�Game Notes

FAYETTE, Mo. - No. 3-seed Central Methodist welcomes No. 6-seed Culver-Stockton (Mo.) on Thursday to Puckett Fieldhouse in the Heart of America Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Tournament Quarterfinals. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. CT.

The game can be seen and heard live online at cmueagles.com.

Heart of America Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Tournament Quarterfinals
No. 3-seed Central Methodist (23-6) vs. No. 6-seed Culver-Stockton (13-15)
Thursday, February 28 - 6 p.m. CT
Fayette, Mo. - Puckett Fieldhouse (1,700)
Promotion: "White Out"
Live Video and Radio:�cmueagles.com
Radio Talent: Tyler Winn
Live Stats:�cmueagles.com
Live Chat: cmueagles.com
Twitter Updates:�@cmueagles

Series Information:
Last Meeting: Central Methodist defeated Culver-Stockton, 61-53, on Feb. 25, 2013.
Streak: Central Methodist has won four straight meetings between the two teams.
Coach James Arnold vs. Opponent: Coach Arnold is 4-0 vs. Culver-Stockton.

About Central Methodist:
Central Methodist enters Thursday's game with a 23-6 overall record after defeating Baker (Kan.) and Culver-Stockton (Mo.) in the last two games. The Eagles are 7-3 in their last 10 games.

Raylyn Nuss leads the team and ranks 11th in the HAAC in scoring with 11.1 points per game, while Britney Joseph ranks second in the league in rebounds per game with a 9.6 average.

The Eagles are 11-2 in Puckett Fieldhouse this season, third best in the HAAC.

About Culver-Stockton:
Culver-Stockton enters Thursday's matchup with a 13-15 overall record after losses to No. 9 MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) and Central Methodist in the last two games. The Wildcats lead the conference and rank ninth in NAIA Division I in offensive rebounds per game (16.4). Culver-Stockton is ninth nationally steals per game (12.9).

Mimi Reaves leads the HAAC in scoring. She ranks fifth in Division I in steals per game (3.4) and ninth in points per game (18.6).

Culver-Stockton is 6-9 in away games this season, which includes an 86-73 loss to the Eagles on Jan. 17.

"White Out"

Central Methodist fans are encouraged to wear white to the games for the second annual "White Out" for the Quarterfinal round in Puckett Fieldhouse.

Central Methodist Vying for Highest Winning Percentage

Central Methodist is on pace to establish the highest winning percentage in a season in school history. The Eagles' winning percentage in 2012-13 is .793, and the record of .778 was set by the 1996-97 unit that went 28-8 and reached the NAIA Division II Sweet 16.

Eagles Trying to Make NAIA National Championship

Not since the 1999-2000 season has Central Methodist advanced to the national tournament, and that was as a Division II member of the NAIA. The Eagles are ranked 30th in the latest national Top 25 Poll, while Baker (Kan.) comes in at No. 32. Thirty-two teams qualify for the National Championship. A win in the first round of the HAAC Tournament against the Wildcats would go a long way in helping to secure at least an at-large bid to the big dance in Frankfort, Ky.

Familiar Foes

Thursday's clash is a rematch of Monday's regular-season finale, which the Eagles won 61-53. The Green and Black are 2-0 against the Wildcats this season, including an 86-73 decision in Fayette on Jan. 17.

Reaves Stars for Wildcats

Culver-Stockton junior guard Mimi Reaves leads the conference in scoring, averaging 18.6 points per game. She has been almost equally as good against league foes, tallying a HAAC-best 18.2 points per game.

Reaves was held to only nine points on 1-of-9 shooting in Monday's loss. However, she scored a game-high 20 points in the first matchup between the two squads in Fayette.

Culver-Stockton Steals the Show

The Wildcats have the second-best tandem in the HAAC at forcing steals in Reaves and freshman guard Randi Lee Plunkett. Reaves in second in the league with 3.4 thefts per game, while Plunkett is fifth with a 2.2 per game average.

Reaves and Plunkett have combined to average six steals in two games versus Central Methodist. The Wildcats had 12 in the latest matchup, but Central Methodist totaled 11, led by Britney Joseph's three.

Offensive Rebounding Key to Victory

Both Central Methodist and Culver-Stockton have found success this season because of their ability to crash the offensive boards. The Wildcats lead the league in offensive rebounds per game (16.4), while the Eagles rank second (15.4).

Central Methodist outrebounded Culver-Stockton 46-40 on Monday and 42-28 on Jan. 17.

Defense Wins Games

Central Methodist has ranked as one of the best defensive clubs in the conference and nation this season. The Eagles lead the league in per-game averages for scoring defense (56.6 ppg) and field goal percentage defense (.352).

Central Methodist has been stingy defensively against the Wildcats in recent years, most notably allowing the second fewest points in a game in school history in a 48-29 triumph in Charles Fieldhouse on Jan. 21, 2010.

D:60

The Green and Black are 17-0 when yielding 60 or fewer points but just 6-6 when giving up 61 or more. The Eagles allowed 61 or more in four of their last five games but were 3-1 during that span.

The Wildcats averaged 63 points in two games against the Eagles. Central Methodist allowed 73 to Culver-Stockton on Jan. 17, the most allowed in an Eagles' win this season.

Central Methodist Ranks in Multiple NAIA Division I Categories

In NAIA Division I, Central Methodist:

Ranks Number 10 in Division I in Total Total Rebound Offense (1276)
Ranks Number 11 in Division I in Total Assists (473)
Ranks Number 11 in Division I in Total Rebounds per Game (44.000)
Ranks Number 11 in Division I in Total Rebound Margin (8.483)
Ranks Number 12 in Division I in Assists per Game (16.310)
Ranks Number 14 in Division I in 3-Pt Fg Made per Game (6.690)
Ranks Number 14 in Division I in Offensive Rebounds per Game (15.483)
Ranks Number 14 in Division I in Total 3-Pt FG Made (194)
Ranks Number 15 in Division I in Defensive Rebounds per Game (28.517)
Ranks Number 15 in Division I in Field Goal Pct Defense (0.352)
Ranks Number 16 in Division I in Scoring Defense per Game (56.552)
Ranks Number 19 in Division I in Assist/Turnover Ratio (0.882)
Ranks Number 19 in Division I in Scoring Margin (13.379)
Ranks Number 24 in Division I in Scoring Offense per Game (69.931)
Ranks Number 25 in Division I in Total Scoring Offense (2028)
Ranks Number 27 in Division I in 3-Pt Fg Pct Defense (0.282)
Ranks Number 27 in Division I in 3-Pt Fg Pct (0.327)
Ranks Number 30 in Division I in Field Goal Pct (0.409)
Ranks Number 31 in Division I in Total Rebound Defense (35.517)
Ranks Number 33 in Division I in Total Steals (285)
Ranks Number 34 in Division I in Turnover Margin (1.448)
Ranks Number 36 in Division I in Steals per Game (9.828)
Ranks Number 45 in Division I in Free Throw Pct (0.681)

Green and Black Players Rank in Several NAIA Division I Categories

Raylyn Nuss ranks sixth in 3-point field goals made (79), eighth in 3-point field goals made per game (2.724) and 43rd in 3-point field goal percentage (0.346).

Britney Joseph is 10th in rebounds (279), 15th in rebounds per game (9.621), 22nd in defensive rebounds per game (6.034) and 24th in offensive rebounds per game (3.586).

Sammie Gathercole is 45th in 3-point field goals made (56) and 46th in 3-point field goals made per game (2.000).