Box Score (XML)  |  Box Score (HTML)    |    Season Statistics (HTML)    |    Photo Gallery

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Four players scored in double figures, helping the No. 8 Jennies take down Northeastern State in the MIAA quarterfinals, 79-65 at the Municipal Auditorium on Thursday afternoon.

Seniors BreAnna Lewis and Keuna Flax led the scoring charge with 21 and 17 points, respectively for UCM (24-3, 17-2 MIAA). All but one of Lewis' 21 points came in the game's second half.

Sophomore Shelby Winkelmann got the Jennies going early, scoring five points in the first 2:08, helping UCM to a 7-3 lead. 

Northeastern State knotted the game at 9-9 after a 6-2 spurt that was capped by a three-pointer from Chelsey Beathard, who finished with 15 points in the contest. 

An 11-2 run by UCM put Northeastern State in a 20-11 hole over the next 6:49, but the RiverHawks answered with three treys over the final 7:26 of the opening half, making it a two-point game at 31-29 at halftime. The Jennies outscored Northeastern State, 14-6 in the paint and added eight points on RiverHawk turnovers. Winkelmann led the offensive charge with 11 points on a perfect 4-of-4 from the field, and 3-of-3 from beyond the three-point arc.

Winkelmann jumpstarted the Jennies in the first minute-plus in the second half as well, knocking down a three-pointer on an assist from Flax to put UCM ahead by five, 34-29.

Following personal and technical fouls on Revonnia Howard, the RiverHawks pulled to within three at 38-35, following four free throws from Beathard and Che'Ron Lewis. 

Lewis and Quinnecia Twine combined for the next six UCM points to bump the lead back to seven at 48-41, but Northeastern responded with five-straight points to keep it a two-point game. 

Central Missouri put the game out of reach, scoring nine unanswered points to take a commanding 57-46 advantage. The run was led by a triple from Brielle Wattley and four points from Flax. 

Northeastern State answered on the next possession following a layup from Jamie Jackson to cut the deficit to nine, but couldn't pull any closer. The Jennies ended the game on a 22-17 run to secure its third win in their last four MIAA Tournament games. 

The win also extended the Jennies' win streak to nine games, the longest since the 2005-06 season. The 14-point victory is the largest margin of victory for UCM in an MIAA Tournament game since the 2011-12 season when they defeated Fort Hays State, 73-61 in the opening round. 

The Jennies will play the winner of the Missouri Southern/Fort Hays State matchup on Saturday, March 8 at noon at the Municipal Auditorium.