“This week the Zips (12-9) stay home and take on the Central Michigan Chippewa’s (8-12) and the Northern Illinois Huskies (8-11). Central Michigan and Northern Illinois are two very strong teams from the western division and we will have to take care of the ball, get back in transition, and defend in order to have a chance to win, Zips head coach Jodi Kest said, I am glad to be home after playing four out of the last five games on the road.”
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This week the Zips (12-9) stay home and take on the Central Michigan Chippewa’s (8-12) and the Northern Illinois Huskies (8-11).
Central Michigan and Northern Illinois are two very strong teams from the western division and we will have to take care of the ball, get back in transition, and defend in order to have a chance to win, Zips head coach Jodi Kest said, I am glad to be home after playing four out of the last five games on the road.
The Chippewas are currently third in the Mid American Conference western division, trailing behind the Toledo Rockets (17-4) and Eastern Michigan (15-5).
The take on the Zips Feb. 4 at 7 p.m.
The Chippewas have won the last two contests against the Zips, including the Zips first round loss in the MAC tournament.
The Chippewas are coming off a win from last Saturday’s game against Miami, Ohio.
Leading the offensive attack for the Chippewa’s is Shonda Long who leads the team in scoring with 291 points.
The Chippewas’ Kaihla Szunko leads the Chippewas in the defensive attack as she has 190 rebounds for the season. Szunko also a lead the Chippewas in steals with 57 and blocks with 16.
The Chippewas have suffered conference losses from Eastern Michigan, Toledo and Kent State.
The Zips will stay take on the Northern Illinois Huskies Feb. 6. The Huskies are currently fifth in the MAC western division behind Toledo, Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan and Ball State.
Tip off time is 2 p.m. at James A. Rhodes Arena.
The Huskies are coming off a 67-85 loss this past Tuesday against the Bowling Green State Falcons.
Leading the offensive attack for the Huskies is Marke Freeman who has 368 points this season and is averaging 17.5 points per game. Freeman also leads the Huskies with 85 assists.
Mauvolyene Adams leads the Huskies underneath the boards with 172 rebounds. 115 of her 172 rebounds came defensively.
While driving into the paint, the Zips need to keep an eye out for Shaakira Haywood, who has 13 blocks this season.
For the first time since the 2005-2006 the Zips have won back to back games (Eastern Michigan and Ball State).
Leading the offensive attack for the Zips is small forward Kara Murphy with 309 points this season. Murphy is averaging 14.7 points per game this season.
Point Guard Ayla Guzzardo is making the best of her senior year leading the team in assists (83) and steals (41).
With three double-doubles this season, Zips power forward Jolene Tamboue has 160 rebounds this season and 166 points this season.
Freshman power forward Rachel Tecca provides a spark off the bench as she is second on the team in scoring with 237 points (11.3 ppg), second in rebounding with 138 rebounds (6.6 rpg).
The Zips are currently third in the MAC eastern division trailing Bowling Green and Kent State.
The Zips will hit the road next week to take on the Toledo Rockets and the Buffalo Bulls.
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