Jens At Washburn in Final Game Before Break

WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Dec. 16, 2020) - Central Missouri Jennies Basketball plays one final game before the New Year. They'll take on Washburn this Thursday as they look to improve to 6-0.

Opponent
Washburn Ichabods (2-3, 2-3 MIAA)

When
Thursday, Dec. 17 - 5:30 p.m.

Where
Topeka, Kan. - Lee Arena

Fan Information
• There will not be any tickets sold to the general public.

On The Air
• All games will be broadcast on 1450 KOKO, 98.5 The Bar and warrensburgradio.com with Greg Hassler calling the action. 
• All games will also be webcast online through the MIAA's Blue Frame portal at http://www.themiaanetwork.com/ucmmules/. 
• Links to live stats and live video can also be found at ucmathletics.com. 

Tip-Off
• For the second straight week, the Jennies will be playing a single-game on the road. This week they'll be in Topeka, Kan. to take on Washburn.
• What was supposed to be a five-game road trip has turned into four with the postponment of the Jennies game at Emporia State. UCM is 3-0 on the current road swing. 

Storylines
• Central Missouri has undergone a facelift. There are seven freshmen on this year's squad, and all seven have already seen action. 
• Central Missouri and Washburn have met each year since 1990. In their 64 meetings, Washburn holds a 40-24 lead. The Jennies have won eight of the last nine and 10 of the last 12.

Last Time Out
• The Jennies continued their road trip with an offensive explosion. They scored 92 in a 92-69 win at Lincoln. Six Jennies scored in double-figures with Brooke Littrell scoring a career-high 19. Nija Collier and Graycen Holden each recorded their first double-doubles of the season.

Previously vs. Washburn
• The Jennies and Ichabods met three times last year in a span of 34 days. The Jennies went 3-0 winning at home, on the road and in Kansas City at the MIAA Tournament. In the first round, The Jennies won 65-61 in their closest game of the tournament. UCM was just 1-20 from three, but 22-35 inside the arc. Last time in Topeka, the Jennies brought a trophy home with them after defeating the Icabods 70-59 for their 12th MIAA regular season title. 

Jennies in the Rankings
• There won't be a WBCA poll for the 2020-21 season until January. The Jennies are ranked in a tie for 21st in the D2SIDA preseason poll released this week. It'll be the only poll until Jan.
• The defending MIAA Champion Jennies were picked to finish third this year by the league's coaches. They did receive three first-place votes. 

Individual Milestones
• Nija Collier is five points away from 500. She'll also get to 100 made free throws with three more. 
• Gigi McAtee needs 17 points to get to 200 and four rebounds for 150. 
• Morgan VanHyfte is three steals away from 100. 

Inside the Margins
• Through five games the Jennies are averaging 74.6 points per game and allowing 55.8. That's a scoring margin of 18.8 points which leads the MIAA and is sixth in Division II. The Jennies have won four games by 17 or more points and two games by 20 or more points. Their closest win was a nine-point victory over Northwest Missouri. The Jennies have held at least a 20-point lead at some point in each game. 

Fab 7
• UCM has seven freshmen for the 2020-21 season, their most since welcoming five in 2015. All seven have played and through five games have scored 59% of the team's total points. Three of the Jennies top-four scorers are freshman with Brooke Littrell having scored 63, Graycen Holden 63 and Olivia Nelson 52. Against Lincoln, UCM freshman scored 65 of 92 points, 71%.

Season Starts
• The Jennies have started the year 5-0 for just the 10th time in team history. 
• The last time UCM started a season 5-0 was back in 2013-14. 
• The Jens have started 5-0 or better 3 times under Coach Slifer. They started 7-0 in 2011-12
• UCM's longest winning streak to start a season was 15 games in 1995-96. 
• Only seven Jennies teams have started 6-0 or better.

Scouting the Opposition
Washburn Ichabods (2-3, 2-3 MIAA)
• Washburn had a difficult start to their schedule playing on the road at Nebraska-Kearney and Fort Hays State. They've gotten off to a 2-3 start.
• The Ichabods have a three-headed scoring threat with Hunter Bentley, Aubree Dewey and Nuria Barrientos leading the charge and all scoring more than 11 points per game.
• Bentley is also among the MIAA leaders nearly averaging a double-double per game pulling down nine rebounds.
• The Ichabods are one of the better shooting teams from long range in the league. Washburn is hitting 34% of their three-point attempts. Bentley and Dewey are each at 35% and Hannah Willey is 5-of-9.
• Washburn games are typically low scoring. The Ichabods average combined 130.6 points which is the fifth lowest total in the MIAA. Jennies games average 130.4, but their margin is 18.8 to Washburn's 1.0. 
• The Ichabod's have struggled converting at the free throw line. They are hitting just 72.2% of their free throw attempts which ranks 8th in the MIAA. 
Player to Watch
# 23 Hunter Bentley (5-9, G, Sr., Kansas City, Mo.) - 15 points, 9 rebounds per game, 7 steals