Sioux City, Iowa - The Central Methodist Women's Basketball team saw its season come to a close in the NAIA National Semifinals Friday night in Sioux City, Iowa.
The Eagles fell to defending national champion and fellow No. 1 seed Thomas More by a final score of 71-61. It marks the second straight defeat Central has suffered to the Saints in the past two years, both coming in the national semifinals.
Central's offense started out hot in the opening five minutes of the game, beginning the first quarter with an 11-5 lead. However, the Saints would settle and scored 10 straight points to take a 15-11 lead over CMU.
Central trimmed the deficit to two on a made jumper from senior forward Robin Beck with 1:13 left in the quarter.
Leading the Eagles 15-13 entering the second quarter, Thomas More would outscore Central 26-16 in the frame.
Central found themselves trailing 41-29 at the halftime break.
The Eagles would battle back in the third quarter, utlimately tying the game at 48-48 on a made jumper from Leianya Massenat. Thomas More closed the quarter on a 6-2 scoring run to take a 54-50 lead into the final quarter.
The opening five minutes of the final frame were low scoring, as just eight points were netted between the two teams. Beck knocked down another jumper at the 5:24 mark to tie the game at 56-56.
Both squads exchanged buckets over the next two minutes and the game remained deadlocked at 58-58.
Thomas More would surge ahead using tough defense and free throw makes over the final 3:30 to earn the 10 point victory. The Saints closed the game out on a 13-3 scoring run to solidify their second straight NAIA National Championship appearance.
Central saw four of its five starters land in double figures. Zutorya Cook led the way with 16 points on 50 percent shooting from the floor. She also added six rebounds, and two assists.
Daryna Bachkarova tallied 13 points, four rebounds, three assists, a steal, and a block in her final game as an Eagle.
Massenat secured 12 points in just under 25 minutes of action despite battling foul trouble in the early stages of the first half.
Sophomore forward Leah Johnson was the final Eagle to land in double figures with 10 points and eight rebounds. Her second bucket of the night put her at 1,000 for her career in just three seasons with Central.
Bachkarova and Jaicia Canady played every available minute for Central, with Canady leading the rebounding efforts with 12 boards. The native of Fort Worth, Texas also chipped in three assists.
Thomas More finished the evening shooting 42.6 percent from the floor, which included nine three-point makes. CMU converted just two three-point baskets.
The Eagles won the battle of the boards, grabbing 41 rebounds compared to 33 for the Saints.
Central finishes the year with a program best 35-1 record, and their second straight trip to the NAIA Fab Four.
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