NNMU Defeats SMC Women's Basketball Despite 32 Points from Middleton

Lawrence, Kansas – The Spartanburg Methodist College women's basketball team saw its season end in the semifinals of the Continental Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Tournament with a 93-86 loss to Northern New Mexico.

Spartanburg Methodist College (11-17) left it all on the court in their first year of NAIA action. Despite the loss, Destiny Middleton poured in a career-best 32 points – 10 of 23 from the field and a perfect 10-for-10 effort from the free-throw line – to lead four Pioneers in double figures. Najah Gilliam added 15, Krystal Johnson scored 14 and JaiDah Liebert had 10.

Northern New Mexico (19-10), who punched its ticket to Sunday's final, were led by the one-two punch of Briana Marquez and Gilliam Roybal, who had 31 and 21 points, respectively. The Eagles scored on the first possession of the game on a layup by Marquez as they led from start-to-finish.

Middleton scored 13 of her 31 in the second quarter as the Pioneers made it a two-point game on a pair of occasions in the second 10 mimutes. Each threat by SMC was quickly answered by NNMU on its way to the win.