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21 centralight spring '14 The philosophy is simple: Penetrate the gaps in the defense, force the defender to double down and kick out to a shooter for an open three. If the defender doesn't help, take it to the basket and fi nish in the paint. CMU women's basketball coach Sue Guevara implemented the "dribble-drive" off ense prior to her second season at the helm of the Chippewas in 2008-09. "When I took the job at CMU, we went 6-23 in my fi rst season doing the best we could," Guevara says. "After the season, former assistant coach Bill Ferrara came to me and asked if he could study the dribble-drive off ense, and we felt we had the players to implement and run with it." Since then, the Chippewas' program has been transformed into one of the best in the country in both three-point fi eld goals and scoring. Despite the simple strategy, opponents have not had much success in stopping it. Guevara's Chippewas have racked up more than 100 wins in the last fi ve- plus seasons and won 20-plus games for the third-straight season last year, setting a new program record. "People like our off ense because it's up and down, and we score a lot of points," Guevara says. "You have one job when the ball is in your hands and that is to score a layup, and if you can't, you have three options to fi nd shooters or low post players because it forces the defense to double down." During Guevara's tenure, the Chippewas have ranked in the top 25 in three-point shooting in fi ve of her seven seasons. No team in the Mid-American Conference 21 centralight spring '14 BY KYLE KELLEY has made more three-point fi eld goals or scored more points. Thanks to Guevara's dribble-drive off ense, the Maroon and Gold have turned into a power in the MAC that is the odds-on favorite to repeat as MAC Champions after claiming their fi rst title since 1984 last season. This season, the Chippewas are shooting better than ever, ranking in the top fi ve nationally in three-point fi eld goals per game and are on pace to not only break the single season CMU record, but the single-season MAC record. "Our schedule is the gift that keeps on giving," Guevara says. "I want players that will come in and aren't afraid to play the best teams in the country, because we want to be one of the best teams in the country." • winning HOW ONE SIMPLE STRATEGY MADE THE CHIPPEWAS THE TEAM TO WATCH IN THE MAC Guevara's formula for PHOTO BY CHARLOT TE BODAK