Jennies Start Season With Exhibition at Drake

DES MOINES, Iowa (Oct. 29, 2019) - Central Missouri Jennies Basketball got their only 2019 exhibition game under their belts Tuesday night. The Jennies traveled to Des Moines, Iowa to take on perennial Missouri Valley powerhouse Drake. The Jennies kept up with the Bulldogs in the early going, but couldn't hang on in a 92-59 loss.

How it Happened
• The Bulldogs shot 56% from the floor and 47% from three while the Jennies connected on just 37% of their field goal attempts and were 6-25 from three.
• Turnovers played a big factor as UCM lost the ball 19 times while the Bulldogs just 12.
• The Jennies also committed 20 fouls to Drake's 15.
• Central Missouri did have an edge in rebounding, 35-33 and pulled down 17 offensive rebounds. 
• Drake scored big in the paint, 46-20 and on the fast break, 15-4.
• Tied early at two, Drake went on a 10-2 run to open up a 12-4 lead, but UCM got three-pointers from Morgan VanHyfte and Ryann Stearns to cut the lead down to two, 12-10. Drake hit a jumper with less than five seconds on the clock and after 10 minutes, Drake led 16-12.
• A three by Fleming tied the game at 18 early in the second period. The Jennies hung with Drake, but couldn't get a lead of their own. UCM went down six, 28-22, but Stearns and Fleming connected for three's to again tie the game at 28 with 5:31 left until the half.
• That's when Drake stepped on the gas. In the final 4:47 of the half, the Bulldogs outscored UCM 17-2 and went into the break up 15, 45-30.
• The Jennies couldn't keep up in the second half, going 0-11 from three. They did shooting 7-11 inside the arc in the third quarter as the two teams traded points to start the half. In the final six minutes though, Drake outscored UCM 16-5 and led 71-46.
• Drake made four more three-pointers in the fourth period and defeated the Jennies 92-59.

It Was Over When...
• It was a good effort by the Jennies who were tied with the Bulldogs through 15 minutes. The 17-2 stretch to end the half is where the Bulldogs took over. 

Jennies Stat Leaders
• Morgan Fleming scored 14 points on 6-12 shooting with three rebounds.
• Ryann Stearns scored 13 grabbing four boards and passing out a team-best three assists.
• Nija Collier picked up 11 points with six rebounds.
• Kim Crown grabbed a team-high eight rebounds and blocked a pair of shots.

For the Bulldogs
• Maddie Monahan went 9-11 and scored 23 points.
• Brenni Rose scored seven with a game-high nine assists.
• Sara Rhine shot 7-8 from the floor and scored 17 points with six rebounds.

News and Notes
• This is the Jennies only exhibition this season.
• UCM and Drake hadn't played since 1979.
• All 13 Jennies who suited up played in the game.

Up Next
• The regular season gets started next weekend as the Jennies head to Aberdeen, SD for the Central Region Challenge hosted by Northern State. The season opener is Friday, Nov. 8 against Minnesota State-Moorhead followed by Northern State Saturday, Nov. 9.