WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Jan. 17, 2017) - Jennies Basketball goes for their fifth straight win on Saturday when they travel to St. Charles, Mo. to take on Lindenwood.
Opponent: Lindenwood (6-9, 2-6 MIAA) - Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017
Where: St. Charles, Mo. - Robert F. Hyland
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 remains on the road for their third game this week, traveling to St. Charles, Mo. to take on the Lindenwood Lions.
• The Jennies have won four straight against the Lions, sweeping the season in 2015-16.
Story Lines
• All-time, Central Missouri is 11-2 against Lindenwood. The Lions last win was an overtime victory in St. Charles, 92-85. Head Coach
Dave Slifer is 7-2 all-time against the Lions as head coach of the Jennies.
• The Jennies have won four of their first five games to start the 2017 calendar year and four 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 14-2 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 fourth win in a row Wednesday night against Lincoln. The Jens led from wire-to-wire against the Blue Tigers in their 66-41 victory. The offense struggled at times, but the defense held the Blue Tigers to just a 27.1 field goal percentage and 2-for-16 from behind the arc. Three Jennies scored in double-figures led by
Ashley Duffy's 15.
Kelsey Williams, playing against her former team, scored 11 points with four rebounds, five assists and three steals.
Megan Skaggs scored 12, including the first five of the game.
Previously vs. Lindenwood
The Jennies final regular season win of the 2015-16 season came against Lindenwood late last February in St. Charles. The game was tied at the half, but UCM outscored the Lions by 17 in the second half. Four Jennies scored in double-figures led by
Shelby Winkelmann's 18.
Ashley Jones recorded a double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds.
Jennies on the Road
Central Missouri is 9-1 away from Warrensburg this season including 6-1 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 two 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 (7th - 15.8), field goal percentage (6th - .483), free throw percentage (9th - .829), assists (5th - 3.9) and assist-to-turnover ratio (4th - 1.9). She is also shooting 40% 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 8.4, fifth.
As a team, the Jennies are fifth in the conference in scoring with 73.9 points per game. They're allowing 57.2 points per game which is third in the conference.
The Jennies are fourth in turnover margin at 4.69. Their opponents are averaging 17.5 turnovers per game, which is fifth in the MIAA and the Jens 12.8 turnovers are the third fewest in the league. Their 205 total turnovers is also the third 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 12 straight games without an opponent reaching 70 points and in 11 of those 12, teams haven't even reached 60. The Jennies lead the MIAA in scoring defense in conference-only games, allowing 53.9 points against MIAA teams. The Jens have now held three straight opponents under 50 points for the first time since December of 2006. The last time they held four straight under 50 points was in January 1973. 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 third in the MIAA shooting 36.6% 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 nine three pointers in her last four games. On the defensive side, UCM held their last two opponents to just 2-31 from three. Their 26.2% three-point defensive percentage is second 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 1,184 points, 318 have come in the fourth, their most in any quarter and have allowed just 195, their fewest in any quarter. In second halves this season UCM is outscoring opponents by 200 points. That has helped them to multiple double-digit comebacks including Monday night vs. Missouri Western. In their last two games, Central Missouri is outscoring opponents 44-7 in the fourth quarter. The fourth quarter is the only one where the Jennies have scored more than 300 points and allowed fewer than 200 points.
Scouting the Opposition
Lindenwood Lions
• Lindenwood snapped a five game losing streak last week at Missouri Southern. Both of Lindenwood's wins have come against the Lions.
• Lindenwood is 6-9 overall and 3-4 in St. Charles, though they have lost their last three inside Robert F. Hyland Arena.
• The Lions rely heavily on their bigs Kallie Bildner and Gabby Walker. Bildner, a 6-3 freshman forward, leads the Lions with 14.2 points per game. She is leading the conference in field goal percentage, shooting 52.6% from the floor. Walker is a six foot freshman and is also scoring in double-figures, recording 11.5 points per game.
• Bildner is also third in the MIAA in rebounds per game, coming down with an average of nine caroms. Of her 90 rebounds, 36 have come on the offensive end. She has missed the last five games though.
• Lindenwood is at the bottom of the league in three-point percentage. The Lions are only shooting 23.7% from beyond the arc. Of 307 teams ranking in Division II, Lindenwood is ranked 298. Lindsay Medlen is the only player with more than 10 3FG, connecting on 12-of-47 attempts.
• Lindenwood is fairing better inside the arc, shooting 42.3% overall, which is 10th in the league. In addition to Bildner, Walker is shooting 51.4%.
• Medlen is the Lions leader in assist with 51.
• Lindenwood has turned the ball over 300 times, the most in the MIAA by 34 turnovers. Their -3.73 turnover margin is the second worst in the MIAA.
• Lion senior Beth Maenpaa is the team leader with 11 blocked shots. Despite the size of their freshmen, the Lions are being out-blocked 58-45 this season.
