The Lady Statesmen (3-2) had played across the border just four days earlier, but this time around, they did enough to win and send the Eagles (2-1) to their first loss of 2009-2010.

Penn led 26-21 at the break by holding the home team to 25.8% from the field (Penn was at 39.3%). Both squads warmed up considerably in the second stanza, but the Lady Statesmen still won the final percentage tally at 43.1%-36.8%.

The visitors were the aggressors in the contest as they drew 11 more free passes to the charity stripe (19-8) than Central Methodist and knocked down six more shots (11-5).

Penn won the battle of the boards as well with a 35-32 edge.

The low-scoring affair did not produce much in the way of offensive fireworks, but a trio of Lady Statesmen still reached double figures.

Samantha Darley (Jr., Gilbert, Ariz., Mesa CC) led Penn with 14 points on 6-10 shooting (2-5 3PT), while Nancy Chicas (Sr., San Francisco, Calif., San Mateo CC) was 4-6 overall (5-10 FT) to tie a career high with 13 points. Christa Subbert (Jr., Stanton, Stanton HS) managed 11 points as well in addition to a team-best seven rebounds.

Darley also paced Penn with four assists, while Chicas and Subbert topped the squad with two steals each.

Ashton Perez (Jr., Wildomar, Calif., Riverside CC) contributed five points to the cause.

"This was another nice team win," Lady Statesmen Head Coach Brian Spielbauer said. "In the past if Christa Subbert had an off night, we would not have been able to score enough points to win, but now we have several weapons. Samantha Darley and Nancy Chicas were both really good for us. We had a few girls sick but we stuck it out and pulled out the win."

Next: Penn is off the remainder of this week and will return to action next Monday to host Faith Baptist Bible in a non-conference matchup at 7 p.m.