Jennies Return to MIAA Semifinals Against Emporia State

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (March 3, 2017) - Central Missouri returns to the MIAA semifinals against No. 8 and third-seeded Emporia State with a spot in the MIAA Finals at stake.

When: Saturday, March 4, 6 p.m.

Opponent: Semifinals #3 Emporia State (25-4, 15-4 MIAA)

Where: Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Mo.

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. Video is available through Central Missouri's internet portal through Stretch Internet.

Tip Off
• Central Missouri finished the regular season at 22-5 and 15-4 in the MIAA. They earned the No. 2 seed in the MIAA Tournament, finishing a game behind conference champions, PSU.
• Emporia State went 24-4 during the regular season and finished as the No. 3 seed with a 15-4 MIAA record. They defeated Fort Hays State 78-62 in the Quarterfinal Round.

Story Lines
• Central Missouri is 40-34 all-time against Emporia State, but has found success recently with three wins in their last four matches. This will be the 10th matchup between the two teams in the MIAA Tournament where the Lady Hornets are 7-2. They met three times in four years between 2010 and 2013 with ESU taking two of three, including an overtime win in 2011.  
• This marks the fifth time the Jennies have been the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament, with the last time being in 2012-13. The Jennies have never won a conference tournament as a No. 2 seed. Only six times in MIAA history has a No. 2 seed won the tournament. Emporia State has done so twice in the last three years in 2013-14 and 2014-15.
• All-time Central Missouri is 42-28 in the MIAA Tournament. They are 16-14 under coach Dave Slifer.

Quick Hits
Last Time Out
Central Missouri won their first MIAA playoff game in Kansas City since 2014-15 in the Quarterfinals against Southwest Baptist, 80-61. The Jennies scored 80 points for the first time since the last time they played SBU in December. Ashley Duffy scored a career-high 24 points and Paige Redmond added 23. The Jens used a 26-5 run in the second half to break away from the Bearcats and advance in the MIAA Playoffs. 

Previously vs. Emporia State
The Jennies defeated then seventh-ranked Emporia State in their only matchup of the season 61-56 in overtime. The Jennies have won three straight home matches against the Lady Hornets and three of four overall. The Lady Hornets held a 10 point lead in the fourth quarter and still led by five with 90 seconds left. Paige Redmond scored a pair of layups in the final minute and the UCM defense held ESU scoreless. In the overtime period, Sydney Crockett scored all nine Jennies points with a pair of threes including a four-point play. 

Jennies in the Rankings
For the sixth week, Central Missouri is ranked in the WBCA top-25. They moved up to No. 19 this week. For the second time this season, Central Missouri is ranked in the Division II Media Poll, coming in at No. 25. 

In the Central Region
Central Missouri moved up in the NCAA Regional Rankings to No. 6 this week after coming in at number eight a week ago. Northern State won the Northern Sun Tournament, earning their conference's automatic bid. The Great American Coference begins this weekend. In the quarterfinals, No. 1 Harding and No. 2 Arkansas Tech are both in the GAC semifinals. The top-eight teams make the regional. The NCAA selection show is this Sunday, March 5 at 9 p.m. CT. 

In the MIAA Tournament
The last time Central Missouri advanced to the MIAA Tournament finals was in 2013-14 where they lost to the Lady Hornets 75-71. The last time UCM won the MIAA Tournament was in 1989-90. Central Missouri was in the first nine MIAA Tournament games, winning seven, but have been in only four Championship games since 1990-91 (1996-97, 2005-06, 2009-10, 2013-14).

All-MIAA
The MIAA announced their All-Conference team's before the first round games. Central Missouri finished with three on the ballot. Paige Redmond was a unanimous selection to the First Team. She becomes the 31st Jennie to make the first team and the first sophomore or younger since Lori Nichols in 1999-2000. Redmond is fifth in the MIAA scoring 16.7 points per game and handing out 3.8 assists. Her 45.2% shooting from the field is seventh in the MIAA and 85.2% free throw percentage is fifth.

Joining Redmond are Kayonna Lee and Megan Skaggs who were named All-MIAA Honorable Mention. Lee also made the MIAA All-Defensive Team. The first Jennie since Deidra Dace in 2009-10. Skaggs is the first true freshman to earn All-MIAA accolades for UCM since Kara Fleming in 2007-08. Lee is scoring 8.4 points per game and grabbing 9.2 rebounds per game which is fourth in the MIAA. Skaggs is fourth in the MIAA in scoring for a freshman with 9.3 points per game and is shooting 50% from the floor. 

Getting Defensive
After allowing their first three opponents to all reach at least 73 points, the Jennies defense has been among the best. Central Missouri has gone 25 straight games without an opponent reaching 70 points and in 18 of those 25, teams have been held to 60 points or below. The Jennies finished the regular sesaon leading the MIAA in scoring defense in conference-only games, allowing 57.5 points against MIAA teams. The closest team, Emporia State, is allowing 59.2 points to MIAA teams. Nationally, the Jennies rank 35th in scoring defense and 31st in scoring margin at +13.4.

Whatever You Do, Don't Go Home Early
The Jennies love putting on shows in the fourth quarter. Of their 2,012 points, 520 have come in the fourth quarter, their most in any quarter, and have allowed just 356, their fewest in any quarter. That has helped them to six fourth-quarter comebacks this season, including the one at Pittsburg State. Second-Half Jennies are outscoring opponents by 261 points, 36.5-27.1. They held SBU to just 10 points in the 4th quarter of the MIAA Quarterfinals. 

Noteable Numbers
Jennies senior Ashley Duffy is just six points away from reaching 500 for her career. 
Head Coach Dave Slifer reached 250 wins at Central Missouri with UCM's quarterfinal round win against Southwest Baptist.

Scouting Report
Emporia State Lady Hornets
• Emporia State went 25-4 in the regular season and 15-4 in the MIAA for the No. 3 seed. They won 78-62 against six-seed Fort Hays State in the Quarterfinal Round.
• All of the Lady Hornets losses have come on the road this season and all have been to MIAA opponents - FHSU, UCO, UCM, MWSU. 
• ESU is the top scoring team in the MIAA, coming in at 80.1 points per game. That number is also 11th in the NCAA. Their scoring margin is third in the nation, outscoring opponents by an average of 22 points per game. 
• The Lady Hornets are one of the best defensive teams in the nation, in the NCAA top-10 in both rebounding and blocked shots. ESU leads all of Division II in rebounding margin at +14.4. They are also fourth in blocked shots per game with 5.6.  
• Emporia State is led by defending MIAA Player of the Year Kelly Moten. She's leading the team scoring 18.4 points per game which is second in the MIAA. Three other Lady Hornets are scoring more than 10 points per game. Addie Lackey averages 13.2 points, Kathryn Flott 10.4 and Kyrstie Miller 10.3.
• ESU is fourth in the MIAA in field goal percentage, third three-point percentage and secodn free throw percentage. Moten is shooting .465 from the floor. Lackey is connecting on 41.3% of her three's. 
• Seven Lady Hornets have blocked at least 10 shots this season, with three in the MIAA top-10. Miller leads the team with 36 while Moten, MIAA Defensive Player of the Year is right behind her at 34.
• Emporia State's +2.62 turnover margin in five in the MIAA. They've forced 483 turnovers while committing just 407 of their own.  
• ESU has assisted on 54.6% of their field goals. Moten leads the team having handed out 132 assists