Jennies Basketball Picked Second in MIAA

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Oct. 9, 2019) - The 2019 Central Missouri Jennies Basketball season unofficially got underway this morning at the annual MIAA Media Day. To kick off the day's festivities, MIAA Commissioner, Mike Racy, revealed the preseason coaches and media polls. In both polls, Central Missouri garnered multiple first-place votes and were picked to finish second.

The Jennies finished last year 25-7 and made the NCAA Regional Tournament for the third straight season. Also for the third straight season, UCM won a game in the regional. Last year they went 1-1, losing to eventual national runner-up Southwestern Oklahoma State.

UCM has put together a talented roster with a number of key additions to add to their strong stable of returners. Leading the charge for the Jennies this season are seniors Morgan Fleming and Megan Skaggs who are both All-MIAA performers. UCM has six seniors on the roster. In addition to Fleming and Skaggs are Kim Crown, Emilie Jobst, Peyton Taylor and senior transfer Ellisha Davis. 

Central Missouri also brought in the Spalding Division II Junior College Player of the Year in junior transfer Nija Collier from Kansas City Kansas CC. She comes over with her KCKCC teammate, Camryn Swanson. Ryann Stearns from Texas-San Antonio is the Jennies final transfer. 

The Jennies finished second in both the MIAA Coaches and Media polls. They trailed 2018-19 champions Fort Hays State in each poll. UCM received four first-place votes and were behind FHSU by just six points in the coaches poll, 166-160. Things were just as tight in the media poll. UCM received six of 20 first-place votes and trailed the Tigers by eight, 271-263 in points.

Washburn, Pittsburg State and Emporia State made up the rest of the top-five in both polls. 

This season, Newman and Rogers State join the MIAA following the departures of Lindenwood and Southwest Baptist. 

The Jennies season starts with an exhibition Tuesday, Oct. 29 at Drake in Des Moines, Iowa. The regular season begins shortly after that in Aberdeen, S.D. UCM will take on Minnesota State-Moorhead and Northern State November 8-9.

MIAA Coaches Poll
1. Fort Hays State (10) - 166 points
2. Central Missouri (4) - 160 points
3. Washburn - 134 points
4. Pittsburg State - 131 points
5. Emporia State - 130 points
6. Nebraska Kearney - 100 points
7. Central Oklahoma - 97 points
8. Newman - 83 points
9. Missouri Southern - 67 points
10. Northwest Missouri - 64 points
11. Missouri Western - 62 points
12. Northeastern State - 37 points
13. Rogers State - 25 points
14. Lincoln - 17 points

MIAA Media Poll
1. Fort Hays State (14) - 271 points
2. Central Missouri (6) - 263 points
3. Pittsburg State - 227 points
4. Washburn - 217 points
5. Emporia State - 213 points
6. Nebraska Kearney - 161 points
7. Central Oklahoma - 160 points
8. Missouri Western - 131 points
9. Newman - 120 points
10. Missouri Southern - 109 points
11. Northwest Missouri - 84 points
12. Rogers State - 73 points
13. Northeastern State - 47 points
14. Lincoln - 23 points