Central Methodist Archives

Central Methodist women’s basketball takes a 1-seed to OT before historic season ends

March 18, 2018 By Bill Pollock

Central Methodist women’s basketball had one-seed Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) down 12 in the fourth quarter, but the Lady Lions came back to force overtime and eventually win 82-74 over two-seed CMU in the quarterfinals of the 2018 NAIA Division I Women’s Basketball Championships in Billings, Montana.

CMU tired with less than seven minutes to play after playing their third game in four days. Eventually a 14-4 run over the final six minutes and with 39 seconds led to OT.

CMU’s DaJonee Hale led all scorers with 29 points, followed by FHU’s Mallory with 23. Tiffany Pate had 12 points and 16 rebounds while CMU’s Brandi Henton had 19 points and 11 boards. Central Methodist was playing in the quarterfinals for the first time in program history and finish their historic season at 28-8

Central Methodist women advance to NAIA quarterfinals for first time

March 17, 2018 By Bill Pollock

Two-seed Central Methodist (Mo.) avenged a 2017 second-round loss to three-seed Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) by topping the Blue Raiders 88-73 in the 2018 NAIA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship.

Just a year ago, these same teams faced each other in the second round and CMU’s season was cut short. CMU’s Ana Borges only scored two points in 2017, but Borges helped reverse the Eagles fortunes in 2018 as she scored 25 points and grabbed eight rebounds.

She combined with teammates DaJonee Hale’s 31 points and Zhara Laster’s 12 points, 13 rebound double-double to fend off LWC star forward Kayla Styles, who scored a tournament-high 37 points along with nine rebounds and four steals.

Styles and Regan Turner, 16 points and four assists, lead the way for the Blue Raiders.

Lindsey Wilson held a brief one-point lead halfway through the second frame only to see CMU go on a 10-0 run.

After the Eagles stretched the lead to 12 late in the third quarter, Lindsay-Wilson got to work, whittling the lead down to seven early in the final frame. The Eagles, however, went on a 9-0 run to extend the lead to 16 and maintained the lead from there.

Central Methodist advances to the quarterfinals for the first time and will play one-seed Freed-Hardeman on Saturday at 4:00 p.m.

Story and photo/courtesy NAIA

Central Methodist out after first round loss in NAIA D-I tournament

March 17, 2016 By Bill Pollock

photo/NAIA.org

No. 5-seed Great Falls advances to the second round for the second-straight year as the Argos defeated No. 4-seed Central Methodist 70-58 in first round action at the 2016 NAIA Division I Women’s Basketball National Championship in Independence, Mo on Thursday afternoon.

Central Methodist falls to 0-2 all-time in championship history. Hale led the Eagles with 24 points. She has scored at least 20 points in 16 games this season. Cooper-Johnson – who is averaging 19.5 points per game in her last two games, 7.8 points per game better than her season average (11.7) – poured in 17 points. Moe added 11 for the Eagles. Cooper-Johnson grabbed 16 boards and Moe recorded 10 rebounds.

NAIA D-I men’s and women’s brackets. Five Missouri colleges set to play March 16-17 in Kansas City and Independence

March 10, 2016 By Bill Pollock

Photo/Central Methodist Sports Information

For the eighth straight season the William Woods University Women’s Basketball team has advanced to the NAIA Division I Women’s Basketball National Championship, which begins next Wednesday, March 16th. William Woods will play the overall top seeded Our Lady of the Lake on Wednesday, March 16th at 1:45 p.m. in Independence, Missouri.

The Columbia College women’s basketball team, who is ranked No. 12 in the final 2015-16 NAIA Division I Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Top 25 Poll, received an at large bid and will face 22nd-ranked Baker University on Wednesday. The Cougars are making their 12th overall appearance to the national tournament.

Columbia defeated Baker earlier this season, 66-55, on Nov. 28 on the Wildcats’ home floor.

This season, Central Methodist has been ranked in the Top 25 for the majority of the season and are currently ranked 13th in the Nation. CMU sports a 26-4 record and finished 20-2 in conference play. The Lady Eagles clinched their first regular season conference title since 1997. The 13th ranked Lady Eagles will face Great Falls, Montana on the 17th.

NAIA Women’s Bracket

Photo/ColumbiaCougars.com

The Park University men’s basketball team will be downtown next week, as one of 32 qualifiers for the 2016 Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball National Championship at Municipal Auditorium. At No. 20 in the NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Top 25 Poll, the Pirates (20-9) received an at-large bid to the tournament, taking on No. 14 Mid-America Christian University (23-9) Wednesday at 3 p.m., which enters the tournament as an at-large from the Sooner Athletic Conference.

The winner of Wednesday’s game against MACU will meet the winner of top seed Biola University and eighth-seeded Faulkner University in Friday’s second round at 10:45 a.m.

The 7th-ranked Columbia men’s basketball team will face LSU Shreveport (RV) on Wednesday, March 16th at 8:45 p.m. The Cougars are the No. 2 seed in the Naismith bracket while LSUS is the No. 7 seed. The Cougars (28-5) will be making their sixth straight appearance to the national championship and 20th overall after winning the American Midwest Conference (AMC) tournament championship over William Woods University on Monday evening.

