OLATHE, Kan. – The No. 23 Central Methodist University women's basketball team dropped a 64-61 contest to No. 2 MidAmerica Nazarene University on the road.

The Eagles (11-6, 7-4 Heart) went on a commanding 15-2 run in the first seven minutes of play before the Pioneers would respond. MidAmerica's response initiated a comeback run, which led to a 27-25 MNU advantage at the intermission. A gritty back-and-forth second half left the game tied with six seconds remaining in regulation, but four good free throws by the Pioneers sealed the game.

Mercedes Jefflo (JR/Compton, Calif.) led the team with 19 points as she pulled down six rebounds and dished five assists. Tatiana Grant (SR/Milwaukee, Wis.) scored 13 points as she shot 5-for-10 from the floor and nabbed six steals. Crimson Jones (JR/Flora, Ill.) finished the contests with a double-double performance, dropping 10 points and snagging a team-high 11 rebounds.

The Eagles connected on 23-of-68 shots from the field, but struggled at the charity stripe with a 41.7 percent (5-for-12) finish. The squad secured 18 steals in the contest, double those of MNU, but were out-rebounded at a 51-41 margin.

Up next, Central Methodist will host Mount Mercy on Saturday, Jan. 12. Tipoff inside Puckett Field House is set for 2 pm.