Pride's clutch defensive fourth quarter leads to 66-61 win at Central Methodist

FAYETTE, Mo. - In a rematch of an exciting finish in the Kehl Center earlier in the season, the Clarke University women's earned their first win since Jan. 4 in a 66-61 road victory over Central Methodist University on Saturday afternoon.

The Pride relied heavily on the production of their starting lineup as the unit of Zoe Kennedy, Maci Kuchta, Hailey Walters, Josie Potts, and Sydni Morris combined for 58 of the team's 66 points led by Kennedy's 21 points while adding eight rebounds, four assists, and two steals.

Kuchta had her first double digit scoring game since Jan. 15 with 12 points and stuffed the statsheet herself by adding seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals while Walters scored 11 and Potts added 10 points as the final member of the Pride in double figures then Morris tied for the game's lead with 10 rebounds while adding four points.

Trailing by a point heading into the fourth quarter, Kennedy hit a pair of free throws in the first possession of the period to put Clarke up 49-48 as CU would never relinquish that lead for the remainder of the game, including holding the Eagles scoreless for the final 3:14 of the game after CMU made it 62-61 with a three pointer but would go on to miss their final five shots and turn the ball over in two other possessions during that stretch.

A close game down the stretch somewhat mirrored the game in Dubuque on Dec. 7 when Walters would end up hitting a game-winning three pointer with under 10 seconds to go before CU would make a defensive stop on the final shot of the game to win 80-79.

Though they shot for a slightly better field goal percentage as a team, Central Methodist only had two players in double figures led by Kayhla Adams' 19 points with Kaelyn Johnson adding 13 points and eight rebounds for the Eagles.

Both teams made six three pointers and CMU made just one more shot from the field (24-23) than Clarke, the main difference came from the free throw line where the Pride finished 14-of-23 (60.9%) including Kennedy going 9-for-10 (90%) but made more from the charity stripe than the Eagles attempted as they went 7-for-11 (63.6%). 

Clarke women's basketball will take a brief step away from Heart of America Athletic Conference play when they host Haskell Indian Nations University in the Kehl Center on Monday night, Jan. 27 for a 6:00 p.m. CT tip.