NAIA Men’s Bracket

Over 65 Missouri born student athletes now competing for national championships in baseball or softball (VIDEO)

May 20, 2015 By Bill Pollock

Central Missouri Jennies are back in the D-II College World Series (photo/UCM Athletics)

There is a very good chance that Mizzou and Missouri State baseball will find spots in the NCAA tournament, but there are three softball programs and two baseball programs that are already making plans to compete for a national title starting this upcoming weekend. Between Mizzou, Central Methodist and Central Missouri softball and Truman State and Webster University baseball, over 65 student-athletes who are from the Show Me State will be competing for national titles.

Mizzou softball heads to UCLA this weekend for Super Regionals. It will be a tough test, but one that head coach Ehren Earleywine feels his team can handle.

Pat Reardon the head coach for Central Methodist softball is leading his team on a historic season for the Eagles. Winning a record 44 games and now on their way to Sioux City, Iowa, to open up Friday against Campbellsville, Kentucky.

Webster University is back in the D-III College World Series (photo/Webster Athletics)

Former Jennies softball player Susan Anderson played on the last team to make it the College World Series. Now she’s the head coach. She tells us about the similarities and differences between this year’s experience and what she went through back in 1994.

The Jennies hosted the regional tournament, and beat Missouri Western and Henderson State to get to Super Regionals where they went on the road to Augustana South Dakota and swept that best of three series. UCM tied a school record with 49 wins and Anderson says her team is hitting their stride.

For baseball, a tale of two very different programs. On the D-II level, Truman State hasn’t had a record above .500 since 1982, yet the Bulldogs and longtime coach Dan Davis are headed to Cary, NC for the World Series. Why has Davis stuck around through so many lean years to see this thing through? You’ll be impressed by his answer.

On the Division III level, we may have the closest thing to a dynasty with Webster University. This is the third time in four seasons, the Gorloks will be playing in the Division III College World Series and 7th time in 9 seasons for head coach Bill Kurich, that they’ve made it to postseason.

Central Methodist softball punches their ticket to the NAIA World Series following their extra-inning win

May 14, 2015 By Bill Pollock

Central Methodist celebrates their trip to the NAIA World Series (photo/CMUEagles.com)

The Central Methodist softball team will advance to the NAIA World Series which will be held from May 22-28 in Sioux City, Iowa, after their eight inning, 4-2 win over Bellevue (Neb.). This season marks the school’s first Opening Round championship win and at 44-8, the Eagles set a record for the most single-season wins in school history, topping last year’s mark of 43 wins.

Down 2-1 in the sixth inning, Nicole Beck drew a one-out walk and advanced to third base after a wild pitch and a passed ball on back-to-back pitches. Nikki Giovenco then tied the score with a double that dropped into the left-center field gap, scoring Beck to even the score at 2-2.

In the top of the eighth, Giovenco reached on an infield single and Lindie Adair reached base on a fielder’s choice, with Giovenco beating a force out. A sacrifice bunt by Jessie Wilmes advanced both runners into scoring position, and with two outs, Michele Rupard hit a ground ball to Bellevue second baseman Ashley Gigax, who misplayed the ball, allowing two runs to score.
Central Methodist received the No. 5 seed out of 10 teams in the NAIA World Series. The Eagles will face No. 4 Campbellsville (Ky.) at 4 p.m. on May 22.

Campbellsville (38-9), ranked No. 7 in the NAIA final regular-season Top 25 poll, and will be Campbellsville’s first appearance in the NAIA Softball World Series. Central Methodist and Campbellsville met previously this season during the pool play portion of the Gulf Coast Invitational at Gulf Shores, Ala. The Tigers defeated the Eagles 9-2.

Central Methodist now one win away from advancing to the NAIA Softball World Series. Columbia and Avila eliminated

May 13, 2015 By Bill Pollock

Central Methodist celebrates their 5-2 win over Bellevue. The teams meet again Thursday (photo/CMUEagles.com)

Central Methodist broke a tie ballgame in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring three runs over the fourth and fifth innings to defeat Bellevue (Neb.) 5-2 on Tuesday in the semifinal round of the NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round in the Central Methodist Bracket at Cox Softball Complex.

Central Methodist (43-8) advances to the championship game of the Opening Round, which will be played at 1 pm. Thursday, and will again face Bellevue. The winner of the Central Methodist Bracket will advance to the NAIA Softball World Series, which will be held from May 22-28 in Sioux City, Iowa.

In the second game Tuesday, Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) held off a late rally to beat Columbia (Mo.) 5-4. In the third and final game, Bellevue had its second walk-off win in as many days, defeating Cardinal Stritch 2-1 in eight innings to earn a rematch against Central Methodist.

Avila College’s 13-5 record in the Heart of America Athletic Conference gave them the most wins ever by an Avila team in HAAC play, and their 2^nd place finish was their best finish since joining the conference.

The Eagles are the only team that qualified for the NAIA National Championship that did not have a senior on their roster, making them one of, if not the youngest team in the tournament.

