Jennies Return to Action This Weekend with MIAA Doubleheaders

WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Jan. 3, 2017) - No. 11 Central Missouri Jennies Basketball rolls into 2018 with a pair of MIAA doubleheaders this week.

Opponents: Fort Hays State Tigers (11-2, 2-2 MIAA)
                    Nebraska-Kearney (10-2, 2-2 MIAA) 

When: Thursday, Saturday, Feb. 4, 6
            Fort Hays State: Thursday, Feb. 4 - 5:30 pm
            Nebraska-Kearney: Saturday, Feb. 6 - 1:30 pm

Where: Warrensburg, Mo. - UCM Multipurpose Building

On the Air
• 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 Tuesday's game on UCM's Internet Blueframe portal and is available on TV streaming devices.

Tip Off
• Central Missouri Jennies Basketball returns to action for the first time since Dec. 19 with a pair of MIAA games at home against Fort Hays State and Nebraska-Kearney
• Central Missouri has won six straight games and are 3-0 to start MIAA play
• The Jennies are ranked 11th by the WBCA in this week's poll and moved to 12th in the D2SIDA Media Poll.  
• UCM is 13-12 all-time against Fort Hays State and 8-3 in Warrensburg. The Tigers have won the last five games between the two, with four by 10 points or less.
• Against the Lopers, UCM is 5-1 all time including a 2-0 mark in Warrensburg. The last time UNK traveled to to Warrensburg was back in December of 2015. 

Quick Hits
Last Time Out
The Jennies headed into the New Year with their sixth straight win, defeating Rockhurst 79-53 back on December 19. Four Jennies scored in double-figures led by Kelsey Williams and Paige Redmond's 16. The Jennies defense was on full display, allowing just 13 combined points in the second and third quarters. 

Previously vs. Fort Hays State/Nebraska-Kearney
The Jennies met the Tigers and Lopers just once last year, the opening week of the 2017 calendar year. It was memorable, but for the wrong reasons. The Jennies lost to Fort Hays State 69-59 to snap a 10-game winning streak and Head Coach Dave Slifer was ejected with 54 seconds remaining. The Jens bounced back to defeat Nebraska-Kearney 73-58, but lost then-freshman Morgan Fleming for the season due to a leg injury sustained during the game. 

Jennies in the Rankings
Central Missouri remained idle on the court and held strong to the No. 11 spot in the WBCA rankings for the second straight week. They did though jump up two spots in the D2 Media poll to No. 12, their highest ranking in that poll of the season. D2SIDA also conducts weekly regional rankings, which sees the Jennies ranked second in the Central Region, which consists of teams from the MIAA, Northern Sun and Great American Conferences. 

Jennies at Home
Central Missouri is off to a 6-1 start at home this season, including wins in their last five straight. Of UCM's 10 games, seven have come at home and the next two will also be held in Warrensburg with the Tigers and Lopers coming to town. 

Around the MIAA
• Every team in the MIAA has now played either three or four conference games. Central Missouri (3-0) and Washburn (4-0) are the only two unbeatens remaining in conference. Three teams stand at 3-1, Central Oklahoma, Missouri Western and Emporia State. There are 10 teams in the league currently at .500 or better. 
• Kayonna Lee is proving to be a defensive force. She's third in the league in rebounds with 9.5 per game. She is also in the top 10 in blocks per game at 1.6, which is tied for fourth and steals per game with 1.8 which is tied for ninth. She is the only player in the league to be in the top-10 in all three categories. 
• The Jennies have been sharing the ball around, averaging 15.7 assists per game, second most in the MIAA. UCM is the only team with two in the top-10 in assists per game. Paige Redmond overtook the team lead with 34 helpers, and her 3.4 assists per game are tied for fourth in the MIAA. Kelsey Williams is right behind her with 3.3 assists per game, which is sixth. Williams' 1.9-1 assist-to-turnover ratio is fourth in the MIAA, while Redmond is seventh at 1.4-1. 

Individual Milestones 
• Paige Redmond needs two more three pointers to make the UCM all-time top-10 list in three pointers made and eight to reach 100 for her career. She surpassed 200 career assists in her last game against Rockhurst.
• Sydney Skaggs secured her 100th career rebound against Rockhurst. 
• Megan Skaggs is 12 points away from 400.
• Morgan Fleming needs six points to reach 300 and just 11 more rebounds for 100 in her career.
• Peyton Taylor needs 11 more points until she reaches 100. 

