SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (March 23, 2018) - For the second time in program history, Central Missouri Jennies Basketball stands at the very top. The Jennies took down previously undefeated Ashland 66-52 to claim the title. They finished the season 30-3, the first time in program history with 30 wins.

How it Happened
• As has so often been the case this season and especially in the postseason, the Jennies defense was the spark. UCM held Ashland to a season-low 52 points as they shot just 32% (21-65) from the field and 4-21 (19%) on three pointers.
• What makes those numbers all the more impressive, is that Ashland started the game 7-7 including hitting their first two three pointers.
• The Eagles, known to press on defense, forced 21 Jennies turnovers, one shy of their season high. But UCM returned the favor, forcing 19 of their own. The Jens blocked four shots and came away with seven steals as well.
• On the offensive end, the Jennies shot 50% from the field, including a blistering 63% in the first half. The Jens hit six three-pointers, going 6-16 and were 5-11 in the second half.
• Ashland, who lived on transition offense, scored just four fast-break points while the Jennies scored 14.
• The Jennies also made a living in the paint scoring 40 points. They held nearly even in the rebounding department, 36-35. 
• As Ashland started out 7-7 from the floor, they took a 16-6 lead four-and-a-half minutes into the game.
• The Jennies finally got into the swing of things and scored nine straight to get to within one, 16-15. A layup and a pair of free throws for Ashland in the final 90 seconds gave the Eagles a five-point lead, 20-15 after the first quarter.
• The Eagles scored on their first possession of the second quarter, and then went nearly six minutes without scoring. In that time, UCM got back-to-back fast break layups from Kayonna Lee and Paige Redmond and took their first lead, 23-22. They made that lead hold up as the Jennies never trailed again, keeping that lead for the final 25:37 of the game.
• UCM pushed the lead to eight, 35-27, but Ashland chipped away in the final 42 seconds, knocking in a pair of layups to cut the lead to four, 35-31.
• A hard-fought third-quarter saw the Jennies withstand a run from the Eagles. Jodi Johnson hit on two free-throws and the lead was down to two, 46-44, with 2:23 left in the third. Paige Redmond answered with a big three with just under 90 seconds to play in the period and UCM led by five, 49-44 heading into the final frame.
• Ten minutes away from a national championship, the Jennies relied on their defense and they were not let down. The high-powered Eagles offense scored just nine points and were held scoreless for the first 3:31 of the period. 
• On two occasions, the Eagles got to within three, the latest on a layup with 2:21 left to play. That's when Megan Skaggs took over. She scored seven straight points in 1:10 while the Eagles went 0-6 the rest of the way. 

It Was Over When...
• Clinging to a three-point lead, Megan Skaggs made sure to ice the game herself. She started her seven points in 70 seconds with a layup around a defender. She nailed a dagger of a three-pointer on the Jennies next possession and in the final seconds, cruised in for a fastbreak layup off of a defensive rebound. 

Jennies Stat Leaders
• Paige Redmond led three Jennies in double figures with a game-high 22 points. She was 8-13 from the floor and 4-7 from three. 
• Kayonna Lee scored eight points and grabbed 11 rebounds. The senior also blocked three shots and had a steal.
• Megan Skaggs put up 13 points on 6-9 shooting. She also dished out four assists.
• Morgan Fleming chipped in with eight points and season-high nine rebounds.
• Kelsey Williams was 3-6 for 11 points and dished out a game-high five assists. She also grabbed three rebounds and had two steals.

For the Eagles
• Laina Snyder scored a game-high 16 points and was 8-20 shooting. She also pulled down nine rebounds and had four steals.
• Renee Stimpert added 10 points and knocked in a pair of three-pointers. She also dished out seven assists.
• WBCA Player of the Year Jodi Johnson was held to just six points on 1-7 shooting. She did pull down a game-high 12 rebounds.
• Maddie Dackin and Brooke Smith also chipped in with six points.

Quotables
Dave Slifer
Opening statement:
"I am extremely proud of our group.  Obviously, our goal was to control the pace of play.  Kelsey (Williams) did a wonderful job of making sure that has low possessions and defensively I thought we were just outstanding.  It was good that we switched to my boss's favorite defense zone, but our kids played it extremely well.  I am stunned, this is surreal right now.  I heard Coach (Kim) Anderson (former head men's basketball coach at UCM) say when he won a national championship (2014), 'my dad got to see it'.  My mom and dad got to come here today and see it and it's amazing."
 
Closing statements on the team:
"They trust each other and they're able to talk to each other.  There is not constant bickering that happens on some teams and just maturity."

#20 Megan Skaggs
On her mentality:
"Well our mentality throughout the year and throughout the game was refuse to lose.  I think that really showed in the last two minutes especially for me because that is when I decided to turn it on."
 
On what they needed to do against Laina Snyder:
"We knew she was a key player for them and one of our main goals was to rebound.  We knew this was going to be a defensive game and whoever won the rebounding war would probably win in the end." 
 
#13 Kelsey Williams
On breaking the press:
"I've done better. Tonight, I just got frustrated a little bit in the first, but coach and my team have had my back all year.  They believed in me and stood behind me through turnover after turnover.  I couldn't be more happy and proud of the team I have."
 
On being named all tournament team:
"It's something incredible.  I feel like I left it all out there.  These last two years with these girls have been nothing but everything that I have ever dreamed of.  Life couldn't be better right now."
 
#00 Paige Redmond
On being named all tournament team:
"It's a pretty big honor, but winning a national championship with my teammates is so much better."
 
On if winning a national championship was possible:
"After our first game of regionals is when I knew we were all in.  We lost the first round of the conference tournament.  I think we needed to.  So that's the best thing that happened to us all season."

News and Notes
• The Jennies win is their second national championship in school history.
• This is the first time in school history UCM has won 30 games in a season.
• The Jennies snapped Ashland's NCAA Division II record 73 game winning streak.
• Central Missouri finished the season 17-1 away from home. There were a perfect 10-0 in road games and 7-1 at neutral sites.
• Paige Redmond went over 1,200 career points. The junior now has 1,221 points which is 18th in school history.
• Following the game, Redmond was named the Elite Eight Most Valuable Player. Kelsey Williams was also chosen to the All-Tournament Team.