Posted: Feb 20, 2011
Sophomore Raylyn Nuss (O'Fallon, Mo.) recorded career-highs of 28 points and seven asssists to lead the Central Methodist University women's basketball team to a 77-74 win in overtime at Benedictine College Saturday afternoon.
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Central Methodist trailed the entire first half as Benedictine led by as many as eight in the opening period, but the Lady Eagles rallied with a 14-6 run to tie the score at 30 with less than a minute to play in the half. Benedictine made a basket with 30 seconds left in the period to take a 32-30 lead into halftime, then extended the lead to 34-30 early in the second half. Central Methodist took its first lead of the game at 38-36 on a basket by senior Jazmynn Hutchings (Des Moines, Iowa) with 16:10 remaining in regulation. Holding a 45-44 lead with 12:39 left in regulation, the Lady Eagles went on a 14-4 lead over the next 5:20 to take an 11-point lead. Benedictine answered with a 14-0 run over the next four minutes to regain a 62-59 lead, but Central Methodist scored the next eight points to regain the lead at 67-62. A free throw by Hutchings gave CMU a 68-65 lead with 24 seconds left, but Benedictine made a three-pointer with 11 seconds remaining to tie the game and send it to overtime. In the extra period, Benedictine took a 74-71 lead with 2:27 left, but Central Methodist outscored Benedictine 6-0 to end the game with the three-point win.
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CMU shot 44.2 percent from the field, including 8-of-15 from three-point range. Benedictine finished with 42.2-percent shooting from the field, including 10-of-21 from beyond the arc. Free throws were a big key in the game, as CMU finished 23-of-29 from the line, while Benedictine was just 10-of-18. Benedictine finished with a 30-23 advantage in rebounding.
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Nuss finished with 28 points, including 6-of-6 from three-point range, and seven assists. Hutchings added 17 points, while freshman Amoni Reynolds (Carol Stream, Ill.) tallied 12 points. Sophomore Kristin Willer (Fulton, Mo.) was the leading rebounder for the Lady Eagles as she finished with seven.
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Central Methodist improved to 5-24 on the season and 3-15 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference with the win. Benedictine fell to 17-11 overall and 10-7 in the HAAC. The Lady Eagles will finish their season by traveling to Canton, Mo., on Thursday to take on Culver-Stockton College in a 5:30 p.m. contest.
