Jennies Let Lead Slip Late in Loss to Hornets

WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Feb. 9, 2019) - Things were seemingly in control for No. 20 Central Missouri Jennies Basketball, until they weren't. UCM, which had led for much of the game, faded in the fourth quarter of their 65-62 loss to Emporia State, dropping them to 16-5 this season and 9-4 in the MIAA.

How it Happened
• Neither team was able to reach 40% shooting for the game. UCM outshot the Hornets 38%-34%.
• Emporia State took the rebounding battle by three, 40-37 with 11 offensive rebounds and a 9-5 edge in second chance points.
• One key factor was turnovers. Emporia State is one of the best at forcing them and showed why as the Jens gave it up 20 times and ESU came away with 13 steals.
• Emporia State is not one of the better free-throw shooting teams in the MIAA but was today, hitting 16-of-19 at the line. 
• Both teams were a mess to start shooting a combined 5-27. After 10 minutes, UCM led by one, 8-7.
• Moving to the second, Emporia State took the lead right back with a jumper from Emily Miller just eight seconds in. Paige Redmond answered with a three 10 seconds later and gave the Jennies the lead and they didn't trail the rest of the half.
• Megan Skaggs pushed things along scoring eight straight UCM points during one stretch. Her second three-pointer put the Jens up 23-17.
• That Skaggs three started a 3:55 scoreless drought for both teams. The half ended with the Jennies up four, 25-21, following a Morgan VanHyfte layup sandwiched between two Tyra Jones layups.
• The Jennies pushed the pace in the second half, starting out on a 17-6 run, taking a 42-27 lead with 3:22 left in the third. 
• Still trailing by 15 with less than three minutes to play, Emporia flipped the switch. They closed the period on a 12-4 run forcing three turnovers and trailed by just seven, 48-41, with 10 minutes left to play.
• Midway through the final frame, Emporia State tied the game at 55-all on a Jessica Wayne jumper. That started a 7-0 run for the Hornets who took the lead and never gave it back.
• An old-fashioned three-point play from Megan Skaggs with 1:04 left brought UCM within one, 63-62. UCM had a chance to take the lead after and ESU turnover, but lost the ball themselves, giving it back with 36 seconds left. A foul put Tyra Jones to the line where she sank two and the Jennies couldn't get a good look to tie and the Hornets snuck away with a win.

It Was Over When...
• The Jennies had 16 seconds left after Tyra Jones made it a three-point game, but were never able to get a good look at a three and Redmond's long heave fell short as time expired.

Jennies Stat Leaders
• Megan Skaggs scored a game-high 24 points with six rebounds.
• Paige Redmond drained three triples and scored 15 with five assists.
• Morgan Fleming scored 14 with a team-best eight boards.

For the Hornets
• Tyra Jones led the way with a 17-point, 13-rebound double-double.
• Jessica Wayne also scored 17 with five boards, three assists and three steals.
• Emily Miller was in double-figures with 14 points.

News and Notes.
• The loss snaps a six-game Jennies winning streak, their longest this season.
• The 15-point lead is the largest they've lost this season.
• This is the third time this season UCM has turned the ball over 20 or more times. They are 0-3 in those games.
• UCM has not played in many close games. This was just their third decided by three or fewer and UCM is now 2-1 this season and 36-25 under Coach Slifer.

Up Next
•  The Jennies will look to rebound next Wednesday, Feb. 13 when they take on Northwest Missouri on the road in Maryville, Mo. with a 5:30 p.m. start.