Nicole Caddell returns to Central Missouri after leading the Jens to the NCAA Tournament a year ago, and picking up All-MIAA First Team and All-American Honorable Mention honors. The 5-11 senior forward led the team last season in both scoring and rebounding, all while coming off the bench for the final 18 games of the year. Caddell still averaged 27.1 minutes per game without starting, and recorded similar numbers in both scoring and rebounding average.

Caddell nearly recorded a double-double in the win over Webster last weekend, shooting 5-of-9 from the field, and 5-of-7 from the free throw line for her 15 points. She also led the team with nine rebounds, including four from the offensive glass. Defenively, the Tuscaloosa, Ala. native had a game-high three blocks and three steals in the win.

Working Their Way Back

Two guards will return from injury this season after missing out on all of 2011-12, in senior Erin Redmond and sophomore Danielle Bounds. Redmond earned the start against the Gorloks on Saturday, dealing out a game-high four assists, while committing just two turnovers in 21 minutes on the floor. She also scored five points while shooting 40.0% from the field.

Bounds joined the team as a transfer from Division I Robert Morris last season, before suffering a season-ending injury during the preseason. The sophomore saw eight minutes on the floor against Webster, scoring two points in the win.

Miss Basketball

Another key newcomer for Central Missouri will be freshman guard Shelby Winkelmann. A two-sport star at Hermann HS, Winkelmann won the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Ms. Show-Me Basketball award her senior season. Winkelmann scored a career 3,226 points over her high school career, good for second on Missouri's all-time girl's basketball scoring list. The Rhineland native also led her school to two state championships in volleyball. Before coming to UCM, Winkelmann spent her first year in college as a member of the Nebraska volleyball team that won the Big Ten championship in 2011. 

In her Central Missouri debut, Winkelmann scored 16 points as a starter while pulling down five rebounds. Her three steals in the game was a team high as well.

Sophomore Duo

Guards Brielle Wattley and Breonna Embray return for 2012-13 after gaining valuable on-court experience last season as freshmen. Wattley appeared in all 29 games last year, averaging 2.4 points and 1.3 assists per game. Wattley came off the bench in the win over Webster, playing 21 minutes and dealing out a pair of assists, while scoring three points.

Embray averaged 10.2 minutes per game over her 19 appearances last year, with the bulk of playing time coming in the first half of the year. She scored two points against the Gorloks, hitting her only field goal attempt in the game, while also pulling down a pair of rebounds.

Championship Experience

Joining the Jennies this season as a transfer is guard BreAnna Lewis, who joins the team after a NJCAA national championship run with Trinity Valley CC. Lewis was a key member of that team, averaging double-figures while leading her team to a perfect 36-0 on their way to the title. Lewis scored 13.6 points a game, while also dealing out 2.0 assists each night.

Earning the starting role in her Central Missouri debut, Lewis scored a game-high 19 points, going 7-of-13 from the field. She hit all four of the team's three-pointers in the win, going 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. Lewis also pulled down six rebounds, dealt out three assists, and picked up a pair of steals in the win.

Ready to Contribute

Junior Kiersten Orton will look to have a breakout season after averaging 2.5 points per game over 22 appearances last season. The Waukee, Iowa native missed the first six games of the year in 2011-12, before making her season debut in the loss at Emporia State. 

Orton earned the start in the season-opener against Webster, recorded four rebounds and three points from the forward position. She went 1-of-2 from the field, and blocked two shots on the defensive end.

Impact Transfers

Two more newcomers join the Jennies squad this year after successful junior college campaigns. Forward Symone Murray comes to Central Missouri after two seasons at Cowley CC, where she averaged 9.2 points per game in 2011-12. Guard Quinnecia Twine led College of Central Florida with 14.6 points per game a year ago, while averaging 3.0 steals a game on defense. Twine was named Central Florida's female athlete of the season, as well as team MVP.

Both juniors had big performances in their first game as Jennies. Twine finished in double figures with 11 points, including a 5-for-6 night from the charity stripe, while Murray picked up 10 points off 4-of-8 shooting, and pulled down three rebounds.

In the Classroom

As much success as the Jennies saw on the court in 2011-12, they achieved just as much in the classroom. Nine players on last year's roster earned the MIAA Academic Honor Roll award, for earning at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA. Two players from a year ago, Alyssa Rhodes and Taylor Hanson, were honored with the MIAA Scholar-Athlete award, as the two seniors were recognized for earning All-MIAA Team honors while maintaining a 3.5 GPA or higher.

