Fayette, Mo. – The Central Methodist women's basketball team concluded their 2021-21 home slate with a 70-60 win over Graceland University Saturday afternoon inside Puckett Fieldhouse. Prior to tipoff, the program honored four members of its senior class as part of senior day.
With the win, the Eagles improve to 13-5 overall and 12-5 in conference action, while the Yellowjackets fall to an 6-15 overall and 5-13 in conference play. Central also pushes its winning streak to seven games, and have not lost a home game since Dec. 15.
The Eagles started off strong and were able to open a 10-0 lead in the first three minutes. Baskets were exchanged throughout the rest of the quarter and Central entered the next period leading the game 20-8. The Yellowjackets were able to cut the lead to five points with 6:23 left, but baskets by Michelle Nicholls and Natalia Shpegel put CMU up by nine.
The Yellowjackets trimmed the lead before halftime, posting a 10-0 lead to grab the lead for the first time with less than one minute left. A three-point basket by Daesjah Ely put the Eagles back out in front at the break, 29-28. Central was outscored in the second quarter, 20-9.
The Eagles kept Graceland at bay throughout the opening five minutes of the third, and raised the pace with a 6-0 scoring run. Graceland trimmed Central's lead to three in the last quarter, before CMU put the game out of reach with back-to-back three-point baskets from Daryna Bachkarova and Leianya Massenat. CMU ultimately went on to win by double-digits, marking the seventh-straight game in which they have won by 10 or more points.
Four Eagles reached double-figures, with Bachkarova leading the team with 19 points along with eight rebounds, four assists and three steals. Massenat stuffed the stat sheet with 15 points, eight rebounds, six assists and four steals. Nicholls scored 11 points combined with five rebounds and one steal. Leah Johnson collected her eighth double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
As a team the Eagles shot 35.1-percent from field compared to 42.9-percent from the Yellowjackets. Graceland topped CMU from the charity stripe, shooting 76.9-percent against 60-percent.
The Eagles claimed the battle of the boards, grabbing 49 rebounds compared to 35 for GU. Senior guard Zaria Jones finished the afternoon with eight rebounds along with five assists and two steals.
The Eagles continue conference action with a road matchup against Peru State on Wednesday, Feb. 17 at 5:30 p.m. in Peru, Neb.
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