No. 13 Jennies edge Southwest Baptist, 67-64
No. 13 Jennies edge Southwest Baptist, 67-64
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WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- The No. 13 Jennies basketball team moved back into a first-place tie in the MIAA standings, clipping Southwest Baptist, 67-64 at the Multipurpose Building on Thursday night.

The game was highlighted by six ties and nine lead changes. SBU (9-11, 4-9 MIAA) pulled in front early, 4-0 in the first 1:28 after Jacqui Zelenka deposited a pair of jump shots.

The Jennies (17-3, 11-2 MIAA) scored eight unanswered points to take an 8-4 lead, but saw that lead vanish following two consecutive layups by Brook Duncan over the next two Bearcat possessions.

With 15:22 remaining in the first half, Shelby Winkelmann split a couple of free throws to give the Jennies a 9-8 lead, an advantage they would hold for the remainder of the half. UCM received a huge lift from their bench, outscoring SBU, 16-6 in the opening half. Quinnecia Twine scored 13 first-half points, three of them coming via a triple with 21 seconds remaining on the clock  to bump UCM's lead to 36-27. Twine made 3-of-4 three-pointers in the game's first half.

Winkelmann jumpstarted the Jennies' second half with a three just 49 seconds in, giving UCM a 39-27 lead, their largest of the game.

SBU cut the deficit in half to six with 16:40 remaining, capped off by back-to-back layups from Duncan and Dilonna Johnson. They continued to chip away at the Jennies' lead, pulling to within three at 47-44 with 11:50 following a three from Duncan, who led the Bearcats with 20 points.

With 9:16 left in the game, the Jennies surrendered a go-ahead three-pointer from Duncan, falling behind, 52-50. Two possessions later, Andee Wahlert stole the ball and found Keuna Flax who scored on a layup to knot the game at 52-52 with 8:25 to go.

Twine split a pair of free throws with 7:44 left to give the Jennies the lead again, 53-52. Revonnia Howard followed on the ensuing Jennies possession splitting a pair of free-throws to make it a 54-52 tally.

The Bearcats drew a foul from Winkelmann on their next possession, sending Sarah Magana to the line who would deposit both shots to tie the game at 54 apiece with 6:46 remaining in the game.

The two teams exchanged leads over the next seven posessions. With 25 seconds left and the Jennies clinging to a 63-61 lead, Flax drew a foul from Zelenka and hit both free throws to give the Jennies a four-point cushion.

On the next SBU possession, Flax came up with a crucial steal and was fouled by Alex Botkin with 11 seconds left. Flax would split the pair to make it a 66-61 game.

Duncan kept the Bearcats alive on the next possession, hitting a three with two seconds left to make it a one-possession game at 66-64.

Flax helped secure the victory, making one of two shots from the charity stripe after drawing another foul, providing UCM with their 10th win in the last 11 games against SBU.

Flax led the Jennies with 16 points, while adding seven rebounds. BreAnna Lewis tallied two three-pointers, moving past Ashley Millham into seventh-place on the Jennies' all time three-point field goals made list with 129. Twine added 14 points, tying her season high.

The Jennies will next play Missouri Southern for the second time in eight days on Saturday afternoon in Joplin, tipoff set for 1 p.m.



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