CLEVELAND -- The third time proved to be the charm.
After losing in heart-breaking fashion in the last two Mid-American Conference Tournament championship games, Central Michigan finally came out on top.
Micaela Kelly and Presley Hudson scored 26 points apiece, Tinara Moore and Reyna Frost had double-doubles and the Chippewas earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament with a 96-91 win over Buffalo on Saturday.
Moore, the regular-season MAC MVP, had 17 points and 14 rebounds and Frost, the tournament MVP, had 10 points and 11 boards for the Chippewas (28-4), who made 10 of 13 free throws in the final 67 seconds to ensure a different outcome.