Box Score (JOPLIN, Mo.) – Senior Nicole Caddell contributed 20 points, including a career-high 13 free throws, as the Central Missouri Jennies survive another close road battle, knocking off the Missouri Southern Lions, 73-66. The victory is the sixth in a row for the Jennies, who have not dropped a game since New Year's Eve.
      The Jennies sharpshooters were on display in the first half, going 7-for-8 from long range. Renae Shippy went a perfect 3-for-3 in the opening half, while Taylor Hanson hit three of her own. Saraethea Brown threw in a trey as well. One of Shippy's three-pointers capped a 9-2 start for the Jennies, who held a lead throughout the first half.
      Missouri Southern was able to make a run and cut the UCM lead to just two points, after three straight turnovers for the Jens led to six quick points for the Lions, who trailed 22-20 at the 7:59 mark. The Jennies were able to answer with 12 of the next 15 points to quickly regain a double-digit advantage, and went into halftime leading 43-33.
      The Jennies started the second half scoring seven of the first nine points, taking a 50-35 lead with 16:23 to play. The Lions took the next ten minutes of the half to chip away at the Central Missouri advantage. An 8-2 run in favor of the Lions made it a 56-49 Jennies lead with 9:51 to play; later in the half, eight straight from Missouri Southern gave the Lions their first lead of the night, at 63-62 at the 4:28 mark. UCM immediately responded with a layup from Kiersten Orton to reclaim the one-point edge. The Jennies wouldn't hit another field goal for the final 3:37, but clutch free throw shooting from Caddell and Hanson closed out the win.
      Shippy finished with 14 points and a game-high six rebounds. Her four three-pointer ties a career high last matched earlier this month against Northwest Missouri. Hanson collected 11 points off 3-for-6 shooting. With guards Brown and Alyssa Rhodes missing much of the second half with foul trouble, freshman guard Brielle Wattley stepped up, playing 20 minutes and scoring eight points, matching her career high.
      With the win, the Jennies improve to 8-4 in the MIAA, and 14-4 overall. The Jens return home for two games, starting this Saturday, January 28, with a game against Pittsburg State, starting at 1:30 p.m.