game trailing Richmond (3-1) 7-1 at the first media timeout.
Senior Jessica Green ended the Chippewas' drought with quick jumper that fueled CMU to a 6-0 run midway through the first half to tie the game at 7-7. Green led the team in scoring for the second-straight game with 13 points and added three steals and two blocks.
The Chippewas cut the deficit to four at the half, 28-24 after Green hit a 3-pointer with 13 seconds left on the clock.
At the 15:04 mark of the second half, CMU took its first lead of the game off a Lorreal Jones layup to give the Chippewas a 34-33 advantage.
Crystal Bradford gave CMU its biggest lead of the game, 57-52 with a layup as a result of a Jas'Mine Bracey steal with just over two minutes left to play.
Bradford finished with 12 points and 15 rebounds to earn her first double-double of the season. It was her 45th double-double, she also has two career triple-doubles.
The Chippewas out-rebounded the Spiders 50-42 and scored 18 points off Richmond's miscues.
Da'Jourie Turner got to the line 12 times, all of which came in a five minute span in the second half, shooting 9-of-12. Turner finished with nine points, all of which came from the charity stripe.
Bracey also hit clutch free throws down the stretch to solidify CMU's win. The senior was fouled twice in the last 25 seconds of the game, shooting a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line.
CMU is back in action tomorrow vs. Oregon in its final game of the tournament. Tipoff is set for 9 p.m. (6 p.m. PT).
