Jens Turnaround to Face Lincoln on the Road

WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Jan. 17, 2017) - Jennies Basketball will put their three-game win streak on the line when they travel to Jefferson City, Mo. to take on Lincoln.

Opponent: Lincoln (2-13, 1-7 MIAA) - Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017

Where: Jefferson City, Mo. - Jason Gym

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 hits the road for their second of three games this week, traveling to Lincoln to take on the Blue Tigers in Jefferson City, Mo.
• The Blue Tigers got the better of the Jennies a year ago in Warrensburg, defeating UCM 82-76 nearly a year ago to the day, Jan. 16. 

Story Lines
• Despite the loss last season, the Jennies are 51-3 all time against Lincoln and 24-1 playing in Jefferson City. Jennies Coach Dave Slifer is 13-2 in his career against the Blue Tigers.
• The Jennies have won three of their first four games to start the 2017 calendar year and three straight. UCM won 10 straight games to close out 2016, matching the longest winning streak under Coach Slifer.
• Central Missouri is starting gain some national attention. They received 40 points in this week's Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) poll, which would put them 26th in the country. They also come in at No. 10 in the Central Region in the Division II media poll.
• This marks the fourth time in Coach Slifer's career starting off at least 13-2 in the regular season joining 2004-15 (18-2), 2012-13 (21-2), and 2013-14 (15-2). 

Quick Hits
Last Time Out
The Jennies picked up their third win in a row Monday night against Missouri Western. The Jens swept the season-series from the Griffons for the first time since the 2013-14 with a 69-49 win. Three Jennies were in double-figures led by Sydney Crockett's 19 points. Crockett drilled four three-pointers and went 7-7 at the FT line. Kayonna Lee recorded her fourth double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds. UCM shot 57.1% for the final three quarters while holding the Griffons to just 12 points and 12.5% from the floor in the second half. 

Previously vs. Lincoln
Central Missouri couldn't overcome a 28-point first quarter from the Blue Tigers in an 82-76 loss, just their third all-time to Lincoln. The Jens shot 46.7% from the floor had had four finish in double figures with Shelby Winkelmann's 18 a team-high. The Blue Tigers were deadly from beyond the arc hitting 11 on 20 attempts as Hunter Yoakum went for 21 and Zuri Hill finished with 20 and nine rebounds. 

Jennies on the Road
Central Missouri is 8-1 away from Warrensburg this season including 5-1 in true road games. Their only loss came on their last road trip, a 69-59 loss of Fort Hays State after not playing for more than weeks. 

MIAA Leaders
Central Missouri's Paige Redmond is in a class all by herself. She is in the MIAA top-10 in points per game (6th - 16.5), field goal percentage (5th - .500), free throw percentage (8th - .829), assists (5th - 4.0) and assist-to-turnover ratio (4th - 1.9). She is also shooting 42% from beyond the arc, but doesn't have enough makes to qualify for the MIAA leaderboard. 

Kayonna Lee remains in the MIAA top-five in rebounds per game with 8.5, tied for fourth. 

As a team, the Jennies are fifth in the conference in scoring with 74.4 points per game. They're allowing 58.3 points per game which is sixth in the conference. 

The Jennies are fourth in turnover margin at 5.07. Their opponents are averaging 17.7 turnovers per game, which is fifth in the MIAA and the Jens 12.7 turnovers are the third fewest in the league.Their 190 total turnovers is the fewest in the MIAA. 

Getting Defensive
After allowing their first three opponents to all reach at least 73 points, the Jennies defense has been among the best. Central Missouri has gone 11 games without an opponent reaching 70 points and in 10 of those 11, teams haven't even reached 60. The Jennies rank sixth in the MIAA allowing 58.3 points per game. Take out the first three games, and UCM is allowing just 54.3 points per game their last 12, which would lead the MIAA by a full point. The Jens held both the Bearcats and Griffons below 50 points their last two games and their 55.7 points allowed in conference games is second in the league. Missouri Western's two fourth quarter points Monday night are the fewest the Jennies have ever allowed in any quarter since the NCAA went back to four-quarter games in 2015-16. 

Deep Dives
Central Missouri ranks second in the MIAA shooting 37% from behind the arc. Five Jennies have made at least 10 three-point field goals and three have hit 20 with Paige Redmond's 29 leading the way. Of late, Sydney Crockett has had the hot hand, with eight three pointers in her last three games. On the defensive side, UCM held Missouri Western to just 1-15 from three in their last game. Their 28.1% three-point defensive percentage is fourth in MIAA games. 

Whatever You Do, Don't Go Home Early
The Jennies are starting to make a habit of putting up big numbers in the fourth quarter. Of their 1,118 points, 296 have come in the fourth, their most in any quarter and have allowed just 190, their fewest in any quarter. In second halves this season UCM is outscoring opponents by 185 points. That has helped them to multiple double-digit comebacks including Monday night vs. Missouri Western. Trailing by as many as 11, the Jens went on runs of 13-0 and 18-0 in the second half, and outscored MWSU 22-2 in the fourth for their 69-49 win. 

Scouting the Opposition
Lincoln Blue Tigers
• Lincoln's first win of the MIAA season came two weekend's ago against Northeastern State, a 66-62 victory in Jefferson City. 
• Both of the Blue Tigers' wins this season have come at home as Lincoln is 2-4 in Jason Gym in 2016-17. Lincoln also played currently 12th ranked Central Oklahoma tough at home, falling 66-64 on a pair of Broncho free throws with one second remaining.
• The Blue Tigers rely heavily on seniors Azaria Nave and Hunter Yoakum, both of whom are in the MIAA top-five in minutes played. Yoakum leads the conference with 34.7 minutes per game.
• They are also the top-two point scorers for Lincoln with Nave scoring 15.3 points per game and Yoakum 14.1. Nave has been deadly behind the arc, shooting 47.2%, 25-53.
• Asia McCaskill and Tyler Henderson Brown are grabbing more than five rebounds per game to lead the Lincoln squad. Henderson-Brown is close to six boards with 5.9 rebounds per game while McCaskill has 35 rebounds in seven games.
• The Blue Tigers are at the bottom of the league shooting 39% from the floor and 66% from the free throw line. 
• Lincoln has used some active hands to come away with 114 steals and their 7.6 steals per game is eighth in the MIAA. Yoakum leads the team with 20 steals while Nave has 19.
• Erica Gibbons ranks third in the conference with both 23 blocked shots and 1.5 blocks per game. She is the biggest Lincoln swat threat, with 23 of the team's 38 blocked shots. 
• The Blue Tigers are last in the MIAA in points scored with 64.5 and points allowed, giving up an average of 74.1 points per game. Their -9.5 scoring margin is twice as bad as the next closest team - LWU (-4.3).