WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Nov. 24, 2020) - The Jennies freshmen made their presence felt immediately in UCM's season opening win, 78-52, over Missouri Southern. Six Jennies newcomers took the floor and combined for 41 of the 78 team points and made five three-point baskets.
How it Happened
• The Jennies led for almost the entire game, 37:32, only trailing for eight seconds.
• UCM took a lot of shots, 75 of them, and hit on 35% from the field and 30% from three.
• The defense played a stout game as the Lions shot just 29% from the field and 27% from behind the arc. UCM also outrebounded the Lions 53-37 and blocked nine shots.
• The Jens took advantage of 18 Lion turnovers and scored 18 points of them.
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Morgan VanHyfte got the scoring started with a layup on UCM's first possession. She also tied the game at four, scoring the Jens first four points. Late in the period is when UCM took over. Leading 11-7 with just over three minutes left to play, the Jennies went on an 11-0 run, going up by 15, 22-7 with less than a minute left in the quarter.
Madison Cook had a three-point play, and
Nija Collier and
Charley Bovaird each buried one from behind the arc.
• The Jennies started out just as hot in quarter number two getting a three from
Brooke Littrell. The Lions cut the lead down to eight, but UCM was able to respond.
Olivia Nelson hit a jumper and
Gigi McAtee sunk a three before the half, giving UCM a 36-24 lead at the break.
• After MSSU scored the first two points in the third, the Jennies went on a 12-0, capped off by a
Kade Hackerott three and led by 22, 48-26. All 12 points in the stretch were scored by freshmen, Hackerott, Nelson and Littrell. From that point on it was all Jennies as they were able to run out the clock. All 11 Jennies who dressed got into the game and 10 scored.
It Was Over When...
• The Jennies turned a ten-point lead into a 22-point lead midway through the third quarter. The freshmen led the charge as Nelson scored five points, Littrell four and Hackerott three in a 12-0 run.
Jennies Stat Leaders
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Nija Collier led all scorers with 18 points. She hit three three pointers and fell a rebound shy of a double-double. The reigning MIAA Defensive Player of the Year also picked up four steals and two blocks.
• In her first game,
Olivia Nelson scored 16 points on 6-12 shooting. She also passed out three assists and came up with two steals.
• Also in her first game,
Brooke Littrell recorded her first career double-double with 13 points and 10 boards. She scored six at the free throw line.
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Morgan VanHyfte did a little bit of everything. She scored seven points and grabbed six rebounds to go along with three assists, three steals and three blocks.
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Kade Hackerott also scored seven with four rebounds and two assists.
For the Lions
• Kaitlin Hunnicutt came off the bench to lead MSSU with 14 points and five rebounds.
• Madi Stokes scored seven and led the team with nine rebounds and four blocked shots.
• Carley Turnbull was 5-12 and added 13 points.
News and Notes
• UCM's defense didn't miss a beat. Last year they held 19 of 31 opponents below 60 points and started out the season the same way as the Lions scored just 52.
• This was the eighth straight win for the Jennies over the Lions.
• The Jennies have now won five straight conference openers. They are 12-5 all-time under Coach Slifer in season openers and 11-6 in MIAA openers.
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Madisyn Pense scored a career-high five points going 2-2 off the bench with a layup and a three.
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Morgan VanHyfte matched a career-best with three blocks and
Madison Cook's six rebounds also tie a career-high.
• It took one game for the Jennies to grab more rebounds than they did all of last season. The Jennies pulled down 53 in game one after a season-high of 50 in 31 games last year. Their 75 field goal attempts also bested their high last year of 71. Both of last year's highs also came in the same game against Avila.
Up Next
• Central Missouri is home again Saturday, Nov. 28 to take on Pittsburg State. Tip off is scheduled for 1 p.m.
