Jennies Come Back From Down 14 to Upend Hornets

WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Jan. 29, 2020) - A year later and the tables have turned. Last year in this building it was the Hornets who over came a 15-point second half deficit to win. This year it was the Jennies turn. Down 14 at halftime, UCM stormed back to take a fourth quarter lead and held on for a 70-66 win. The win is the Jennies 13th in a row and moves them to 16-3 on the season, 10-0 in the MIAA.

How it Happened
• The Jennies turned up the shooting in the second half. After going 10-28 in the first, UCM went 15-30 in the second half. The Jens finished at 43.1% for the game and the Hornets 41.8%.
• Emporia sank a bunch of three's early, seven in the first half, and finished with nine to the Jennies five.
• UCM was able to overcome 17 turnovers, mostly thanks to their rebounding and second-chance opportunities. The Jennies were a +8 rebounding and outscored the Hornets 18-7 in second-chance points.
• While ESU was scoring outside the arc, the Jennies scored 38 points inside the paint. 
• The Jens also converted at the free throw line going 15-19. 
• The opening quarter started slowly with both teams playing strong defense. Just over five minutes in, the game was tied at eight-all. Emporia State made a run hitting a handful of three's to take their largest lead to that point, 22-14. Morgan VanHyfte called "glass" in the closing seconds though and banked in a three of her own, cutting the lead to 22-17 after one.
• The quarter began with the Jennies getting to within one, 25-24, thanks to a Morgan Fleming three-point play. After that though, the Hornets scored 11 straight to go on top by 12, 36-24. UCM got back to within 10, 40-30, but at the half Emporia State led by 14, 44-30. 
• Central Missouri started their comeback in the third quarter. The Jens scored the first six points in the frame and a three-point play from Nija Collier got UCM within five, 51-46. The Jennies stepped up the defensive effort allowing just nine points in the quarter and went into the fourth down five, 53-48.
• After hitting just one three-pointer in the first three quarters, the Jens lit it up from behind the arc in the fourth knocking down four threes.  Ellisha Davis started it off, tying the game at 53-all. After ESU scored five straight, the Jens went on an 8-2 run, culminating in a three from Gigi McAtee for a 63-62 lead, their first since the 4:25 mark in the first quarter.
• An ESU basket put the Hornets back on top, 64-63, but Megan Skaggs buried a three for a 66-64 lead with 3:27 to play. The Hornets tied the game with 1:15 left, but with 34 seconds to play it was Skaggs again this time taking the ball to the basket for a 68-66 Jennies lead.
• The Hornets could hold for the final shot and took a three with 11 seconds left. The rebound fell back to the Hornets, but on the layup attempt to tie, Morgan Fleming was there to draw the charge and get possession back. Forced to foul, the Hornets sent Fleming to the line where she went 2-2 to put the game out of reach.

It Was Over When...
• The Hornets sent Morgan Fleming to the line down two with 4.8 seconds left. She swished both putting the Jens up four, 70-66, to end the game.

Jennies Stat Leaders
• Nija Collier picked up a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds. She was 7-12 from the field and hit all five free throw attempts.
• Morgan Fleming matched Collier with 19 points. She pulled down nine rebounds with four assists.
• Megan Skaggs scored 11 points.
• Morgan VanHyfte added nine points and two steals. 
• Gigi McAtee and Ellisha Davis each scored five.

For the Hornets
• Tre'Zure Jobe led the Hornets with 14 points on 6-13 shooting.
• Kali Martin and Mollie Mounsey each scored 12.
• Morgan Laudan scored six with four rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks. 

News and Notes
• Megan Skaggs scored career point No. 1500. She is the ninth Jennie all-time to reach that milestone.
• Morgan Fleming moved up the all-time scoring list into 17th place.
• UCM held the Hornets to just nine points in the third quarter. It's the ninth time doing so this season. They are 8-1 in such games.
• The 66 points allowed are the most in a game this season.
• The last time UCM won 13 straight games came back in 2017-18, when they won 16 straight. 
• UCM has had a rebounding advantage in 11 straight games. 
• Nija Collier's double-double is her seventh of the season.

Up Next
• The Jennies remain home for their 50th anniversary celebration Saturday, Feb. 1 against Washburn. Game time is 1 p.m. with a special ceremony at halftime recognizing all returning alumni.