The CMU women rebounded from a two-game losing streak with a convincing Heart win, 68-50, over Heart rival Baker University on Saturday afternoon inside Puckett Field House.

The win was the first in Heart action for the defending champion Lady Eagles. CMU now evens its record at 3-3 and improves to 1-2 in the Heart while holding Baker winless at 0-8 overall and 0-4 in conference play.

CMU opened the game with a 10-1 scoring run over the first five minutes of the game. But the Lady Cats steeled themselves, scoring 13 of the final 17 points of the frame to pull even with the Eagles at 14-14.

Central pulled ahead in the second quarter and outscored the Wildcats 13-9 to take a 27-23 lead into the halftime break.

CMU stretched its lead to as many as 14 in the third quarter before dropping 23 points in the final frame to come away with an 18-point win.

Junior guard Sharay Trotter scored a game-high 20 points, shooting an outstanding 80 percent from the floor. She also led the team with seven rebounds and added three steals and an assist.

Tynesha Parnell followed with 17 points on 8-for-12 shooting in addition to four rebounds, three steals, two assists, and a block. 

Hayley Berfield nearly cracked double figures with nine points, while Sa’Mya Stevens and Alanna Crumley each tallied six.

Junior guard Zutorya Cook stuffed the stat sheet with six assists, five steals, four rebounds, and two points. 

Central’s defense proved to be the difference. The Eagles forced 31 Wildcat turnovers on 15 steals. In addition, CMU held Baker to just 31.9 percent shooting from the field.

The Eagles just edged BU on the glass, grabbing 34 rebounds compared to 31 for Baker.

Both teams struggled mightily from the 3-point arc. Central sank just three of 14 attempts, while Baker made four out of 16 tries. 

Central remains at home and will host Benedictine College (4-3, 2-1) at 5:30 tonight (Wednesday) at Puckett Field House.