FAYETTE, Mo.- The Missouri Baptist University women's wrestling team fell short of a comeback victory against the No. 16 Central Methodist University Eagles 25-23 on Friday night. The Spartans won four of the last five bouts but came just short of the dual win over the nationally ranked squad. 

The Eagles took the dual-opening bout, but De'yton Young responded with a quick pin to tie the dual up at 5-5. 

The Eagles grabbed wins at the next three weights as they collected a technical fall and two forfeits. 

The nationally-ranked 1-2 punch for MBU Maggie Ortmann and Zoe Fries at 138-145. Fries dominated her match to have the 10-0 lead as she pinned her opponent. Ortmann gave up the first takedown but claimed one of her own to grab the fall at the 43-second mark.

The second-ranked wrestler for CMU claimed a fall in a tough match at 160. 

As they trailed the team score by 9, the Spartans had to secure two falls to secure the win. 

At 180, Kenlee gave up the first points of her bout against a ranked opponent. Fish found points of her own to go into the break tied at two apiece. At the break, the momentum was on Fish's side. Fish grabbed an early second-period takedown and kept the pressure on. Her opponent grabbed two points of her own to tie the bout. Fish did not let that stop her as she applied the pressure, was awarded another takedown, and eventually the fall to set the Spartans up to need a fall in the last match. 

The fall would be a tall task as the last match of the night was an all-ranked match-up between No. 11 Loghan Sumner and No. 20 Christina Page. Sumner put on the pressure in the bout, and despite a dominant 5-1 victory, it was not enough to give the Spartans the team points to win. 

The Spartans look to bounce back on the road next week as they travel to Baldwin City, Kan., to take on Lourdes University (Ohio) and Baker University (Kan.) on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, at 6 p.m.