Jennies With 15th Straight, Clinch Spot in MIAA Tournament!

MARYVILLE, Mo. (Feb. 6, 2019) - The Jennies are going back to the MIAA Tournament! With their win tonight UCM clinched a spot in the 2020 tournament. They improved to 18-3 winning their 15th straight game and remain unbeaten in the MIAA at 12-0.

How it Happened
• The Jens shot just 39% for the game, but made 18 free throws and nine three-pointers.
• UCM had another big advantage on the glass, 45-27 in the rebounding department. They grabbed 19 offensive boards and turned those into 20 second-chance points.
• The Jennies did a good job of holding onto the ball, committing just nine turnovers. 
• Central Missouri's defense blocked five shots and came up with five steals. 
• The Jennies, and specifically Nija Collier were red hot to start the game. After the Bearcats made their first shot, Collier scored eight straight with two three-pointers. Late in the period, Ryann Stearns with a drive to the basket picked up a layup and a foul and gave UCM a 17-9 lead. The Bearcats didn't go away though and closed the period on a 6-0 as UCM led 19-15 after one.
• As quick as the first quarter was, the second really slowed down. The teams were matching each other and the Jennies couldn't push their lead past four. Ryann Stearns hit a pair of threes late in the half, but each time was answered by a Bearcat three. On their final possession, Ellisha Davis splashed a corner three and the Jens led 37-30 at the half.
• UCM was able to get their lead back up to 10, 48-38 midway through the period, but again the Bearcats were hanging tough. In the closing seconds, Jaelyn Haggard hit a long three and heading to the final quarter, the Jens led 58-52.
• Starting the fourth, Northwest Missouri was able to get the Jennies lead down to five, 60-55, but an 8-1 run finally gave the Jennies some much needed separation.
Following two defensive stops, Morgan Fleming and Megan Skaggs were able to get inside for layups and the Jennies lead 68-56. Skaggs then came back with a three-point
play and the Jennies had their largest lead, 13, 71-58. The Jens were able to run out the clock and won their 15th straight win, 73-60. 

It was Over When...
• Megan Skaggs with a layup and a foul with 1:44 left put the Jennies up 13, 71-58 and the Jennies were able to keep the Bearcats at bay. 

Jennies Stat Leaders
• Nija Collier another double-double with 19 points and 14 rebounds, eight of them on offense. She was also 3-8 from three.
• Morgan Fleming scored 16 with 10 coming at the free throw line. She also grabbed seven rebounds with five assists.
• Ryann Stearns scored 12 on 4-8 shooting.
• Megan Skaggs and Gigi McAtee each chipped in eight points.

For the Bearcats
• Jaelyn Haggard scored a team-best 16 points and hit four three-pointers.
• Mallory McConkey added 11.
• Erik Schlosser scored nine and Kylie Coleman eight.

News and Notes
• With the win, the Jennies have clinched a spot in the MIAA Tournament.
• Ryann Stearns with a UCM high 12 points. 
• The Jens have won 15 straight games, their longest since a 16-game winning streak back in 2017-18.
• UCM has won nine straight against Northwest Missouri. 
• Nija Collier has nine double-doubles this season and five straight. Her 14 rebounds put her over 200 for the season.
• The Jens held the Bearcats to just eight points in the fourth quarter. They are 9-1 this season when holding an opponent below 10 points in a quarter.
• Morgan Fleming moved into 16th all-time in scoring at UCM.
• The Jennies outrebounded the Bearcats 25-11 in the second half.

Up Next
• The Jennies will look to match the longest winning streak in the Coach Slifer era when they travel to St. Joseph, Mo. to take on Missouri Western Saturday, Feb. 8 at 1:30 p.m.