Fleming & Skaggs Each Pour in 20+ in Jennies Win

WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Feb. 13, 2020) - No. 24 Central Missouri's winning streak was stopped at 15 straight last week, but UCM put one right back in the win column with a 76-69 win over Fort Hays State. The game came down to the wire as is often the case between these two teams and was a back-and-forth affair with 12 ties and nine lead changes. The Jennies pulled it out with a strong surge late in the fourth to move to 19-4 on the season and 13-1 in the MIAA.

How it Happened
• The Jennies shot the ball 45% for the game while holding the Tigers below 40% at 35.6%. Each team hit six three-points.
• The officials made their presence felt with a combined 48 fouls called, 24 for each team. The Jens were 24-30 at the free throw line while the Tigers just 21-29.
• UCM had a slight advantage on the glass, 36-32, but it was the Tigers who led in offensive rebounds, 14-9. Fortunately for the Jens, FHSU couldn't turn those second-chance opportunities into points has they had just six.
• Both teams committed their fair share of turnovers, 22 for UCM and 18 for Fort Hays. The Tigers scored 20 points off of UCM miscues. Fort Hays came into the game averaging just 11 turnovers per contest.
• The Jennies defense also stepped up with eight blocked shots.
• The game started out with a real casual pace. Neither team was getting much going and with 4:31 left, it was an 8-8 game. The Jennies closed the quarter though on a 13-2 run. Morgan Fleming buried a three to make it 16-8 and after 10 minutes UCM was looking good up 11, 21-10. The Jennies shot 58% in the first while Hays was just 3-12.
• It didn't take long for the Tigers to catch back up though. They scored the first 12 points in the frame and took the lead back 22-21 with 4:26 left in the half. 
• The Jennies, like in the first, finished the quarter strong getting another big three from Fleming to take a 32-27 lead and led at the break by three, 32-29. 
• In the second half, the Jennies didn't wait to score. They went another spurt to get back on top by 10, 41-31, following a Megan Skaggs three-point play. 
• The Tigers though again crept back and after hitting back-to-back triples, took a 53-52 lead with 2:07 left in the third. In the final two minutes of the period, the Jens went 5-5 at the free throw line and the Tigers made a pair of jumpers sending us to the fourth tied at 57.
• A three from Fleming and a layup from Kim Crown in the first 1:15 of the fourth gave the Jens a 62-57 lead and forced a Tiger timeout. The game remained at two-possessions for much of the fourth quarter, hovering around a four point Jennies lead. The Tigers defense picked up though and held UCM scoreless for a 3:47 stretch in the final minutes as they took a 69-67 lead with two minutes left.
• Fleming put an end to the scoreless drought with a big bucket in the paint to tie the game at 69. She then got a rebound on the other end, drew a foul and hit two free throws to put UCM back up 71-69 with 55 seconds left. 
• Fort Hays had chances to tie, coming down with two offensive rebounds trailing by just two, but ended up going 0-4 in the final minute as the Jennies held on making seven-of-eight at the line.

It Was Over When...
• The Jennies scored eight straight points in the final 55 seconds all at the free throw line. The Jens were 8-9 at the stripe to put the game away. 

Jennies Stat Leaders
• Morgan Fleming scored a game-high 29 points with four rebounds, three assists and five steals. She was 9-18 overall and hit four three-pointers.
• Megan Skaggs was also over 20 points with 23. She was 6-8 from the floor and 11-13 at the free throw line and grabbed nine rebounds.
• Kim Crown scored nine points off the bench.
• Nija Collier grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds and blocked three shots.
• Ryann Stearns and Gigi McAtee each added four points.

For the Tigers
• Jaden Hobbs scored a team-best 16 points and had five assists.
• Whitney Randall added 14 with seven rebounds.
• Cydney Bergmann chipped in 12 points off the bench.
• Madison Mittie scored 10 and Belle Barbieri 10.

News and Notes
• The Tigers had won two straight and six of the previous eight against UCM.
• Morgan Fleming's 29 points are a season-high. She moved up to 13th all-time at UCM in scoring and nabbed her 100th career steal.
• Kim Crown scored her 300th career point. 
• The 69 points for the Tigers are the most UCM has allowed this season.
• Gigi McAtee has made a three in eight straight games. 
• The Jennies are averaging 6.5 blocks per game in their last four. 
• After trailing 69-67 with 2:03 to play, the Jennies outscored the Tigers 9-0. 

Up Next
• The Jennies will celebrate senior day Saturday, Feb. 15 against Nebraska-Kearney. Tip off is 1 p.m. with a special on court ceremony taking place prior to the game to recognize the 2020 senior class.