WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Nov. 28, 2020) - Central Missouri Jennies Basketball went 2-0 on their season-opening homestand after defeating Pittsburg State 78-61.
How it Happened
• The Jennies never trailed scoring their first basket, a three from
Nija Collier 37 seconds into the game. From that point on, UCM led until the final whistle.
• UCM dominated in the paint, scoring 44 of their 78 inside the lane. By contrast, the Gorillas scored just 14 from the post area.
• All those inside buckets helped UCM to a 54.5% shooting percentage on the day. They didn't take quite as many threes, making six of 15.
• The defense helped out as well winning the rebounding battle 38-30 and blocked six shots. PSU was held to just 31% shooting for the game and from behind the arc.
• After Collier's three got the scoring started,
Brooke Littrell made it a 5-0 game on the next possession. Leading by five, 9-4, the Jennies went on a 6-0 run with baskets from
Morgan VanHyfte,
Olivia Nelson and
Graycen Holden, pushing the lead to double-figures, 15-5, and it stayed in double-digits most of the rest of the way. Each team made some free throws in the final minute, and after one period, the Jennies were up a dozen, 24-12. The Gorillas were just 1-8 from the floor in the opening period, but going 10-12 at the line kept things closer.
• The second period was the
Graycen Holden show. Holden scored nine points going 3-3 from the floor and 3-4 at the line helping UCM outscore PSU 20-15 in the frame. After Pitt cut the lead down to 11, 35-24, Holden scored five straight, bringing the lead up to a game-high at the time 16, 40-24, with 2:44 remaining in the half. Over the final 3:49, the Jennies outscored Pittsburg State 9-3 and went into the half up 17, 44-27.
• UCM turned the ball over on their first three possessions of the second half and that let Pitt get back to within 12, 44-32. It took nearly three minutes into the third for the Jennies to score, but they went to their senior,
Nija Collier, who scored six straight for UCM to keep the Gorillas from getting any closer. The teams traded baskets for much of the third and on their final possession, another senior,
Morgan VanHyfte, made sure to keep momentum on the side of the Jennies with a three in the closing seconds, giving UCM a 63-49 lead heading to the fourth.
• That momentum carried into the fourth as the Jennies started the period on a 13-3 run and took their largest lead, 76-52, with 3:30 left to play. The Gorillas hit a couple of three-pointers in the final minutes, but it was much too little, much too late and the Jennies won by 17, 78-61.
It Was Over When...
•
Gigi McAtee buried a three to put the Jennies up by 20, 72-52, their largest lead to that point with just 6:34 left to play.
Jennies Stat Leaders
•
Nija Collier fell two rebounds shy of a double-double with 20 points and eight rebounds. She was 9-11 from the floor and 2-3 from downtown.
• Six of the Jennies seven freshmen played Thursday night. The only one who didn't was
Graycen Holden. Holden made her debut today and made it count. She didn't miss from the floor going 9-9 for 22 points. She was 4-6 at the free throw line and grabbed six rebounds while also blocking three shots and coming up with three steals.
•
Morgan VanHyfte continued to fill the box score. She was 4-8 scoring 11 points. She grabbed three rebounds, passed out two assists, blocked a shot and took away a steal.
•
Brooke Littrell scored eight points and pulled down eight boards.
•
Makenna Vanzant was 2-3 from three for six points and passed out three assists.
•
Gigi McAtee facilitated the offense scoring five points and dished five assists.
For the Gorillas
• Tristen Gegg went 7-20, 4-13 from three and scored 22 points with four rebounds.
• Kaylee DaMitz scored nine, picked up seven assists, five rebounds and four steals.
• Sydnee Crain hit a pair of threes and scored nine points.
News and Notes
• The Jennies have scored 78 points in each of their first two games.
• This is the first time UCM has won three straight over the Gorillas since winning once each in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
•
Gigi McAtee passed out her 100th career assist.
• Through two games the Jennies are leading the MIAA with 15 blocks and 7.5 per game. They also lead the league with 45.5 rebounds per game.
Up Next
• The Jennies will begin a five-game road trip that will take up the rest of the calendar year. UCM is at Northwest Missouri Thursday, Dec. 3 with a 5:30 p.m. tipoff.
