Jennies Move On to Regional Semifinals

HAYS, Kan. (March 15, 2019) - Central Missouri Jennies Basketball used a huge third quarter to overcome a four-point halftime deficit in their 76-64 win in the NCAA Central Region Quarterfinals over Lindenwood. The win pushes the Jennies to tomorrow's regional semifinals for the third straight season.

How it Happened
• Both teams shot the ball exceptionally well with UCM holding a 59%-48% edge. The Jennies also hit two more three-pointers going 6-16 while the Lions were 4-16.
• Central Missouri won the battle on the boards with the best rebounding team in the MIAA, 29-23. Lindenwood scored 42 points in the paint, but UCM held their own with 36.
• The Jennies drew 18 fouls and went to the free throw line 25 times. They scored 10 more points at the free throw line than the Lions, 18-8.
• Both teams turned the ball over 12 times.
• The game featured five ties and 10 lead changes.
• A back-and-forth first quarter started with Morgan Fleming and Megan Skaggs each knocking in layups. They had a 4-0 and forced a Lion timeout less than three minutes into the game.
• That four-point lead was the largest of the period for UCM and Lindenwood rebounded with a four-point lead of their own, 20-16 with less than 90 seconds to play. Skaggs put in two free throws and after 10 minutes the Lions led 20-18.
• Lindenwood doubled their lead at halftime in another close quarter of action. The Jennies regained a four-point lead, 24-20 as Crockett splashed two three's to start the second. 
• The Jennies were still head by four, 30-26, with less than five minutes to play when Lindenwood closed the half on a 13-5 run, hitting on 6-7 from the field. The Lions were 8-12 from the field in the second and led 39-35 at the half.
• The third quarter is when UCM took over. The Lions gained their largest lead, 43-37, at the 8:37 mark before UCM made their run. Four straight free throws from Morgan Fleming tied and then gave the Jennies the lead. 
• With the game tied at 45-all, the Jennies hit four straight three pointers. Sydney Crockett started the stretch and hit two of the four. Megan Skaggs chipped in and Emilie Jobst made it a nine point lead, 57-48, knocking one in right in front of the Jennies bench.
• In all, the Jennies scored 26 third quarter points and took a seven point lead, 61-54 into the fourth. 
• In the fourth, the Jennies took their first double-digit lead of the game helped out by an 8-0 run. Skaggs scored six straight and Paige Redmond made it a 15 point game, 71-56, with 7:09 to play.
• Lindenwood cut it to 10 on a couple of occasions, but never could bring the lead back into single digits and the Jennies walked off with a 76-64 quarterfinal round win.

It Was Over When...
• Lindenwood had just brought the 15 point lead, down to 10 with 4:28 left. The Jennies had the ball with the shot clock winding down and Paige Redmond hit a leaner inside the paint and drew a foul. She sunk the free throw for a three-point play and put the Jennies back up 13, 74-61 with less than four minutes to play.

Jennies Stat Leaders
• Megan Skaggs scored a game-high 25 points and was 9-10 from the floor. She was a rebound shy of a double-double with nine boards and poked away four steals.
• Morgan Fleming chipped in with 21 points, 11 coming at the free throw line. She had four boards and five assists.
• Sydney Crockett was a weapon from three going 4-5 from deep. She scored 14.
• Peyton Taylor was 4-7 and scored eight points.
• Paige Redmond had a quiet day with five points, four rebounds and four assists.

For the Lions
• Kallie Bildner scored 17 points going 7-7 from the floor. 
• Lindsay Medlen and Sara Ross each scored 13.
• Lexie Moe pulled down eight rebounds and dished out three assists. 
• Charisse Williams and Kylie Ferguson each had seven points.

News and Notes
• Megan Skaggs moved into the Jennies all-time top 20 in scoring.
• Sydney Crockett moved into sole possession of sixth all-time in three-pointers made.
• The Jennies 59.1% field goal percentage is their highest this season. 
• The Jennies went 4-0 against Lindenwood this season. Their first time winning four against a single opponent under Coach Slifer.
• For the second straight game against the Lions, the Jennies trailed at the half, only to have a big third quarter. In the MIAA semifinal round they outscored the Lions 22-11 in the third and this time outscored them 26-15.
• This is the third straight season UCM has won an NCAA game. The last time that happened they won at least one game for eight straight years from 1983-1990. 
• This is the third time this season Lindenwood was outrebounded in a game and the second time against the Jennies.

Up Next
• The Jennies will take on the winner of No. 2 Southwestern Oklahoma and No. 7 Emporia State tomorrow evening at 5 p.m.