Fayette, Mo. – The Central Methodist women's basketball team opened up 2021 with a convincing win over Park University, 93-67 Wednesday night in Puckett Fieldhouse.
With the win, the Eagles improve to a 6-4 overall and 5-4 in conference play while the Pirates fall to 1-9 overall and 0-9 in the Heart. CMU also completes the regular-season sweep over Park, as they defeating the Pirates by a score of 90-57 back on Dec. 5 in Parkville.
Park scored the first basket of the contest, and a three-point basket later in the quarter to take a 9-7 lead over Central at the 5:20 mark in the first frame. Freshman guard Leaianya Massenat gave Central a slight edge in the closing moments before Park tied the game at 18-18 before entering the second quarter.
The Pirates scored five straight points to open up the second quarter before Central went on a 7-0 scoring run, highlighted by a three-point basket from Michelle Nicholls. CMU stretched their 25-23 lead by as many as 13 points and entered halftime with a 45-32 advantage.
The Eagles outscored Park 37-18 in the third quarter to extend their lead to 80-52. Even though the Pirates outscored CMU 17-11 in the final period, Central still maintained control and claimed a 26-point victory.
Newcomer Daryna Bachkarova led the team in her first game as an Eagle with 24 points along with six rebounds and three steals. She also converted on 33.3-percent of her three-point baskets, converting on five threes from beyond the arc. Massenat was the other Eagle to score 20-plus points in addition to seven rebounds, five assists, and four steals. Nicholls rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11 points, two assists, two steals, and a block.
Freshman forward Leah Johnson once again led the team on the boards with 11 rebounds followed by Kellymar Ramirez who grabbed seven. Johnson also collected four blocks to lead all players, and as a unit, the Eagles forced 28 turnovers As a team, the Eagles shot a 42.3-percent from the floor compared to a 34.6-percent from the Pirates. Park converted on 69.7-percent of its attempts from the charity stripe while Central converted only 51.9-percent.
CMU won the battle of the boards grabbing 47 rebounds compared to 42 grabbed by the Pirates.
The Eagles will be back in action on Saturday, January 9 at 2:00 p.m. against the Benedictine Ravens in Atchison, Kan.
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