Fayette, Mo. - Behind a 20-point effort from senior Michelle Nicholls, the Central Methodist women's basketball team defeated MidAmerica Nazarene by a score of 67-59 Saturday afternoon in Puckett Fieldhouse.
With the win, the Eagles improve to 5-3 overall and 4-3 in conference play, while the Pioneers were dealt their first conference of the year, falling to 7-2 overall and 7-1 in conference action.
MNU scored the opening basket of the game before the Eagles responded with an 8-0 run to take a 12-4 lead. Central maintained their lead throughout the rest of the quarter, finishing the frame with a 19-14 advantage. The Pioneers tied the ballgame at 23-23 with 4:12 left in the second quarter before CMU went on a 7-0 run to enter the locker room with a 30-23 lead.
In the third quarter, the Pioneers outscored Central 22-15, taking their first lead since the opening minutes of the game at the 2:52 mark in the third. A three-point basket by Hannah Adams put Central back in front before MNU tied the game at 45-45 entering the final quarter. The Eagles' offense cruised in the last frame, leading by as many as nine points and solidifying their fourth conference win by a score of 67-59.
Four Eagles reached double-figures, led by Nicholls who collected a season-high 20 points including four three-point baskets. She also added five rebounds, one assist, and one block. R'Manie Pulling also hit four three-point baskets for a total of 12 points. Leaianya Massenat and Leah Johnson also hit double-digits with 13 and 10 points respectively.
Adams dished out a team-high six assists and Vanda Cuamba led all players with 11 rebounds paired with two blocks. It marks the third time in the last four games that Cuamba has grabbed double-digit rebounds.
CMU was extremely efficient from the charity stripe and beyond the arc, knocking down 13-of-14 free throw attempts, and 10-of-27 from the three-point line.
MidAmerica Nazarene won the battle of the boards, grabbing 43 rebounds compared to 36 for Central. 33 of CMU's 67 points were scored by their bench, while MNU's only contributed 10.
The Eagles will be back in Puckett Fieldhouse for their final game of 2020 to face Heart rival Missouri Valley on Tuesday, Dec. 15 at 5:30 p.m. The Eagles won the earlier matchup between the two schools on Nov. 18, 79-73.
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