In their final regular season game, the Central Christian women’s basketball team brought home a win over Free Lutheran Bible College (Minn.), 63-51, in a neutral site game at Faith Baptist Bible College on Saturday. 

The Conquerors scored first, but their 2-0 lead was the largest of the day as the Saints took control and led after every quarter. A 16-9 advantage at the end of the first period grew to a 35-25 margin at halftime. CCCB (9-18) led 46-39 at the end of three quarters, and used a 17-12 spurt in the final frame. 

Rebounding and efficient scoring were two big areas that fueled the Saints as they dominated the glass with a 50-33 advantage, including 15 offensive rebounds. Central Christian also finished their night going 38% from the field with 11 assists on 21 made field goals.

All of the Saints who played, scored. Three finished in double figures, led by Alexis Whisenand with a game-high 18 points and eight rebounds. Macaria Hines contributed 16 points, and Shelby Kennemore added 10 points and nine rebounds. Rachel Darling grabbed nine rebounds.

The CCCB women will shift their focus to the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Division II North Regional Championship held at Emmaus Bible College in Dubuque, IA, this week. The Saints are the No. 8 seed with a play-in game at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 1, against the No. 9 seed Maranatha Baptist University.

The Central Christian women’s basketball team finished off the Midwest Christian College Conference portion of their schedule with a decisive win on Saturday to go 1-1 on the weekend and force a three-way tie for fourth in the final league standings.

They were unable to pull the upset Friday night in a 58-47 loss to Faith Baptist Bible College, but followed it up with recording their season-high point total the next day in a 84-62 victory over Emmaus Bible College. Both games took place at home in the friendly confines of the Ferneau Center.

Central Christian (8-15, 4-8 MCCC) led 25-19 at the half against Faith Baptist on Friday night as they held the Eagles to just 25 percent shooting. After the break, the Eagles heated up and hit 50 percent of their shots from the field and the Saints were unable to recover.

Central Christian had just nine turnovers on the night, along with 14 steals.

Kelsey Todd led the way for Central Christian with 18 points. Alexis Whisenand chipped in 12 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, while Faith Owen recorded eight steals on the night.

On Saturday, the Saints had bounced back in a big win over Emmaus. Central Christian ended the first quarter hot, up 23-14, and continued their momentum into the second frame as a 31-point second quarter extended their lead to 54-26 at halftime.

The Saints forced 16 turnovers and connected on nine three-point field goals in the first half, then carried their momentum into the third quarter as they built a 42-point lead just before the start of the fourth. Emmaus picked up some momentum of their own in the second half as they shot 56 percent from the field, but the Saints cruised to the win.

Central Christian finished the game shooting 38 percent from the field with an impressive 12-for-26 (46 percent) shooting from 3-point range on the night.

The Saints recorded 19 assists, 16 steals, and had just nine turnovers for the game. The rebounding battle also went to CCCB, 46-34.

Four Saints scored double figures, led by Owen with 27 points, six assists and five steals. Todd followed with 22 points and five assists. Whisenand added 12 points, and Macaria Hines put up 11. Rachel Darling grabbed 10 rebounds.

The CCCB women, who ended up with the No. 5 seed in this week's MCCC Tournament, will play No. 4 seed Calvary University in the opening round on Thursday at 10 a.m. in Haviland, Kan.

Scoring was a struggle early, but it got a lot worse in the second half as the Central Christian women's basketball team struggled to find the bottom of the net in a 50-27 loss to Calvary University on Tuesday night at the Ferneau Center.

It was a sluggish start for both teams as Calvary (6-9, 3-5 MCCC) took an 8-6 lead at the end of one quarter. Central Christian (7-12, 3-5 MCCC) outscored the guests, 10-4, in the second frame and took a 16-12 advantage into the locker room.

At halftime, the Saints were just 18 percent from the field and 13 percent (2-for-15) from 3-point range, but they went without a 3-point make (0-for-12) in the second half and shot just 15 percent overall after the break.

Meanwhile, Calvary shot 61 percent in the second half to take a 29-22 lead after three quarters, then went on to outscore the Saints, 21-5, in the final period.

Lexi Whisenand was the bright spot for Central Christian as she finished with 14 points on 6-for-10 shooting. Raya Brady added eight rebounds.

Calvary's Bell Miller led all scorers with 17 points. Ruthie Dougherty added 10 points for the Warriors.

The Saints outrebounded the Warriors, 46-29, grabbing 20 offensive rebounds. Both teams finished 5-for-6 at the free throw line, and Central Christian committed 19 turnovers to Calvary's 18.

Central Christian hosts two more Midwest Christian College Conference foes for doubleheaders this weekend with Barclay College coming to town on Friday night and Manhattan Christian College on Saturday.