MT. PLEASANT - There are many things deceiving about Mt. Pleasant.
First of all, there certainly is no mountain nearby.
Second, other than the casino, there really isn't anything "pleasant" there.
And third, the Central Michigan women's basketball team doesn't play like it was 5-21 last year and 0-3 this year.
The Michigan women's basketball team managed to finally put away the Chippewas, 68-56, despite a sub-par performance yesterday. Michigan's first victory at Central Michigan since 1984 didn't come easy.
"You have to give a lot of the credit to Central Michigan," Michigan coach Sue Guevara said. "They came out and played with a lot of intensity and a lot of heart. I thought they played very hard."
The Wolverines (6-1) couldn't help but be surprised by the score at halftime, leading only 33-27. Compared to the level of talent that Michigan has been playing against recently, the Chippewas should have been a cake walk.
But Central Michigan wouldn't go down easily.
"I don't think there's any question that it was the (best half of basketball we've played all season)," Central Michigan coach Fran Voll said about the first half.
Sloppiness and turnovers were the story for most of the game, with Michigan giving away the ball 23 times and Central Michigan returning the favor with 22.
"I was disappointed in the effort of my team tonight," Guevara said. "I don't think we were mentally prepared to play."
While the first half was a dogfight for both teams - with neither moving out to a big lead - the second half was mostly Michigan. Ann Lemire's 3-pointer with 1:27 left in the game was the final nail in the coffin, giving the Wolverines a 10-point lead, 64-54.
But the story of the contest was Michigan center Pollyanna Johns.
"After our little halftime talk I just wanted to pick my team up," Johns said. "I didn't see anyone stepping up so I just took it upon myself, hoping my teammates would follow."
Johns constantly gave the Chippewas fits, scoring at key moments. She scored an important early basket in the first half to break a 27-27 tie. When the Wolverines went on a 16-4 run, Johns scored nine of the points, en route to a season-high 27 points. For good measure she grabbed 13 rebounds, as well.
"She's a very good athlete and very difficult to get around," Central Michigan forward Ebony Rainge said. "And she's got experience in the post."
Rainge, who had the unfortunate task of guarding Johns, was the second-leading scorer for the Chippewas with 11 points. Forward Tracy Renken led the Central Michigan with 15 points, most of them on outside jumpers coming off of screens.
But in the end, the Wolverines proved to be too much, with guard Stacey Thomas contributing 13 points and two steals.
Despite the strong performances from Johns and Thomas, Guevara still was not too pleased with her team's showing.
"I tell my team every game, 'It's not the winning and it's not the losing - it's the performance,'" Guevara said. "We didn't have a very good performance tonight. "
The match was Michigan's first since returning from the Wahine Classic tournament in Hawaii, in which the Wolverines lost by three points to No. 1 Stanford in the championship game.
"I just didn't see the same team that I saw in Hawaii for three games," Guevara said. "That concerns me. I don't care who we're playing, we're more concerned with the performance of Michigan women's basketball team than the other team. We will change the effort of our game for Wednesday."
Michigan's next opponent is another in-state foe, Eastern Michigan. The Wolverines make the short trip to Ypsilanti on Wednesday.
JEANNIE SERVAAS/Daily
Michigan guard Stacey Thomas drove to the basket against Central Michigan on Sunday, despite Ebony Rainge's attempt to stop her with the hokey-pokey. Thomas was the Wolverines second-leading scorer, tossing in 13 points. Rainge finished with 11 points for the Chippewas.