Jennies Basketball to Host Lindenwood in First of Two Game Homestand

Tip Off
• 2015 marks the 46th year of UCM Jennies Basketball.
• UCM was picked to finish third in the MIAA pre-season coaches poll.
• The Jennies went 2-1 last week, picking up a pair of wins over Southwest Baptist and Pittsburg State before dropping a three-point loss to Missouri Southern.
• Central Missouri is 5-8 overall and 4-4 in the MIAA, putting them in eighth place in the conference standings.
• After starting out 3-2 in the MIAA, Lindenwood has dropped four straight games. They too played three games last week, falling to Emporia State, Fort Hays State and Nebraska-Kearney, putting them at 7-8 overall and 3-6 in the MIAA.

On the Air
• Central Missouri basketball is broadcast live on 1450 KOKO, 98.5 The Bar, and online at
warrensburgradio.com. Games are broadcast by 1450 KOKO/98.5 The Bar Sports Director, Greg Hassler and Assistant Director for Media Relations, Mike Knipper. Video is also available through Central Missouri's online internet portal through Stretch Internet, and can be found at UCMathletics.com



Story Lines
• Last year UCM went 13-6 in conference games, finishing fifth in the regular season standings. They are 4-4 to start this season.
• The Jennies and Lady Lions boast the second and third leading scorers in the MIAA. Shelby Winkelmann is second in the conference scoring 21.4 points per game. Kassidy Gengenbacher is third in the MIAA scoring 19 points per game for Lindenwood.
• Winkelmann earned her third MIAA Player of the Week honor for her performances last week. She averaged 27 points per game and recorded a 28 point, 10 assist double-double against Pittsburg State.
• Wednesday will be just the 12th lifetime meeting between the Jennies and Lady Lions. UCM has had a distinct advantage thus far, winning nine of the first 11. The two teams have split the season series each of the last two years and UCM defeated Lindenwood in the MIAA play-in round last season. Central Missouri is 5-2 against Lindenwood under Coach Slifer.
• Head Coach Dave Slifer won his 600th career game in the MIAA quarterfinal win over Missouri Southern. He is 605-218 lifetime as a coach and 220-118 at UCM. His 605 wins are the sixth-most among active Division II Head Coaches.
• The Jennies went 21-9 last season and played in the MIAA semifinal game.

Quick Hits
Last Time Out
The Jennies went 2-1 last week with wins over Southwest Baptist and Pittsburg State. UCM was able to hold off a late Bearcat rally, to hang on for a 77-74 win. Shelby Winkelmann scored a season-high 29 points in the win.

At PSU, the Jennies ran away from the Gorillas to the tune of an 87-69 win. The 18-point margin of victory is Coach Slifer's largest road win over PSU and the Jennies third largest on the road against the Gorillas. Winkelmann (28 points, 10 assists) and Ashley Jones (12 points, 11 rebounds) each recorded a double-double.

The Jennies again came-from-behind at Missouri Southern, but were unable to capture their fourth straight win. The Lions held off UCM late for a 62-59 win. Winkelmann scored 24 and Jones had a 10 point, 15 rebound double-double.

Halftime Adjustments
Central Missouri's top scoring period this season has been the third. Coming out of halftime, UCM has scored 259 points in third periods and are outscoring their opponents by 55, allowing 204 in third periods, their fewest of any period. The Jennies outscored the Gorillas 34-18 in the third period last Thursday as they pulled away from PSU. The third period is also the only one this season UCM has a positive scoring margin.

Conference Leaders
A handful of Jennies are trending towards the top of the rankings in the MIAA. Senior Shelby Winkelmann is second in the MIAA in scoring with 21.4 points per game and her 51.9 (82-158) shooting percentage ranks third. She's also fourth in the MIAA connecting on 85.7% of her free throw attempts (36-42). Her 21.4 points per game is just outside the NCAA top-10 at 11 in the nation.

Winkelmann has scored at least 24 points in four straight games and has six 20 point games this season. Keuna Flax was the last Jennie with four straight 20 point games. She did it five straight games in the 2013-14 season.

Senior Ashley Jones is near the top of the conference in rebounding. With 9.0 per game, she sits third in the MIAA. She also leads the conference with 3.3 offensive rebounds per game and her 40 offensive boards is fifth.

Finally senior Tayler Weiks is in the MIAA top-10 for her three point shooting prowess. Weiks is third in the MIAA in three-point shooting percentage (.382, 26-68) and seventh in made three pointers per game (2.0).

Quick Hands
The Jennies 106 steals this season have them ranked sixth in the MIAA. Ashley Duffy has been the leader of the thievery with 21 steals and at least two in seven of 13 games and in only 10 games, Shelby Winkelmann has 18 takeaways.

Comeback Artists
Continuing a trend they started last season, UCM is showing their never-say-die attitude. Last season six of UCM's 21 wins came after trailing at halftime, including a 17 point halftime deficit to Quincy. UCM has trailed at the half in two of their last three wins, only to come back. to win both.

Off the Bench
Central Missouri has been getting noticeable production from the bench this season. Through 13 games, UCM has scored 363 points off their bench, 27.9 per game. That is 66 more bench points than opponents, who have scored 297 from non starters.

Double Trouble
The Jennies have had three double-doubles in their last two games. Ashley Jones has accomplished it in back-to-back games against Pittsburg State and Missouri Southern, giving her four for the season. Shelby Winkelmann recorded her first double-double of the season at PSU. UCM now has six double-doubles this season.

20-20 Vision
With their 21 wins in 2014-15, UCM has now won at least 20 games in four straight seasons. It is their longest such stretch since the Jens went 11 straight years with at least 20 wins from 1981-82 - 1991-92.

Scouting the Opposition
Lindenwood
Overall Record: 7-8
Conference Record: 3-6 (MIAA)
Series History: UCM leads 9-2
Last Meeting: Mar. 3, 2015 - UCM 73, LWU 69
Head Coach: Tony Francis (77-83, sixth season)

• Lindenwood has lost four straight games and stand at 7-8 overall and 3-6 in the MIAA.
• The Lady Lions are 1-4 on the road this season and have not won on the road in the MIAA. Their only road win this season came at Missouri St.-Louis in November.
• The Lady Lions have shot the ball very well this season. They are second in the MIAA and 20th in Division II shooting 45.5% from the floor this season. They are also fourth in the MIAA shooting 35.6 from three and are just inside the NCAA top-50, ranking 49th in the nation in three-point percentage.
• Lindenwood is led by guard Kassidy Gengenbacher. She's third in the MIAA scoring 19 points per game. She also leads the conference and is 12th in the NCAA having hit 45 three-point shots. Gengenbacher also has 54 rebounds, 31 assists, 23 steals and eight blocks and has a shooting slash line of .412/.363/.773.
• Lindenwood's Vanessa Zailo has been a rebounding machine for the Lady Lions. She's is second in the MIAA with 9.1 rebounds per game and 137 total rebounds. In her last four games, Zailo has pulled down 35 boards.
• Point guard Jenny Rocha is near the top of the conference in assists. She's handed out 65 this season which is fourth in the MIAA and 50th in Division II. Rocha is also scoring 11.7 points per game, second on the team.
• On the defensive end, the Lady Lions are forcing just over 19 turnovers per game which is third in the MIAA. They can also defend the three-point shot, allowing a 35.6 three-point percentage to opponents and Cece Rapp is third in the MIAA having blocked 18 shots this season.
• The Lady Lions have used their quick hands to force 145 steals, 9.7 per game which is third in the MIAA in both categories. They also have a plus 2.13 turnover margin, fifth in the conference.