Redmond Scores 26 in 71-57 Win Over Missouri Southern

JOPLIN, Mo. (Feb. 23, 2017) - Central Missouri never trailed in their 71-57 win against Missouri Southern Thursday night in Joplin, moving to 21-5 on the season and 14-4 in the MIAA. The 14 MIAA wins ties for the third most ever in school history. Only in 1990-91 and 2013-14 have the Jennies won more than 14 conference games.

The win also means the Jennies are now 5-0 after a loss this season, and have never lost two games in a row during the regular season. 

Paige Redmond provided the offense for UCM in this one scoring 26 points, the second most in her career. She led three Jennies in double figures, Megan Skaggs scored 11 and Ashley Duffy added 10.

Central Missouri started off on fire, scoring 25 of their 71 points in the first quarter. The Jens went 8-for-13 (61.5%) from the floor and 3-for-4 from three in the frame, racing out to a double-digit lead just 6:23 into the game. A Lion jumper with two seconds left in the quarter put Missouri Southern over 10 points and the Jens led 25-11 after 10 minutes.

A Kelsey Williams jumper with 4:17 left in the second gave UCM an 18-point lead, their largest of the half, 32-14, but the Lions came back with an 11-3 run the rest of the quarter, and went into halftime trailing by 10, 35-25. 

While the Lions continued to hang around, the second half was all Redmond. She scored 17 of her 26 points in the second half, nearly half of the Jennies total over the final 20 minutes.

Every time the Lions tried to comeback, Redmond was there to slow them down. When MSSU cut the lead to 10, 39-29, Redmond took charge, drawing a pair of fouls and knocking in four free throw attempts. She later sparked a 9-1 run at the end of the third quarter after the Lions rattled off six straight points late in the frame. She capped the rally by knocking in her second three-pointer of the game, putting UCM back up 18, 56-38 with just over eight minutes left to play. 

The Jens got 21 of their 71 points at the free throw line, shooting 21-25 (84%) for the game. Redmond went 9-of-10 at the line in addition to going 7-for-12 from the field and 3-for-5 from three. 

After shooting 61.5% in the first quarter, UCM finished the game at 45.8%. The Lions went 21-for-51 for the game for 41.2%, but just 4-for-19 from three, 21.1%. 

Central Missouri forced 24 turnovers the first time these two teams met. This time the Lions cleaned things up, turning it over just 14 times, but Duffy was personally responsible for some of the thievery, coming away with four steals. 

The Jens toned it down on the three-point attempts, shooting just 15, their second-fewest of the season. Redmond hit three and Duffy was 2-for-3 from beyond the arc. Inside the three-point line the Jens went 16-for-33, 48.5% for the game.

Two Lions scored in double-digits, Chelsey Henry scored 17 and Desirea Buerge added 15 with a game-high nine rebounds. 

Saturday afternoon is the Jennies regular-season finale. They take on No. 7 Pittsburg State at the Multi with a 1:30 p.m. tip-off. Prior to the game, the Jennies will celebrate senior day, honoring their two seniors, Ashley Duffy and Andee Wahlert.