Starters come up clutch in Pride's 81-71 win over No. 13 Central Methodist

DUBUQUE, Iowa - In one of their premiere home matchups of the 2021-22 season, the Clarke University women's basketball team came away with a statement making 81-71 win over No. 13 Central Methodist University in the Kehl Center on Saturday afternoon.

"This was a big win for us today," head coach Courtney Boyd said. "Our defense was the key to this game and we executed our plan well."

The Pride and Eagles went toe-to-toe for most of the first quarter when CU went on a 7-0 run over the span of a minute to lead 17-12 as they would take a 20-18 lead into the second quarter.

Heading into the second quarter, CMU was able to strike first to regain a slim lead as the game stayed within one possession until about the halfway point of the quarter. With a 29-26 lead at the 5:05, the Pride would go on another 7-0 run to lead by 10 points as they would head into the halftime break with a 12-point advantage at 44-32.

Clarke was able to extend that lead by four points within the first possession of the second half after CMU head coach Mike Davis was called for a technical foul during halftime as Giana Michels knocked down the two free throws followed by Tina Ubl knocking down a jumper.

The game would remain at a double figures advantage for the Pride for a majority of the second half but the Eagles had a run in them that eventually cut the game to a five-point game at 76-71 with about a minute and a half remaining. 

"We knew they were going to go on a run," Boyd said. "We just wanted to be in a spot that if it happened, we could continue to execute offensively."

A huge three pointer from Nicole McDermott iced the game with just about a minute left as she would also finish off the 10-point win with a pair of made free throws to finish at 81-71.

The starters played a huge role in the game offensively and defensively as the combination of Ubl (15), Michels (12), McDermott (15), Emma Kelchen (15), and Skylar Culbertson (11) were all in double figures for CU. All five of the starters also grabbed three or more rebounds led by Kelchen's nine along with Culbertson and McDermott finishing the game with six assists apiece.

The team rebounding effort was a big part of the rebounding margin only being a plus-one in favor of the Eagles despite a distinct size advantage for the CMU forwards.

"For 40 minutes we stuck to the game plan and it carried us through to the buzzer," Boyd said.

Clarke women's basketball will finish out the month on the road with a pair of games away from Dubuque in Heart play next week as they will face Mount Mercy and Benedictine next Wednesday and Saturday.