Des Moines, Iowa - The No. 3 seeded Central Methodist women's basketball team fell to No. 2 Grand View University, 78-57, in the quarterfinals of the Heart of America Athletic Conference tournament Wednesday night in Des Moines, Iowa. 

With the loss, the Eagles fall to 13-6 while the Vikings improve to 19-6. Grand View advances to the semifinals to face No. 1 seed MidAmerica Nazarene on Saturday. 

Central trailed by eight entering the second quarter, and were outscored 22-11 in the second frame. The Eagles were held to six points in the third, before outscoring Grand View, 23-16 in the fourth. Despite winning the last quarter, CMU ultimately fell by double-digits. 

Senior forward Michelle Nicholls led the offense with 14 points while Leah Johnson added 11 and Natalia Shpegal 10. Johnson and Daryna Bachkarova tied for the team lead with seven rebounds apiece while Zaria Jones and Shpegal each grabbed six.

As a team, CMU shot 36.8-percent from the field and 50-percent from beyond three. Central also converted on nine-of-10 free throw attempts. The Vikings just edged Central on the glass, grabbing 44 rebounds while CMU finished the evening with 43. 

Central now awaits to see if has earned a bid to the NAIA National Tournament in March. Information on the selection show will be released as it becomes available. 

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