Posted: Feb 20, 2015
#12 MidAmerica Nazarene (21-5, 14-1) at Central Methodist (14-11, 5-10)
Saturday, Feb. 21 - 2 p.m. CT
Fayette, Mo. - Puckett Field House
Live Video, Audio and Stats: CMUEagles.com
Talent: Brett Knese
Twitter: @cmueagles (#CMUWvsMNU)
FAYETTE, Mo. - Central Methodist faces its toughest test of the season Saturday when No. 12 MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) comes to Puckett Field House for a Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) clash, with tip-off set for 2 p.m. CT.
Fans can follow the game via live video, audio and statistics online and through updates on Central Methodist's Twitter account (@cmueagles). Brett Knese will call the action starting 10 minutes prior to tip-off.
MidAmerica Nazarene enters Saturday's showdown riding a nine-game win streak, all against conference foes and a stretch that started with a 13-point win over coach James Arnold's squad Jan. 17 in Olathe, Kan. �The Pioneers have won six of the nine games by 13 or more points and have won their last two by an average of 38.0 points. MidAmerica Nazarene is 5-1 on the road this season in HAAC play.�
All five Pioneers' losses this season have come away from Bell Family Arena. In four of the five defeats, the Pioneers shot 17.6 percent or worse from 3-point range. In three of the losses, MidAmerica Nazarene missed 10 or more free throws.
However, coach Jon Lewis' squad still ranks in the Top 50 of NAIA Divison I in 23 categories, most notably 13th in field goal percentage (0.435), 17th in rebound offense (1105) and assists (392), 18th in defensive rebounds per game (29.1) and 19th in rebound margin (6.7) and scoring offense (1877). Daria Sprew leads the nation in field goal percentage (0.605) and ranks 29th in scoring (394). Megan Balcom is 23rd in assists (101). Bailey Rinehart is 33rd in assist/turnover ratio (1.9). Tristin Wicks ranks 41st in blocks (27).�
Balcom leads her team with 41 made 3-pointers. However, in all five losses, Balcom has made two treys or less.
Balcom and Sprew each scored 18 points in the first matchup between the teams in January, and the Crusaders outrebounded Arnold's unit on the offensive glass, 19-7.
Central Methodist Notes
The Eagles are looking to snap a six-game losing skid against MidAmerica Nazarene, with the last Eagles' win (65-55) coming Dec. 8, 2012, in Olathe. The last Central Methodist win over the Pioneers in Fayette came Feb. 14, 2011, by a 60-49 margin.
Arnold and Lewis both entered the HAAC at the beginning of the 2011-12 season. Since that time, Arnold's team is the only HAAC squad to defeat MidAmerica Nazarene twice. The Pioneers combined to shoot just 18.6 percent (8-of-43) from beyond the arc in both losses.
Central Methodist is 20-2 in the last two seasons when hitting at least 10 3-point shots in a game.
Arnold's squad is 1-3 against Top 25 teams this season but 0-3 against teams from the HAAC.
The Eagles lead NAIA Division I in 3-point field goals made per game (9.0) and rank sixth in rebound margin (11.0) and defensive rebounds per game (31.2), seventh in field goal percentage (0.448), eighth in assists per game (17.0) and 3-point field goal percentage (0.362), 10th in free throw percentage (0.723), 13th in field goal percentage defense (0.349) and 3-point field goal percentage defense (0.261), 16th in rebounds per game (44.4) and rebound offense (1109), 19th in scoring offense per game (74.6) and scoring margin (13.8), 26th in assist/turnover ratio (0.936) and 28th in scoring defense per game (60.8).�
Central Methodist leads the HAAC in scoring offense per game, scoring defense per game, scoring margin, field goal percentage offense, field goal percentage defense, 3-point field goal percentage offense, 3-point field goal percentage defense, rebounds per game, rebound offense, defensive rebounds per game, rebound margin, assists per game and 3-pointers made per game.
Morgan Vetter leads NAIA Division I in 3-pointers made (105), while Taylor McDowell is sixth (76). Vetter is 14th in 3-point field goal percentage (0.409), while McDowell is 27th (0.384). Vetter is 22nd in scoring (407). Taylor Cornelison is 23rd in rebounds (203) and 26th in defensive rebounds per game (5.7), while Jesse Ellis is 49th (4.9). Cassidy Cotton ranks 39th in assist/turnover ratio (1.8). Ellis is 43rd in assists (88).
Vetter has made 232 3-pointers in two seasons in Fayette and is 16 shy of breaking April Smith's career record of 247, set between 1996-2000.�
The Eagles have won 11 of their last 12 contests when Burgandie Lewis gets at least six rebounds and are 19-4 in the last two seasons in such instances.
Central Methodist is 35-2 in its last 37 games when holding opponents to 60 points or less.
The Eagles are 24-8 in the last three seasons when making at least 15 free throws in a game and have won eight of the last 10 such instances.
Central Methodist is 13-2 this season when dishing out 16 or more assists and 8-0 when making 30 or more baskets in a game.
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