HAYS, Kan. – For the second straight game, Central Missouri went up against a WBCA top-15 ranked opponent. After defeating No. 11 Emporia State last Saturday, the Jennies had a tougher time with No. 7 Fort Hays State.
The Tigers used a 23-8 second period to build a 37-23 halftime lead and never looked back, on their way to a 70-57 win in Hays, Kan. The loss drops the Jennies to 8-12 this season and 7-8 in the MIAA.
Shelby Winkelmann led the team scoring 14 points and grabbing six rebounds.
Paige Redmond tied her career-high with 11 points and
Danielle Barry scored a season high 11 as well.
Fort Hays started the scoring, going up 8-3 three minutes into the first. The Jennies took their first lead of the game on back-to-back three pointers from
Paige Redmond. UCM used an 8-0 run in the middle of the first to build a 15-10 lead. In the final 1:14, the Tigers scored four straight to cut the lead to one, 15-14.
UCM maintained a one-point lead four minutes into the second period, 22-21, but it was short lived. The Jennies scored just one point the final 6:05, while the Tigers raced to a 14-point halftime advantage, 37-23.
A controversial offensive foul call on Jones changed the momentum in the game. The Tigers outscored UCM 13-1 to close the period after the foul.
The Jennies got hot late in the third period, ending the frame on a 14-6 run in the final 3:49 of the quarter. They were able to cut the lead down to 10, 55-45 on a Winkelmann steal and score with 7:12 remaining in the game, but it was as close as they came, falling 70-57.
The biggest difference in the game came down to free-throw attempts. The Tigers were 17-for-27 at the line, while the Jennies went 7-of-8. Central Missouri also turned the ball over 19 times while forcing 12 Tiger turnovers.
The Tigers had four finish in double-figures led by Nikola Kacperska with 11. Jill Faxon, Paige Lunsford and Beth Bohuslavsky all scored 10. Tatyana Legette led the team with six rebounds.
Central Missouri continues their road trip Saturday, Feb. 6 at Nebraska-Kearney. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
