WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Nov. 17, 2017) - Central Missouri Jennies Basketball plays their next six games at home starting this weekend with games Saturday and Sunday.

Opponents: William Jewell Cardinals (0-1)
                    Arkansas-Fort Smith Lions (2-1)

When: Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 18-19
            William Jewell: Saturday, Nov. 18 - 2 pm
            Arkansas-Fort Smith: Sunday, Nov. 19 - 4 pm

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. There will be a live webcast of both UCM games this weekend on UCM's Internet Blueframe portal and is available on TV streaming devices.

Tip Off
• Central Missouri started their 2017-18 season with a pair of wins over Northern Sun schools Mary and Northern State last weekend in Kansas City. 
• In the latest WBCA rankings (preseason, Oct. 31), the Jennies began at No. 13 in the nation. They were also picked as the No. 11 team in the preseason media poll and second in the Central Region media poll. 

Quick Hits
Last Time Out
The Jennies played an exhibition Wednesday night at Missouri State and fell 62-36. Kelsey Williams led the team with eight points and Kayonna Lee grabbed nine rebounds. UCM shot just 24.6% from the floor and 11.8% from three. 

Previously vs. William Jewell/Arkansas-Fort Smith
The Jennies saw both of these teams last year in nonconference action. The Jens were also home for a 70-59 win against William Jewell. Kayonna Lee went for a double-double of 12 points and 13 rebounds. Paige Redmond led the team with 17 points. This time last year the Jennies defeated Arkansas-Fort Smith 78-73 in Pittsburg, Kan. Redmond scored 19 while Morgan Fleming added 14. 

Jennies in the Rankings
The Jennies were ranked in the top-15 in two preseason rankings. Central Missouri came in at No. 13 in the WBCA Coaches Poll and No. 11 in the D2SIDA Media Poll, voted on by SID's. The D2SIDA also released preseason regional rankings which had the Jennies second in the Central behind Harding. The next set of rankings are released next week. 

Around the MIAA
• Nine teams enter the weekend at either 3-0 or 2-0 in the MIAA creating a log jam atop the league standings. 13 of 14 teams won at least one of their first three games playing mostly regional games against the Northern Sun and Great American Conferences. 
• All teams are in action this week, most playing at least two games as nonconference play continues. The MIAA games start in two weeks, with the first league games played on Nov. 30. 
• With 10 rebounds per game Kayonna Lee is fifth in the MIAA.
• Morgan Fleming and Paige Redmond are tied for fifth in three point percentage at .500.
• Megan Skaggs' 34.5 minutes per game ranks fourth in the MIAA. 
• Central Missouri's 21 turnovers are the fewest in the league.
• Opponents have attempted only 15 free throws thus far in two games, the fewest in the MIAA. 

Stamina Monsters
The Jennies made a name for themselves in the fourth quarters last year and are doing so again this year. Through two games, the Jennies have allowed just 15 fourth quarter points as they've been putting teams away late in games. They also scored 21 points in the fourth quarter of their comeback win against Mary. 

Late and Close
Central Missouri was nearly unbeatable with a late lead last year, going 21-1 when holding the lead with five minutes left to play. That has continued this year with a 2-0 start. It also helps to have a coach who is good in pressure situations. For his career with the Jens, Coach Slifer is 34-23 (.596) in games decided by three points or less. 

Individual Milestones 
• Kelsey Williams surpassed 200 career points in the Jennies season opener against Mary. She also needs just seven assists and 13 rebounds for 100.
• With three more free throw attempts Sydney Crockett will hit her 100th of her career. If she knocks in all three, she will be shooting exactly 80%, 80-100.
• Morgan Fleming needs 14 more points to reach 200 for her career.
• Kayonna Lee hit her 100th career free throw last weekend. She needs 22 points and seven rebounds for 300 career.
• Sydney Skaggs is just four points away from 100 for her career with the Jennies.
• Paige Redmond needs 12 more three pointers to make the UCM all-time top-10 list in three pointers made.

Ball Security
Last year the Jennies did a tremendous job at holding onto the ball. In fact, few did it better. The Jens were fourth in Division II in turnovers per game with just 11.6. That number has been lowered through two games this season with just 21 turnovers for a 10.5 average. They are once again in the NCAA top-10 at No. 8. 

Shooters Touch
With 11 made three-pointers per game, the Jennies rank sixth in Division II, but they aren't shooting everytime down the court. The Jennies are fourth thus far in Division II in three-point percentage at 48.9% having made 22 of 45. Sydney Crockett had the hot hand in Kansas City from three going 4-for-5. Paige Redmond and Morgan Fleming each have five made three on 10 attempts and Kelsey Williams is shooting 4-for-6. Freshman Gigi McAtee is on the action as well with two triples in three attempts. 

Scouting the Opposition
William Jewell Cardinals
• William Jewell has played just one game so far this season, that came Wednesday night against another MIAA team Missouri Western. 
• The Carindals kept it close, falling 67-63. Jewell led by 34-22 at the half, but were outscored 45-29 in the second half. WJC still led by five with under five minutes to play, but two three-pointers put MWSU on top and they sealed the win going 5-6 at the free throw line in the final 30 seconds.
• The Cardinals also played an exhibition against Division I Missouri-Kansas City in the first week of November. They dropped that game 75-64. 
• Only on returning Cardinal started in more than 20 games last year. That was now-senior Katie Finn. Finn averaged 10.5 points per game in 2016-17, second best on the team and led the Cardinals shooting 41.2% from three, connecting on 63 from behind the arc. 
• Through one game this season, Sydney Offield is the team's leading scorer with 16 points. Kayla Harrell and Adriana Rodriguez both scored 11.
• William Jewell played only nine from their roster in the opening game. Finn and Offield shared the team lead with six rebounds.
• William Jewell shot the ball well connectin on 24-of-46 from the field (52.2%) and 7-of-21 from three, two coming from Harrell. They also made eight of 10 free throw attempts.
• Turnovers were the problem for William Jewell who coughed it up 24 times to Missouri Western and had only five steals. 
Player to Watch
#34 Katie Finn (5-11, F, SR, Oak Creek, Wis.) - 10.5 ppg; 63-153 (41.2%) from three in 2016

Arkansas-Fort Smith Lions
• Arkansas-Fort Smith was picked to finish second in the eight-team Heartland Conference in the preseason poll. They garnered 102 points and three first-place votes in the poll. 
• Senior forward Tayla Taylor was also chosen to the All-Heartland Conference Preseason Team. Taylor is a transfer and in her second year with the Lions. She was an All-Heartland Conference Honorable Mention selection in 2016-17 after scoring 12.2 points per game and grabbing 8.8 points per game with 31 blocks and shot 52% from the field. 
• Arkansas-Fort Smith has played three games already this season and have a 2-1 record after defeating Colorado School of Mines and Colorado Christian. The Lions lost their last game, 63-49 to Emporia State earlier in the week. 
• In their first exhibition of the season, the Lions defeated Division I Tulsa, 61-58. 
• Daijah Brown is currently the team leader with 14 points per game. Taylor is second on the team with 10.7 points and is the teams leading rebounder with 9.3 boards per game. 
• Arkansas-Fort Smith is shooting 46.4% through three games this season and 30.4% from three. They have struggled at the free throw line, shooting just 54.4%
• The Lions are forcing teams into turnovers as opponents have committed 58. They have 30 steals to their opponents 13.
• UASF can get into foul trouble as they have committed 22.3 fouls per game. 
Player to Watch
#40 Tayla Taylor (6-1, F, SR, Marlin, Texas) - Preseason All-Heartland Team