Jennies Basketball Returns Home for MIAA Action

WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Jan. 10, 2017) - Central Missouri Jennies basketball makes their 2017 home debut this weekend with a pair of MIAA games at the Multi.

Opponents: Northwest Missouri State (5-8, 0-6 MIAA) - Thursday Jan. 12, 5:30 p.m.
Missouri Western (12-3, 4-2 MIAA) - Saturday, Jan. 14, 1:30 p.m.

Where: Warrensburg, Mo. - UCM Multipurpose Building

How to Watch: Jennies 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. Video is available through Central Missouri's internet portal through Stretch Internet.

Tip Off
• Central Missouri meets Northwest Missouri and Missouri Western for the second time this season. They swept the northern Missouri duo in their first MIAA games back in December.
• The last time the Jennies swept the Griffons was in 2014, when they won 13 straight against Missouri Western.

Story Lines
• Central Missouri is 65-26 all time against the Bearcats following their win in December. UCM has won three straight games and eight of the last nine. The Jens are 16-8 against the Bearcats with Coach Slifer at the helm.
• Similarly, the Jens under Slifer are 17-8 against Missouri Western. They hold a 35-29 advantage all-time, with MWSU only earning three wins since 2009.

Quick Hits
Last Time Out
Central Missouri's 10-game winning streak came to a close at the hands of Fort Hays State. After being off for two and a half weeks, the Jens were a little rusty against the Tigers, falling 69-59 after pulling within five late. Paige Redmond scored 22 for the Jens. Two nights, later the Jens started a new winning streak, blowing out Nebraska-Kearney 73-58. Central Missouri opened the game up 22-4 after the first quarter. Four Jens scored in double-figures led by career-high 17 points from Kayonna Lee and Megan Skaggs. Lee also posted a double-double with 14 rebounds.

Previously vs. Northwest Missouri and Missouri Western
The Jennies opened up MIAA play against the Griffons back in December. The Jens closed the game on a 13-1 run to overcome a seven-point fourth quarter deficit, defeating the Griffons 66-58. UCM outscored Missouri Western 24-13 in the fourth quarter and held the Griffons to one field goal the final 4:30 of the game. One week later it was the same story this time the Jennies came back from down 15 against the Bearcats in a 61-55 win. After scoring just 19 first half points, UCM scored 24 in the final frame and used a 20-7 second half run to pull out the win.

Jennies at Home
Since opening the seasons at the Multi, the Jens have played only two games at home since the middle of November. That hasn't mattered too much as UCM is 8-1 away from Warrensburg. In those four games at home, the Jennies are 3-1 with three straight wins and 2-0 in conference home games. 

MIAA Leaders
Central Missouri's Paige Redmond is in a class all by herself. She is in the MIAA in the top-10 in points per game (5th - 16.7), field goal percentage (6th - .507), free throw percentage (7th - .833), three point percentage (5th - .422), assists (5th - 4.0) and assist-to-turnover ration (5th - 1.9)

Kayonna Lee remains in the MIAA top-five in rebounds per game with 8.2, ranking fifth. Ashley Duffy is third in the conference shooting 49.3% from behind the arc. 

As a team, the Jennies are fourth in the conference in scoring with 75.5 points per game. They're just allowing just a hair over 60 points per game, 60.2, which is seventh in the league. 

The Jennies are fourth in turnover margin at 5.62. Their opponents are averaging 18.3 turnovers per game, which is fourth in the MIAA and the Jens 12.7 turnovers are the third fewest in the league and their 165 total turnovers is the fewest in the MIAA. 

Career Milestones
A pair of Jennies are closing in on 400 career points. At 396 points, Paige Redmond needs just four more to reach 400 points. She also went over 100 rebounds and assists last week. Ashley Duffy needs 23 more points to reach 400 points and just two more made three-pointers for 50 in her career, while Redmond needs three triples for 50. After scoring 13 points against the Lopers, sophomore Sydney Crockett needs nine points to reach 200.

Threes Company
The Jennies have not been shy about pulling the trigger when it comes to three-pointers. UCM has taken 287 3FG attempts this season, just a shade over 22 attempts per game, and their 37.3% on three's is 22nd in the NCAA. 