Keep Your Hands to Yourself
Central Missouri is the best in the league at keeping their hands off opponents. The Jennies 143 personal fouls against are the fewest in the league and are fifth in the NCAA. As a result, opponents have taken just 122 free throw attempts, the second fewest in the MIAA. The Jennies have scored 57 more points than opponents at the free throw line. 

Crash the Boards
At first glance, the Jennies 38.2 rebounds per game may not seem like much. In fact it's ninth in the MIAA. But they move up to sixth in rebounding margin at +6.3. The reason being is they are one of only two teams surrendering fewer than 32 rebounds to opponents this season at 31.9. UCM games on average contain just 70.1 rebounds per game, the second fewest in the MIAA.

Closing out Games
The Jennies excellent defense seems to get even better at the end of games. While the Jennies' opponents are shooting just .365 overall, that number decreases down to .315 in the final five minutes of regulation. They also see a clamp-down in three-point percentage, going down from .294 overall to .242 in the game's final minutes. For their part, the Jennies are closing out games at the free throw line, going 24-34 down the stretch, led by Kayonna Lee who is 10-14. 

Scouting the Opposition
Fort Hays State Tigers (11-2, 2-2 MIAA) 
• It has been almost a month since Fort Hays State has played an MIAA game, during that time they are 4-0 with three wins against non Division-II teams. 
• Both of the Tigers losses have come in MIAA road games at Washburn and at Emporia State. They are 11-2 overall and 2-2 in the MIAA. They defeated Missouri Southern and Pittsburg State in Hays for their two conference wins. 
• Defense is the name of the game for the Tigers. They lead the MIAA and are seventh in Division II in points allowed with just 52.3 per game. Their 33.3% field goal percentage defense is also best in the league and ninth in D2. 
• The Tigers also lead the MIAA in blocked shots with 68 and fewest turnovers at 12.2. Both of those marks are ninth in Division II. Emma Stroyan leads the team with 24 blocks, 2nd in the MIAA. 
• Offensively, seven different Tigers have picked up a game-high points. Tatyana Legette leads the team with 13.8 points per game and her .611 field goal percentage is fourth in the MIAA. She also leads the team pulling down 8.2 rebounds per game and has a team-best 34 assists. Kacey Kennett is scoring 13.0 points per game, Taylor Rolfs 10.5 and Carly Heim 10.4.
• Fort Hays has forced opponents into 236 turnovers while coming up with 142 steals of their own. They've given it away just 159 times and only have 66 steals against.
• The Tigers are a good, not great, shooting team with a .437/.308/.733 slash line. Their field goal percenteage is fourth in the MIAA, but they are just 12th in three-point percentage. 
Player to Watch
#24  Tatyana Legette (5-10, F, JR, Topeka, Kan.) - 13.8 points/game, .611 FG%, 4th in MIAA

Nebraska-Kearney Lopers (10-2, 2-2 MIAA)
• Nebraska-Kearney started the season by winning their first eight games. At 10-2 on the season, they've nearly matched their win total from a year ago when they went 12-16. Both of UNK's losses were to MIAA opponents.
• Much of the Lopers damage has been done at home and against non Division II teams. Nebraska-Kearney is 7-0 at home this season and just 1-2 in true road games. Of their 10 wins, four have come against non Division II teams, including their last two. 
• Nebraska-Kearney's points leader was Alyssa Frauendorfer, scoring 15.6 points in eight games, but she hasn't played since Dec. 2. Michaela Barry is scoring 14.9 points per game and McKenzie Brown 11.5. 
• Frauendorfer and Brown were each pulling down six rebounds per game to lead the team. The Lopers are outrebounding their opponents 41.9-34.8 this season.
• The Lopers are the least fouling team in the MIAA and their 13.3 fouls per game are fourth in Division II. Because of that, opponents have taken just 120 free throws, the fewest in the MIAA. 
• UNK themselves are a good free throw shooting team, coming in at No. 3 in the MIAA at 76%. Barry leads the team and is eighth in the MIAA shooting 85% at the line (34-40).
• Nebraska-Kearney is at the bottom of the league in blocked shots with 25. They've also allowed almost four blocked shots per game. Barry and Brown each have five blocks to lead UNK. 
• The Lopers are allowing just 27.3% of three point attempts against to fall which is the fourth-best mark in the MIAA and their own 44.6% from the field is third in the league and 30th in Division II. 
Player to Watch
#5  Michaela Barry (5-7, G, JR, Battle Creek, Neb.) - 14.9 points per game, .411/.362/.850