Crockett's Nine OT Points Lift Jennies Over ESU

WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Jan. 25, 2017) - Late Wednesday night at the Multipurpose Building was the Sydney Crockett show in the Jennies 61-56 win over Emporia State. Crockett shared the team lead with 16 points, but scored all nine of the Jennies overtime points as the Jens picked up their sixth win in a row and move to 16-2 on the season and 9-1 in the MIAA.

As the Jennies have done so many times this season, they erased a double-digit deficit to pick up their fifth straight home win over the Lady Hornets.

Entering the fourth quarter leading by seven, Jacee Kramer brought the lead to a game-high 10 with a triple on ESU's first possession of the quarter. That's when the Jennies made their run, using a 13-2 stretch over 5:14 to take their first lead since late in the opening quarter.

The Lady Hornets didn't quit and scored five straight points to lead by five with 90 seconds left to play. But Paige Redmond knocked in a pair of layups and the Jennies defense held ESU scoreless over the final 1:37 to send the game to OT. Redmond matched Crockett with 16 points and dished out a game-high six assists. 

After a scoreless first 90 seconds of the extra frame, Crockett broke the tie with her third triple of the game. Emporia State tied it on the next possession with a three point play from Kathryn Flott. Just seconds later, Crockett did one better with a four-point play, burying a corner three while getting fouled, giving the Jens a lead they never gave back. With five seconds to go in a three-point game, Crockett calmly knocked in a pair of free throws to put the game out of reach. 

The comeback was just the latest in a series for the Jennies this season. It was the first time in 59 games that the Lady Hornets led a lead slip away when leading with five minutes left to play. It is also the third straight time the Jennies have defeated a higher-ranked Lady Hornet team at the Multi. The Jens held ESU to 1-for-8 from the floor in the final 1:37 of regular and overtime. 

Both teams' defense were at the top of their game with the Lady Hornets holding a 33.9%-32.8% advantage in field goal percentage. The Jens kept up their tight defense around the perimeter, holding ESU to a 22.7% three-point percentage. The Jennies have held their last four opponents to 17.7% from three (11-for-62)

UCM also forced Emporia State into 20 turnovers, converting that into 15 points. The Jens kept the top-ranked scoring offense in the MIAA to their second-lowest point total of the season. 

In addition to Crockett and Redmond, Kelsey Williams scored 10 points, keeping the Jennies in the game early with two first-quarter triples. Kayonna Lee grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds, while Ashley Duffy came down with nine caroms.

Reigning MIAA Player of the Week Kelly Moten scored a game-high 24 points, however the rest of the Lady Hornets combined for only 32. Flott added another 10 points and grabbed 11 boards for a double-double. Moten also secured a double-double with 10 rebounds. The Lady Hornets blocked 12 Jennies shots with five coming from Moten. 

The Jennies will look to make it seven in a row Saturday, Jan. 28, when they host Washburn. Tip-off from the Multi is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.