CMU Women’s Basketball Flirts with Greatness

BY RACHEL MOORE

In undoubtedly the greatest season in program history, the Central Methodist women’s basketball team put on a show for its fans and the rest of the NAIA in 2022-23. The Eagles, who fell one game short of the NAIA title game in 2021-22, had their sights set on returning to the big stage to garner the program’s first-ever national championship.

Central started out the season with a bang on Halloween night, defeating Haskell Indian Nations University 94-61 in the season opener. This victory marked career win number 750 for head coach Mike Davis. The team then rattled off a program-best 34 wins in a row to stand 350. Along the way, the Eagles swept both the Heart regular season and conference tournament titles with a perfect conference tally of 22-0.

The Eagles started the year just inside the NAIA top 10 at No. 9 of the Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Top 25 poll. They then climbed to No. 4, and ultimately No. 2 as the bi-weekly rankings progressed throughout December and January. Central would not be denied however, as the Eagles soared to No. 1 in the final ranking of the year, the first No. 1 ranking in program history.

Central entered the national tournament as the only undefeated team in the country, standing 32-0. After defeating Haskell for the third time this season in a very physical first round battle, the Eagles squared off against upset-minded Dakota Wesleyan in the second-round championship March 8 on the hardwood floors of Puckett Fieldhouse. A raucous crowd of both fan bases watched as CMU negotiated a gutsy 57-53 victory and advanced to the Round of 16 in Sioux City, Iowa.

Central rattled off two more victories over Texas Wesleyan and Marian, advancing to the Fab Four and sealing a rematch with defending NAIA national champion Thomas More. The Eagles came up short against the Saints, ending a stellar season just one game shy of the national title game.

The Eagles finished the year with a 35-1 record and a multitude of accolades and honors. Leianya Massenat and Daryna Bachkaorva were named to the NAIA National All-Tournament First and Second Teams, respectively. Additionally, the trio of Massenat, Leah Johnson, and Bachkarova earned NAIA First, Second, and Honorable Mention All-America honors for their play in 2022-23. Massenat was also named the Heart Conference Player of the Year: Zutorya Cook, Defensive Player of the Year: Coach Davis, Conference Coach of the Year; and Camden Levett, Assistant Coach of the Year.

One of the most remarkable feats of the year was accomplished by the trio of Massenat, Bachkarova, and Johnson, each reaching 1,000 career points in their third seasons playing for CMU. Massenat and Bachkarova reached the lofty plateau within a single game of each other, January 25 against Benedictine College for Massenat, and January 28 for Bachkarova against Missouri Valley. Johnson tallied her 1000th career point against Thomas More in the national semifinals. The trio became the 17th, 18th, and 19th players in program history to reach 1,000 career points.