As Yogi Berra so famously said a long time ago, “It’s not over until it’s over.”
The fabulous women’s collegiate basketball career of Wayland High School graduate Presley Hudson isn’t over, even though Central Michigan was dealt a devastating loss in to Buffalo the Mid-American Conference tournament semifinals last Friday. The Chippewas, who recorded a 25-7 regular season record, were awarded an at-large bid to the Big Dance with the No. 8 seed.
CMU will take on Michigan State at 1 p.m. Saturday at Purcell Arena on the Notre Dame campus. MSU has the No. 9 seed. The bad news is that the winner will have to play No. 1 seed host Notre Dame (30-3) in the second round.
The Chippewas made school history a year ago by winning the MAC title and won their first two games in the NCAA regionals. In the second round they shocked highly-regarded Ohios State University and Hudson led the way with 28 points. They became the first CMU women’s team to make the “Sweet 16” round before losing to Oregon.
Hudson, in the 32 games this season, averaged 20.4 points per game, second behind inside player Reyna Frost, and she made a remarkable 94.3% of her free throw attempts, nailing 116 of 123, and ranking No. 1 this week in the entire nation. She led the team in assists and three-point field goals and she was tied for second in rebounds, despite her diminutive stature.
Hudson already is the all-time leading scorer in CMU history and she holds the career records in assists and three-point field goals. Whilst annexing the career scoring record, she passed the now No. 3 scorer, Suzy Merchant, who will be coaching MSU Saturday afternoon.
Hudson, daughter of Wayland varsity basketball coach Mike Hudson, was a four-year starter for the Wildcats and a Division 2 all-state selection. She was runner-up in the 2015 balloting for Miss Basketball statewide.
