Posted: Feb 25, 2015
Central Methodist (14-12, 5-11) at Graceland (9-15, 6-10)
Thursday, Feb. 26 - 5:30 p.m. CT
Lamoni, Iowa - Closson Center
Live Video and Stats: CMUEagles.com
Twitter: @cmueagles
FAYETTE, Mo. - Central Methodist begins its final week of the regular season Thursday with a road trip to Graceland (Iowa) for a 5:30 p.m. CT tip-off inside the Closson Center in Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) action.
Fans not travelling to Lamoni, Iowa, can follow the game via live video and statistics online and through updates on Central Methodist's Twitter account (@cmueagles).
Graceland enters Thursday's contest one-game ahead of the Eagles for the sixth spot in the conference standings, and the top six teams in the HAAC at the end of the regular season earn a bye through the first round of the league tournament beginning March 2.
The Yellowjackets rank fifth in NAIA Division I in turnover margin (7.0), ninth in assist/turnover ratio (1.2), 21st in steals per game (10.5), 21st in assists per game (15.5), 23rd in 3-pointers made per game (6.4), 24th in scoring offense per game (72.5) and 32nd in 3-point field goal percentage (0.323). Kiara Cain leads NAIA Division I in assists (158) and ranks third in assist/turnover ratio (3.4) and ninth in steals per game (2.9). Sydney Vaughn is 36th in points per game (15.5) and 45th in field goal percentage (0.410). Gabrielle Lapinski is 48th in field goal percentage (0.401).
Central Methodist Notes
Under coach James Arnold, the Eagles are 7-0 against Graceland during the regular season.
Central Methodist defeated Graceland 106-67 in Puckett Field House on Jan. 22. �The 106 points are a season-high.
Central Methodist shot better than 53 percent in each half and 55.1 percent for the game in the first matchup Jan. 22.
The Eagles were 15-of-38 (39.5 percent) from distance, which tied a season-high for most 3-pointers made, in the 39-point win.
Central Methodist is 20-2 in the last two seasons when hitting at least 10 3-point shots in a game.
The Eagles lead NAIA Division I in 3-point field goals made per game (8.7) and rank seventh in rebound margin (10.3) and defensive rebounds per game (30.9), eighth in field goal percentage (0.445) and assists per game (16.7), ninth in 3-point field goal percentage (0.358), 10th in free throw percentage (0.721), 13th in field goal percentage defense (0.352), 16th in 3-point field goal percentage defense (0.271), 19th in rebounds per game (43.9) and scoring offense per game (73.3) and 23rd in scoring margin (12.0) and rebound offense (1141).
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 (106), while Taylor McDowell is eighth (76). Vetter is 15th in 3-point field goal percentage (0.403), while McDowell is 29th (0.378). Vetter is 27th in scoring (414). Taylor Cornelison is 28th in defensive rebounds per game (5.7) and 32nd in rebounds (208). Cassidy Cotton ranks 35th in assist/turnover ratio (1.8). Jesse Ellis is 48th in assists (92).
Vetter has made 233 3-pointers in two seasons in Fayette and is 15 shy of breaking April Smith's career record of 247, set between 1996-2000. She has scored 884 points in only two seasons in a Green and Black uniform.
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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