Come Early, Stay Late
Central Missouri's top two scoring periods this season have been the first and fourth. UCM has been getting off to hot starts with 253 points in first quarters, outscoring their opponents by an average of 19.4-15.9. It is the fourth quarter though where the Jennies have done their most damage, outscoring opponents by a total of 85 points. The Jennies needed to shake off a little rust in the first half against FHSU, scoring only 22 points. But scored 37 in the second half and 22 in the fourth, nearly erasing a 22 point defitcit against the Tigers. Against the Lopers, the Jens raced out to a 22-4 lead after the first period and cruised to a 73-58 win.

Scouting the Opposition
Northwest Missouri State Bearcats
• After starting the season winning their first five games, Northwest Missouri is currently in the midst of an eight-game losing streak, six in the MIAA.
• Five of the Bearcats six MIAA losses have come by double-digits. Their only single-digit conference loss was a 61-55 loss to the Jennies in December. 
• Northwest's offense has run through junior Tanya Meyer this season. She leads the MIAA scoring 20.4 points per game, but has missed the last two Bearcat games. Meyer is also second in the MIAA in rebounding, pulling down 9.7 rebounds per game. She has four double-doubles in nine games played.
• The Bearcats have been one of the best shooting teams in the MIAA. They're fifth the nation in three-point percentage, shooting 39.1% from beyond the arc this season (110-281). Most of those three-pointers can be attributed to Jasmin Howe. Howe is scoring 15.2 points per game and is 37-78 from three.
• With the help of Meyer, NWMSU is outrebounding opponents, 35.3-32.8 Taryne Shull is averaging 6.3 rebounds for the Bearcats and is one of four Bearcats with more than four rebounds per game. 
• Five Bearcats have dished out 10 or more assists this season. Macy Williams has 64 to lead the team and her 4.9 assists per game are second in the MIAA. 
• Northwest has been prone to turning the ball over, giving it away 192 times this season, and their 14.8 turnovers per game is seventh in the MIAA. Unfortunately, they don't do a good job of creating turnovers on the defensive end, and their -6.08 turnover ratio is the worst in the MIAA. 
• Fans of blocked shots might not have much to see as the Jennies and Bearcats are at the bottom of the MIAA in blocked shots. The Bearcats are blocking 1.77 shots per game. Of their 23, Carlie Wilhelmi leads the team with 11. 

Missouri Western Griffons
• Missouri Western has started the year at 12-3 and have won five of their last six games. They're 4-2 in the MIAA after falling to No. 6  Pittsburg State 57-43 to start the New Year. 
• Two Griffons are averaging more than 10 points a game this season. Dwanisha Tate is scoring 11.7 points per game to lead MWSU and Chelsea Dewey is scoring 11.5 points per game. 
• As a team, Missouri Western is shooting 44% from the field while connecting on 34.2% of their three-point FGs, both seventh in the MIAA and 72.5% of their free throws which is eighth. Savannah Lentz is leading the MIAA hitting 47.5% of her 3-point attempts.
• Julia Torres leads the Griffons rebounding attack, grabbing 6.9 boards per game, ninth in the MIAA. She's done a lot of damage on the offensive end, picking up 3.0 offensive rebounds per game which is third in the conference. She is one of six in the MIAA with more than 100 rebounds this season.
• Missouri Western is the top-team in the MIAA in terms of turnover margin at a plus-9.07. The Griffons are averaging just 13.6 turnovers per game while forcing a conference-best 22.7 turnovers. MWSU uses the quick hands of Sefulu Faavae and Torres, 2nd and 5th in the MIAA in steals, to swipe 12.3 steals. 
• Dewey is not only second on the team in scoring but leads Missouri Western with 70 assists per game. Faavae is close behind with 60. The Griffons have an assist on 62% of their field goals this season.
• Missouri Western is getting out-blocked by opponents 38-30 this season. Torres however is in the MIAA top-10 with 0.9 blocks per game and leads the Griffons with 14.
• Missouri Western has collected 34 more fouls than their opponent and opponents have taken 39 more free throws than the Griffons.