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.

This season, Caddell has been the leading rebounder for the Jennies, averaging 8.0 boards per game, and an even 3.0 offensive rebounds each night. The Tuscaloosa, Ala. native nearly earned her first double-double of the season, with 15 points and nine rebounds in the win over Webster. Defensively, Caddell has played well, leading the Jennies in both blocks and steals in each of the three games this season.

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 has stepped in and immediately produced for UCM; the junior is averaging a team-high 18.0 points per game, and posted her first 20-point performance in the win over Evangel. Always a deep threat, Lewis has gone 13-for-18 (72.2) from beyond the arc, and has hit more three-pointers than any other Jennie has attemped this season.

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. 

Winkelmann earned her first career double-double in the win over Harding, tallying 24 points to go along with 12 rebounds; both totals are season highs in the early portion of the year. The freshman also collected four assists with just one turnover against the Lady Bison.

Offensive Catalyst

Returning from an injury that forced her to sit out on all of 2011-12, senior Erin Redmond has gotten the offense rolling, working out of the starting point guard spot, averaging 2.3 assists per game, while scoring an average of 6.3 points a game herself. In the win over Harding, Redmond shot 50% from the field, going 4-of-8, and scored a season-high nine points.

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, while guard Quinnecia Twine led College of Central Florida a year ago. Twine was named Central Florida's female athlete of the season, as well as team MVP.

Both juniors have had great production coming off the bench for UCM this season. Murray is the Jennies' third-leading scorer, with a 11.3 points per game average, while Twine has scored 10.0 points per game thus far. Against Harding, Murray tallied double figures for the third straight game, collecting 12 points off four three-pointers, all coming in the first half. Twine scored five points in the win, and posted a team-leading two steals.

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 matched her career high with eight rebounds in the win over the Lady Bison, while tallying four points.

Sophomore Duo

Guards Brielle Wattley and Breonna Embray return for 2012-13 after gaining valuable on-court experience last season as freshmen. Wattley has contributed in the backup point guard role, dealing out a team-high 12 assists in an average of 20 minutes on the floor. She also has a team-high 12.0 assist-to-turnover radio, with only one mishap so far this season. Against Harding, the freshman passed out five assists without a turnover, playing 23 minutes.

Embray matched her career high, scoring four points against the Crusaders on Monday night; she also matched her personal best with two assists in the win.

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 828-349 (.703) after 41 seasons, and 625-260 (.707) 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 St. Mary's

The all-time series with the Rattlers stands at one win apiece ... The two sides first met in the 2006-07 season, resulting in a 53-52 loss for the Jennies ... The rematch came the following season, as the Jennies defeated the Rattlers 81-69 in Warrensburg.

A Win for the Jennies Would...

... start the Jennies season with a perfect 4-0 record ... be the third 4-0 start to a season during the Dave Slifer era ... extend the Jennies' win streak against non-conference opponents to ten straight games.

A Loss for the Jennies Would...

... drop the Jennies record to 3-1 on the year ... drop their record to 1-1 against NCAA Division II competition this season ... be the 100th loss all-time in the UCM Multipurpose Building.

Jennies Basketball in the Multi

The Jens are 446-99 all-time in the Multipurpose Building, and 79-29 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.