Parkville, Mo. - Behind a 32-point performance from junior guard R'Manie Pulling, the No. 17 Central Methodist women's basketball team defeated Heart newcomer Park University by a score of 90-57 Saturday afternoon in Parkville, Mo.
With the win, the Eagles improve to 4-2 and 3-2 in the Heart, while the Pirates fall to 1-5 overall and 0-5 in conference action. The 33-point win is the largest victory for CMU in Heart action this season.
Park kept pace with the Eagles early on in the first few minutes of game action, holding a 6-4 lead over Central at the 6:53 mark of the first quarter. However, CMU was able to quickly jump out in front and held that lead for the remainder of the first period, 24-18.
Central's high powered offense took control in the second quarter, leading by as many as 15 points to take 47-32 lead into the lockerroom. The Eagles held the Pirates' offense to under 15 points in each of the final two quarters and led by as many as 40 points in the closing minutes of the game.
Pulling led CMU's high-octane offense with 32 points on 11-of-20 shooting from the field including five three-point baskets. In addiiton, the Denver, Colo. native grabbed seven rebounds, dished out two assists and recorded a steal. Natalia Shpegal also reached double figures with 16 points, shooting nearly 64-percent from the floor.
Leah Johnson earned her third double-double of 2020, collecting 15 points and grabbing a new career high 18 rebounds, 12 of which came on the offensive glass. She also recorded all three of Central's blocks.
Vanda Cuamba was the final Eagle to reach double digits, scoring 11 points and adding five rebounds and an assist.
As a team, CMU knocked down eight three-point baskets compared to just two for the Pirates. The defense held park to just 30.2-percent shooting from the field and forced 20 turnovers on 10 steals. The Eagles won the battle of the boards, grabbing 53 rebounds including 18 on the offensive glass, compared to 37 for Park. 10 out of the 11 Eagles that saw game action recorded at least one rebound.
Central dished out 17 assists on 34 made baskets, led by senior guard Zaria Jones who tied her career high with six assists in nearly 35 minutes of game action. Michelle Nicholls recorded four assists to go along with eight points.
CMU will return home for a three game homestand starting with Baker University on Thursday, Dec. 10 at 5:30 p.m. inside Puckett Fieldhouse.
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