Fayette, Mo. – In a high-intensity game, the Central Methodist women's basketball team defeated Evangel University by a score of 89-78 Saturday afternoon inside Puckett Fieldhouse.
With the win, the Eagles improve their record to a 7-5 overall and 6-5 in conference play, while the Crusaders fall to a 7-6 overall and 5-5 in conference action. Central also earns the regular season split between the two programs, as Evangel won the earlier matchup between the two, 89-70 back on Dec. 2 in Springfield.
Despite scoring the first points of the game, the Eagles trailed Evangel by as many as eight points until a three from newcomer Daryna Bachkarova tied the game with 3:39 left in the quarter. Central grabbed the lead with 35 seconds left before Evangel answered back and entered the second quarter with the slim 25-24 advantage.
In the second period, the lead switched back and forth until the Eagles started pulling away with 4:22 left before halftime. CMU entered the locker room with a 46-40 advantage.
Going into the third quarter, the Crusaders picked up the pace and were able to trim the lead and eventually tie the game at 53-53 with 4:22 left in the quarter. Playing with high intensity, the Eagles pulled away once again and entered the last quarter with an eight-point advantage. The Central offense controlled the last quarter and extended their lead by as many as 20 points en route to an 11 point win.
Four Eagles reached double figures, as Massenat earned her second-highest point total this season. The freshman from Trenton, New Jersey led the team with 25 points on 11-of-22 shooting from the field, marking her third straight 20 point performance.
Bachkarova followed with 22 points, six rebounds, and three blocks. Leah Johnson earned another double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds, 10 of which came on the offensive glass. Kellymar Ramirez recorded 11 points and six rebounds in a little over 16 minutes of action.
Daesjah Ely made her season debut and added five points paired with three blocks in just over 11 minutes as a starter.
Collectively, the Eagles shot a 46.5-percent from the field compared to 42.2-percent from the Crusaders. Central topped the Crusaders from the charity stripe shooting an impressive 85.7-percent compared to 64.7 percent for Evangel.
CMU also came out on top in the battle of the boards, grabbing 47 against 32 from the Crusaders.
The Eagles will be back in action on Wednesday, Jan. 20 at 5:30 p.m. to face Baker University in Baldwin City, Kan. The Wildcats won the earlier matchup between the two squads by a score of 84-72, back on Dec. 2 in Fayette.
#TakeFlight