Avila’s season came to an end with two losses on Tuesday, with the first loss coming against the reigning NAIA Pitcher of the Year and two-time All-American Nicole Nonnemacher and the St. Xavier, IL., Cougars in a 3-0 final. St. Xavier scored their first two runs of the game with an illegal ball that was not sanctioned by the NAIA and neither coach caught the error. Umpires noticed it was a batting practice ball after the inning.

In game two, Avila lost 6-1 to Corben, OR, ending the Eagles season with a record of 32-13.

Central Methodist beats Columbia in NAIA softball. Avila University’s game rained out in Oregon

May 12, 2015 By Bill Pollock

Jessie Wilmes slides safely into home plate during the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly, giving Central Methodist a 4-3 lead over Columbia. (photo/cmueagles.com)

Central Methodist picked up a win in its first game of the 2015 NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round on Monday. The top-seeded Eagles defeated No. 4 seed Columbia (Mo.) 6-3 in the first round of the Central Methodist Bracket in Fayette.

Central Methodist (42-8) was the visiting team on the scoreboard and picked up three runs in the first inning before Columbia came to bat. Lauren Geringer from O’Fallon, Mo., started the Eagles’ scoring with an RBI single up the middle, scoring Hannah Blackmon to make the score 1-0. Later in the inning, with the bases loaded, Alyssa Lilly reached on an error to score another Central Methodist run. That was followed by a bases-loaded walk to Nicole Beck, making the score 3-0 in the Eagles’ favor.

Columbia (29-17) battled back and scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to tie the game at 3-3. The Cougars scored all three runs with two outs, starting with a two-RBI double to left-center field by Kaylee Brueggeman. The next batter, leadoff hitter Carly Spalding, hit a single to score Brueggeman and tie the game.

The game did not stay tied for long. In the top of the sixth inning, with runners on second and third base and one out, Geringer hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Jessie Wilmes to give the lead back to Central Methodist at 4-3.

The Eagles added two more insurance runs in the seventh inning. With the bases loaded and two outs, Michele Rupard lined an opposite-field single into left field to score Beck and Lindie Adair, giving the Eagles a three-run lead heading into the bottom of the seventh inning.

(Story courtesy of cmueagles.com)

The Eagles will play Bellevue, Neb. at noon. Columbia plays Cardinals Stritch Wisconsin at 2:30 in a must win game.

Avila University, who beat Central Methodist in their conference championship game, got rained out in Oregon, they play this morning at 10am.

Central Methodist softball falls short at NAIA regionals, but sets a school record for number of victories

May 15, 2014 By Bill Pollock

Central Methodist softball (photo, CMU athletics)

14th ranked Central Methodist’s record-breaking 2014 season came to an end Wednesday with a 6-1 loss to No. 2 LSU Alexandria (La.) in the Columbia, Mo. Bracket championship game in the NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round.

The Eagles lost for the second time in this regional to the Generals who advance to the 2014 NAIA Softball World Series in Columbus, Ga.

Down 3-0 in the bottom half of the second inning, Central Methodist (43-8) cut the deficit to one run with two outs when Alyssa Lilly’s RBI single scored Lauren Geringer. The Eagles put the tying run in scoring position, but a groundout ended the threat.

The Lady Generals also scored in the third, fourth, and sixth innings to take a commanding five-run lead.

The 43 wins is a new single-season school record, and the 2014 Eagles’ senior class of Utley, Ford, Robbins, Mary Kate Townley, Bri Kirkland and Melanie Wilmsmeyer exits Fayette as the all-time winningest four-year class in school history with 160 triumphs and the only Eagles’ class to win four Heart of America Athletic Conference championships and three Championship Series titles.

NAIA softball update. Central Methodist handles Columbia College. Williams Woods drops opener

May 13, 2014 By Bill Pollock

Central Methodist vs. Columbia (photo, Cougar athletics)

No. 2 -seed Central Methodist started the 2014 NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round by routing No. 3-seed Columbia (Mo.) 12-2 in five innings, in Columbia, Mo. on Monday afternoon.

The Eagles advance to the semifinals of the Columbia Bracket to face No. 1-seed LSU Alexandria (La.), ranked second in the nation, on Tuesday at 11 a.m. CT at Black Field at Cosmopolitan Park’s Antimi Sports Complex.

The Eagles have won 10-straight games, their third win streak of double-digit contests this season, and 15-straight road games.

The Cougars will continue play on Tuesday with an elimination game at 1:30 p.m. against the No. 4 seed Morningside (Iowa) College. There will also be an elimination game at 4:00 p.m. between the loser of the 11:00 a.m. game and the winner of the 1:30 p.m. contest.

Elsewhere, working around over two and a half hours of rain delays, the No. 19 Owls of William Woods University (Mo.) and No. 22 Davenport Panthers (Mich.) met in the opening game in the Grand Rapids, MI bracket. The host Panthers (37-8) went on to win game 4-2. William Woods will face Huntington in a matchup Tuesday at 3 p.m. in an elimination game.