Jennies Basketball Advances to Regional Semis with Win Over MSU-Moorhead

SEARCY, Ark. (March 10, 2017) - A stifling defense set the pace for Central Missouri from the get-go as they willed their way to a 56-45 win over No. 17 and third-seeded Minnesota State-Moorhead in the Central Region Quarterfinals. Three Jennies scored in double-figures and a 21-point fourth quarter put the game away for UCM as they now advance to face Harding in the Regional Semifinals.

The win is the Jennies first in the NCAA since the 2013-14 season. It moves them to 21-19 all-time in NCAA games. It is also the third time in the last five years that the No. 6 seed in the region has upset the No. 3 seed.

The game started out well for UCM as they took a 7-2 lead at the first media time out. Megan Skaggs hit a three and Ashley Duffy knocked in two layups. Skaggs led all of UCM scoring 17 points, while Duffy added 16. The 17 points were the most Skaggs had scored since Feb. 18 against Lindenwood.

Things slowed down with neither team scoring in the final 1:29 and the Jens were shutout in the final 2:23 of the quarter. After one, UCM held a slim 10-9 lead.

The lead didn't last long though and Moorhead had their most proficient quarter of the game, scoring 13 points on 6-for-14 shooting. A free throw with 3:16 left put MSU-M up six, 20-14, their largest lead of the game. A pair of free throws from both Kayonna Lee and Sydney Skaggs along with a basket from Kelsey Williams tied things with 35 seconds to play. The Dragons though claimed a two point lead at the break, 22-20, with a jumper from Drew Sannes. 

Though the Jennies weren't hitting shots, just 7-for-30 in the first half, their defense kept them in the game. The Dragons went 0-8 from three in the half and turned the ball over 10 times.

An energized Jennies team came out firing on all cylinders in the second half, scoring the first 14 points of the half. The Dragons didn't score a single point for almost the first seven minutes of the period. As quickly as UCM started though, they fell into a scoring drought, scoring just one point over the final 4:32 and didn't hit a field goal for the final 4:58. That allowed the Dragons to fight their way back, ending the quarter on a 10-1 run and trailed by just three, 35-32, with ten minutes left to play. 

That didn't scare UCM though, who brought the lead right back to six with a three from Duffy at the 9:10 mark. As they have all season long, the Jennies proved to be the stamina monsters, saving their best for last. The Jens scored 21 points in the fourth and outrebounded the Dragons 12-9, the only quarter they won the rebounding edge. 

A brief run cut the lead back down to two, but free throws from Paige Redmond and a coast-to-coast steal and scored from Duffy brought the lead right back to six with 6:28 left to play.

The Dragons couldn't get back to within one possession the rest of the way and UCM hit three field goals and three free throws in the final 4:32 to put the game away.

Moorhead entered the game with the fewest turnovers in Division II at 11.2 per game. The Jennies forced 18, the most for MSU-M this season.

Though neither team shot the ball well, UCM held a slight 31.7% to 29.8% advantage. The Jens also went 5-for-25 from behind the arc while Moorhead was held without a three-point field goal (0-for-17)

Lee picked up her ninth double-double of the season scoring 10 points and grabbing a tough 11 rebounds. Redmond added nine points with six coming in the final quarter. Duffy led the team with four assists and pulled down nine rebounds.

For the Dragons, Jacky Volkert led all scorers with 22 points. NSIC Player of the Year Drew Sannes went 7-for-15 from the field for 16 points and Cassidy Thorson grabbed nine rebounds.

The Jennies will move on to the semi-final round where they will taking on second-seeded Harding. The No. 10 Bisons are the host of the regional tournament. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in Searcy, Ark.