WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Nov. 20, 2017) - Central Missouri Jennies Basketball is back in action Tuesday for an early afternoon matinee. 

Opponent: Evangel Crusaders (1-5)

When: Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017 - 11:30 a.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. 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 two weeks ago in Kansas City. 
• The Jennies suffered their first loss of the season, a tough 77-76 decision Sunday to Arkansas-Fort Smith at the Central Missouri Classic. They defeated William Jewell 66-56 on Saturday.
• 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. The latest Central Region media poll has the Jennies at No. 4. National Coaches and Media polls will be released later Tuesday afternoon. 

Story Lines
• Central Missouri is 13-0 lifetime against in-state rival, Evangel. The two teams haven't met since the 2013-14 season.
• The Jennies are currently in the middle of a six game homestand. They've started out 1-1 with their games last weekend. The homestand will also see them play Harris-Stowe following Thanksgiving and Northwest Missouri and Missouri Western to start out conference play. 

Quick Hits
Last Time Out
The Jennies came all the way back from down 18 to take a one-point lead against Arkansas-Fort Smith, but the Lions shooting was too hot for the Jennies and they held on for a one-point win, 77-76. One day earlier, Central Missouri led wire-to-wire in a 66-56 win against William Jewell. Paige Redmond led the Jennies in scoring in both games. 

Previously vs. Evangel
The Jennies last played Evangel in 2013-14, coming out on top 93-47. There are no current Jennies who played on that team. Four Jens scored 10+ points led by Keuna Flax's 19. 

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 on Tuesday afternoon. 

Around the MIAA
• Nine teams have at least three wins already this season and seven are still undefeated with another two at 3-1. 
• 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 8.8 rebounds per game Kayonna Lee is eighth in the MIAA.
• Morgan Fleming and Paige Redmond are tied for 10th in points per game at 15.0
• Opponents are shooting 38.6% from three against UCM, the highest in the league. Arkansas-Fort Smith shot 60% from three on Sunday, the first time since 2009 a UCM opponent shot 60% from beyond the arc. 

Rare Loss
Jennies Coach Dave Slifer has now played in 15 one-point game in his career at UCM and his loss Sunday to Arkansas-Fort Smith was just the fifth he has suffered. 

Individual Milestones 
• Kelsey Williams surpassed 200 career points in the Jennies season opener against Mary and went over 100 assists against Arkansas-Fort Smith. Next up is 100 rebounds, of which she is nine shy. 
• 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.
• Kayonna Lee grabbed her 100th career rebound last weekend and needs just seven more points for 300. 
• Sydney Skaggs is just four points away from 100 for her career with the Jennies.
• Paige Redmond needs eight more three pointers to make the UCM all-time top-10 list in three pointers made.

Ball Security
It was an up and down weekend for the Jennies in terms of turnovers. Entering the weekend as one of the best in Division II, UCM turned it over 22 times in a win against William Jewell. The sloppy play continued to start against Arkansas-Fort Smith, as they committed four turnovers in the first 2:30 of the game. Things did get better as the Jens turned it over just two more times in the final 47:30 of the game

Staying Clean
Opponents have taken just 48 free throw attempts against the Jennies and for good reason. The Jennies are committing just 13.0 fouls per game which is the best in the MIAA and the sixth-best in the NCAA.

Block Party
Central Missouri hasn't had much to brag about recently when it comes to blocks, but they saw their blocking numbers rise big time last weekend. The Jennies blocked five William Jewell shots, getting a career-best three from Morgan Fleming and two from Kayonna Lee. Lee doubled up with another two block effort against Arkansas-Fort Smith and UCM blocked two shots. 

Table for Three
Central Missouri leads the MIAA in both three point field goals taken with 125 and three pointers made with 40. Paige Redmond (9-17) and Sydney Crockett (8-14) have been the leaders of the three-point barrage with 17 of the 40. Morgan Fleming has seven and Kelsey Williams has added five. 

Scouting the Opposition
Evangel Crusaders
• Evangel has played six games already this month, comprising a 1-5 record. The lone win came in their first game, a 77-63 win over Stephens College. 
• The Crusaders are averaging 65.7 points per game while allowing close to 80 points, 79.2 points per game. 
• Evangel is led by junior Sydnee Garrett. Garrett is both a high school and North Arkansas teammate of current Jennie Jolene Shipps. Garrett is the reigning Heart of America Conference Player of the Week. She is scoring 21.3 points per game so far this season and also grabbing 10.2 rebounds per game. She already has three games this season with 25+ points and four double-doubles. 
• The only other Crusader with more than 10 points per game is Alison Jarrell who is scoring 12.7 points. Jarrell has done damage from three hitting 3.3 per game and shooting 43.5%. 
• Paige Patterson has nearly match Garrett on the glass with 8.3 rebounds per game, including 3.7 on the offensive end. 
• Turnovers have been an issue for the Crusaders, they commit 18.5 per game while only forcing 6.8 steals per game. 
• Most of the Crusaders work comes from inside thanks to Garrett at forward. They shoot 38% overall but can kick it out and shoot 33% from three. They are also connecting on 80.2% of their free throw going 105-131 thus far at the charity stripe. 
• EU stays out of foul trouble, committing just 13.2 fouls per game while opponents are at 20.8 per game. 
Player to Watch
#20 Sydnee Garrett (5-11, F, JR, Stockton, Mo.) - Heart of America Player of the Week