Junior forward Kiersten Orton was one of just 18 athletes across all sports at Central Missouri to earn the MIAA Academic Excellence Award. Orton has recorded a perfect 4.0 GPA during her time at UCM, while studying Accounting.

MIAA Preseason Polls

After a fourth place regular season finish a year ago, the Jennies debuted at No. 6 in the MIAA Preseason Coaches and Media Polls. The Jens finished behind Fort Hays State in both polls, after finishing ahed of the Tigers in the MIAA standings in 2011-12, and knocking Fort Hays State out of the MIAA Tournament in the first round. UCM also tallied fewer votes than MIAA newcomers Northeastern State (Okla.); the Riverhawks earned an NCAA Tournament at-large bid after competing as an independent last year, and reached the second round before falling to the eventual regional champs, Pittsburg State.

Washburn, who won the regular season and tournament titles last year, were picked to repeat by both the coaches and the media. Pittsburg State, who reached the first round of the NCAA Elite Eight, were picked second in both polls. Emporia State and Northeastern State placed third and fourth, while Fort Hays State rounds out the top five in both polls.

UCM in the Polls

The Jennies debut in the WBCA USA TODAY Sports Division II Top 25 Coaches' Poll in the receiving votes section, having picked up three votes to start the year. UCM is 56th overall in the poll, and is one of six MIAA schools to be mentioned. Ashland (Ohio) start the year at No. 1, after last season's national championship game appearance. Bentley (Mass.) is second in the poll, after reaching the national semifinal last year. MIAA foe and defending regional champion Pittsburg State takes the No. 3 rank. Washburn (No. 17), Emporia State (No. 19), and Northeastern State (No. 23) are the rest of the conference's representation in the poll, while Fort Hays State recieved six votes, just ahead of the Jens.

Central Missouri was nationally ranked for a short period last season, appearing in the top 25 for three weeks. The Jens debuted at No. 25 after starting the season 5-0, then moved up to No. 22 with their first two conference wins of the year, against Southwest Baptist and Missouri Southern. A 1-4 stretch through the middle of December dropped UCM out of the poll, and although they responded with six straight wins and a 9-1 mark over the following ten games, the team was never able to climb back into the poll.

UCM Program History

The UCM Jennies are 826-349 (.703) after 41 seasons, and 624-260 (.706) in the 30 seasons since joining NCAA Division II ... the Jennies have won 9 MIAA regular season championships, 7 MIAA Tournament titles, 6 NCAA regional titles, and the 1984 NCAA Division II Championship.

Series History with Evangel

The Jennies hold an 11-0 all-time mark against the Crusaders ... The Jens have gone a perfect 9-0 at home against Evangel ... Against the Heart of America conference, Central Missouri holds a 33-0 record ... The Jennies and Crusaders first met in the 1970-71 season, resulting in a 71-27 Jennies win ... Their last meeting was a year ago, as the Jennies won in the Multipurpose Building, 89-54, in the season opener.

A Win for the Jennies Would...
... start the Jennies season with a perfect 2-0 record ... be the second straight 2-0 start to the season ... extend the Jennies' win streak against non-conference opponents to eight straight games.

A Loss for the Jennies Would...

... be the first loss to Evangel in program history ... be just the fourth 1-1 start in the Dave Slifer era ... be the first loss to an NAIA program since 1980 ... be the 100th loss all-time in the UCM Multipurpose Building.

Jennies Basketball in the Multi

The Jens are 444-99 all-time in the Multipurpose Building, and 77-29 during the Slifer era ... UCM has won at least nine home games every year since 2004-05 ... the Jennies have gone undefeated at home three times: 1982-83 (15-0, finished 3rd in the nation), 1985-86 (14-0, regional champions), and 1988-89 (15-0, finished 4th in the nation) ... from 1988 to 1990, the Jennies won a school-record 34 consecutive games at the Multi.

Jennies on the Air

Central Missouri women's basketball can be caught throughout the season on 98.5 “The BAR,” 1450 KOKO, and warrensburgradio.com as Greg Hassler provides play-by-play alongside Shawn Jones.

Fans can catch highlights each week on Central Missouri Sportspage, Thursday nights at 7 p.m., and Saturdays at 5 p.m. on KMOS-TV. Shawn Jones will sit down with Coach Slifer throughout the season to discuss the latest game, as various Jennies will be featured throughout the year.

Jennies fans can also tune in to 98.5 “The Bar” and 1450 KOKO each Tuesday morning at 9:30 a.m. for Central Missouri Sports Talk, with Greg Hassler and Bill Turnage. The pair will talk UCM athletics, as well as other hot topics in the sports world. Jennies coaches and players will drop in throughout the season as well.