Fayette, Mo - The (#21) CMU Women's Basketball used a balanced attack, led by Sophomore Lexi Moe's 20 pts, to defeat (RV) Clarke University by a score of 89-84.
The game was close throughout, with the lead changing several time. After a tied first quarter, Clarke broke out for halftime lead of 38-33. Clarke outshot the Eagles in the first half, 42.9% to 27.5%.
The 3rd quarter started strong for the visitors, with Clarke gaining their largest lead of 11, by a score of 63-52. From there the Eagles embarked on a long 22-3 run that extended into the 4th quarter, with the Eagles gaining the 72-66 lead. From there Clarke would fight, making several runs over the last half of the 4th quarter, but CMU would have the answer at every turn. Eventually the Eagles would gain the 89-84 victory in the Heart of America Quarterfinal.
To go with Moe's 20 pts, four other Eagles also had double figures. DeJonee Hale had 18, Jerica Nelson (SO/Kodiak, Alaska) and Paige Albrecht (SR/Yakima, Wash.) each had 14 (Albrecht with a game high three 3's), and Ana Borges (JR/Sao Paulo, Brazil) chipping in 13. Hale also had 10 rebounds for CMU, giving her a double double for the night.
Head CMU Women's Basketball Coach Mike Davis was pleased with the hard fought win, "It was a good win over a tough ball club. We didn't shoot well in the first half, and told the girls we just needed to make some shots to get going in the second half." The Eagles outshot Clarke 66.7% to 44% in the decisive half to get the win.
The victory, CMU's 5th straight, lifted their season record to 23-8. It also pushed CMU into the semifinal match-up Friday at Benedictine College at 7 pm. The matchup with #13 ranked Benedictine will be the third one of the season for CMU. The Eagles lost at BC early in the season by 3, and again at CMU later in the double overtime thriller. The winner of this game with have earned a berth in the championship game of the HEART Conference Tournament, Monday evening, against the winner of Mid-America Nazarene and Baker University.
For more information about Central Methodist University athletics, visit http://www.cmueagles.com. Follow CMU athletics on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cmathletics and on Twitter twitter.com/cmueagles.
