WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Jan. 4, 2018) - No. 11 Central Missouri Jennies Basketball got 2018 started with a bang with a 71-51 win over Fort Hays State. Three Jennies scored in double-figures as UCM improves to 10-1 on the season and 4-0 in the MIAA and are winners of seven straight.
How it Happened
• The Jennies used a big first quarter, scoring 29 points, to jump on top and never looked back. They lead 29-15 after the first frame and led by double-figures for 32:05 of the game.
• Fort Hays State boasted the best defense in the MIAA entering the game, allowing just 52.3 points per game and opponents to shoot 33.3% from the field. The Jennies put up 71 points on the Tigers, the most they've allowed all season, and shot 50.8% (30-59) for the night.
• During that red-hot first quarter, the Jennies shot 61.9% (13-21) and were 3-4 from beyond the arc.
• UCM forced the normally sure-handed Tigers into 18 turnovers, while committing just nine themselves, less than half of what Hays opponents have averaged for the season. The Jens turned those 18 turnovers into 27 points.
• The Tigers claimed the rebounding edge, 35-28, but UCM still made their presence felt under the basket, scoring 32 points in the paint to the Tigers 24.
• After the Jennies got out to their largest lead of the first half, 36-18, the Tigers closed the first on a 9-3 run and UCM led by 12, 39-27, at the break.
• The Jennies needed to go to their bench to get some help early in the first half as both
Megan Skaggs and
Morgan Fleming picked up two early fouls. Fleming played only seven of the first 20 minutes while Skaggs played 11. That wasn't an issue though as the Jennies bench came through with 12 first-half points.
• The two teams matched buckets in the third quarter and the Jens maintained their 12-point lead into the final frame.
• Central Missouri was able to pull away in the middle of the fourth, thanks to a 10-0 run during which
Kayonna Lee hit four free throws and
Megan Skaggs knocked in a pair of layups off
Morgan Fleming assists.
• For the third time this season, the Jennies reached 20 assists in a game, getting assists on 20 of 30 made field goals.
It Was Over When
• With the lead still hovering around 12 early in the fourth quarter, the Jennies weren't out of the water just yet. Skaggs pushed the Jens lead to 20 for the first time, 60-40, with a layup off a pass from Fleming and killed any Tiger hopes at a comeback.
Jennies Stat Leaders
•
Paige Redmond was the game's leading scorer with 17 points, including three three-pointers. She also had four assists and a steal.
• Skaggs was nearly perfect going 7-9 for a season-high 14 points. She also played a big role on defense with four steals and a block.
• Fleming was the only other Jennies to reach 10 points, scoring 11 on 5-9 shooting with a three pointer.
•
Kayonna Lee did a little bit of everything scoring eight points and collecting a team-high nine rebounds. She also had a block, a steal, and tied a career-high with five assists.
• Productive 14 minutes for
Jolene Shipps. She scored eight points going 4-10 and grabbed six rebounds. That's the most points she's scoring in the last six games and most rebounds in the last eight.
•
Kelsey Williams also dished out five assists and had four points and two rebounds.
For the Tigers
• Kacey Kennett led the team scoring 13 points. She was the only one in double-figures.
• Tatyana Legette scored six and had team-bests in rebounds, seven, and assists, four.
• Taylor Rolfs scored nine points and Carly Heim added eight. They combined for three of the Tigers four three-pointers. Heim also had three steals.
News and Notes
• UCM snapped a five-game losing streak to the Tigers with the win.
• Two Jennies reached some round numbers in points.
Megan Skaggs scored career point number 400 and
Morgan Fleming reached 300.
• Redmond's three triples tie a season-best and are the most in a game for her since November 28. After a bit of a cold-spell where she went 1-9 behind the arc over the course of three games, she's hit 5-9 in her last two.
• The Jennies snapped another streak with the win, one of Fort Hays'. This is the first time the Tigers have lost by 20 or more points since 2013, a span of 132 games. The last time it happened was back on Dec. 5, 2013, and was also against the Jennies at the Multi.
• Central Missouri is now 4-0 to start the MIAA season. It is the first time they've won their first four conference games since the 2013-14 season.
Up Next
• Central Missouri remains at home to take on Nebraska-Kearney, Saturday at 1:30 pm. The Lopers are 11-2 and 3-2 in the MIAA after defeating Southwest Baptist in Bolivar Thursday night.
