Wildcats Close Out Season with Loss to Top-Ranked CMU in Heart Quarterfinals

FAYETTE, Mo. – The eighth-seeded Baker women's basketball team fell to top-seeded and undefeated Central Methodist, 95-34 in the quarterfinals of the Heart of America Conference Tournament Wednesday night in Fayette, Mo., bringing the Wildcats' 2022-23 season to an end.

Outscoring the Wildcats by at least 19 points in two of the quarters, the Eagles dominated the game with three 20-point periods on offense while holding Baker to single digits in three of the four quarters. CMU shot over 50-percent from the field and drained six threes to lead this one wire-to-wire.

It was tough-sledding for a Wildcats offense that was going up against a newly top-ranked Central Methodist team that featured three players from the Heart's All-Defensive Team as BU had its worst shooting performance of the season with a 22.9 field goal percentage (11-for-48) and made only two three-pointers in the contest. The Eagles also benefitted from its intense pressure, forcing 33 turnovers and owning a 48-29 rebound margin.

Ainsley Tolson had nine first-half points, scoring them all in a five-minute stretch during the second quarter, including a trey at the 4:40 mark. She finished with a team-high 13 points, reaching double digits for the 24th time this year.

Sophia Barrett totaled eight points in the game, tallying the first basket of the second half on a driving layup late into the shot clock.

The Eagles were led by Heart Player of the Year Leianya Massenat who had 24 points, while teammate Leah Johnson added 20 points and eight rebounds.

Despite the setback tonight, the Wildcats closed out a 2022-23 season that saw them make significant strides under first year head coach Torie Murillo. In her first season at the helm, Murillo guided the Wildcats to a 13-15 record – their highest number of wins in the last four seasons – and helped Baker reach the Heart of America Conference Tournament for the first time since 2018-19 with nine wins against league opponents.

Baker boasted four all-conference selections on its roster with Tolson (1st), Barrett (2nd), Emma Cunningham (HM) and Leah Van Weelden (HM) all landing on the Heart of America All-Conference Teams that were announced earlier today.

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