Jennies Basketball Falls Short to Washburn, 59-54

WARRENSBURG, Mo. - Central Missouri Jennies Basketball dropped a tight MIAA contest against Washburn Wednesday night. The two teams played close nearly the entire game, but Washburn was able to hold on for a 59-54 win. The loss puts UCM at 7-11 this season and 6-7 in the MIAA.
 
Shelby Winkelmann was the Jennies leading scorer with 23 points. She was 8-17 from the field and 6-7 at the free throw line. Ashley Duffy was also in double figures, scoring 13 and grabbing a career-high eight rebounds. 
 
The first quarter was a series of runs as Washburn opened the game up on top, 13-3. The Jennies used a burst of their own, taking their first lead 16-15 with a 13-2 run. 
 
The Ichabods hit two three-pointers to close the frame though, and took a 21-16 after one period.
 
The two teams went back and forth in the second period. UCM cut the lead down to two, 25-23 on a layup from Winkelmann with 4:21 remaining, but the Jens went cold the rest of the way, not scoring for the remainder of the half. The Ichabods pushed the lead to a game-high nine, 32-23, at halftime.
 
The Jens were able to gain some ground in the second half, using a 7-0 run to again bring the lead down to two, 34-32. Neither team made a field goal for the final 2:54 of the period and Washburn was up four, 40-36 heading into the final quarter.
 
Washburn went back up eight on a three-pointer from Erin Dohnalek, 49-41, with 5:49 to play. The Jennies fought hard, making it a one-possession game on three different occasions. 
 
After Duffy hit a pair of free throws to bring the lead to three, 49-46, the Jens had their best opportunity to tie, after Washburn's field goal didn't fall on their next possession. UCM had two chances, but misses from Tayler Weiks and Winkelmann gave Washburn the ball back with just over a minute remaining.
 
Washburn hit all six free throw attempts in the final 1:07, keeping the Jennies at arm's length the rest of the way and held on for a 59-54 win.
 
UCM shot 31.6% from the field (18-for-57), their second-lowest of the season, and were 3-of-23 from beyond the arc. 
 
Washburn was led by Haley Pfau who scored 16 points, hitting four three-pointers. Alyxis Bowens added eight points, six rebounds and two blocks. The Ichabods won the battle on the glass, 41-37.
 
The Jennies are back in action Saturday, Jan. 30 for a rematch with Emporia State. The Lady Hornets defeated the Jens 71-55 in December at Emporia. Game time is 1:30 p.m.