Box Score (TOPEKA, Kan.) – After giving up a 19-point deficit in the first half, the Central Missouri Jennies charged into the lead, but ultimately fell, 74-70 to the third-seeded Pittsburg State Gorillas in the first round of the NCAA South Central Regional. Junior Shaquanda Wiggins led the Jens with 15 points.

In the opening game of the regional, the Jennies had a cold start, giving up a 10-4 run to the Gorillas during the first three minutes of the game. The Jens shot 32% from the field in the first half, and only 14.3% (1-of-7) from three. An 8-0 run for Pittsburg State stretched the lead to double-digits midway through the first half, and later grew to as much as 19 points with a three-pointer in the closing seconds before intermission.

Central Missouri immediately responded to start the second half, with a 24-4 run that gave the Jens their first lead; the comeback run took only eight minutes to erase the deficit.

Taylor Hanson kicked off the run with three free throws after getting fouled from long range, and then hit the trey on the following possession. The Jennies and Gorillas traded the lead back and forth six times over the next five minutes, with neither team gaining more than a two-point lead until back-to-back scores from Pitt State gave the Gorillas a 60-56 advantage at the 8:09 mark. Central Missouri was unable to re-gain the lead from then on, but had a chance late in the game, after Wiggins tied the game at 70 with a minute to play.

Pittsburg State's Lizzy Jerominus scored in the post with 18 seconds to play, before the Jennies last attempt to force overtime came up short. Jerominus finished with a game-high 29 points.

With the loss, the Jennies finish up the 2011-12 season with a 20-9 record, marking the 18th time in program history that Central Missouri has recorded 20 victories, and the first time since 2005-06.

Hanson finished with 13 points, going 2-of-6 from three. The senior from Overland Park, Kan. became just the fourth player in UCM history to hit 200 career three-pointers, finishing with 201.

Alyssa Rhodes recorded 11 points, five rebounds and two assists in the game. Rhodes also had three steals, each coming in big moments during the second half comeback. Kaneesha Lee scored double figures, with 10 points.