ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (Feb. 8, 2020) - It was nearly a full calendar year, 364 days since the Jennies last lost a regular season conference game. That streak came to an end Saturday afternoon against Missouri Western. The Jennies found themselves in an early hole and was able to make a game of it late, but eventually fell by 10, 67-57 to the Griffons. The loss is the first for the Jennies in 2020 snapping their 15-game winning streak and putting them at 18-4 this season, 12-1 in the MIAA.
How it Happened
• The Griffons had a tremendous day shooting the ball hitting on 45% from the field and were 8-16 from three. The Jens shot just 38% and were 6-24 from behind the arc.
• The Jennies had been dominating on the glass of late, but it was the Griffons with a 38-33 advantage and they scored 17 second-chance points.
• UCM turned the ball over 17 times which led to 17 points off of turnovers. While the Griffons lost the ball 16 times, the Jens scored just eight off Griffon miscues.
• UCM might have been able to keep things closer if they performed better at the free throw line. The Jens were 11-19 at the stripe.
• Things looked like they could get out of hand in a hurry. The Jennies scored on their first possession, a layup from
Megan Skaggs. That was it for a while. The Jens were held scoreless for 7:56 after that basket while Missouri Western scored 19 straight for a 19-2 lead.
Ellisha Davis and
Nija Collier each scored in the final two minutes and after one it was a 19-6 Griffon lead.
• Missouri Western kept that pace up. After cutting the lead back down to 13, 31-18 thanks to five straight points, it looked like the Jennies might have some momentum on their side. That was squashed though as MWSU scored seven straight for a 38-18 lead. Collier responded by scoring seven points in the final 1:36 of the half, but that just got things to where they were, a 13 point Griffon lead at the half, 38-25.
• The Griffon lead hung around 10 for much of the third period. With a pair of Katrina Roenfeldt free throws, Missouri Western took a 15-point lead, 54-39, into the final quarter.
• The Jennies made a dent into the lead in the fourth, getting to within seven, 56-49 two minutes into the fourth. The Griffons didn't let the lead slip below six though at any point and went 4-4 at the free throw line in the final minute to put the game away.
It Was Over When...
• The Jennies couldn't get any closer than six in the final 90 seconds of the game. UCM had a chance after a MWSU turnover, but a missed three fell to the Griffons and UCM had to start fouling. Missouri Western went 4-4 down the stretch to hold on.
Jennies Stat Leaders
•
Nija Collier scored 20 on 8-13 shooting with nine rebounds, two blocks and two steals.
•
Megan Skaggs scored 17 and hit three three-pointers.
•
Morgan Fleming dished out five assists and scored five points with three blocks.
•
Gigi McAtee and
Ellisha Davis each scored six points.
For the Griffons
• Katrina Roenfeldt hit five three-pointers and scored 17 points with five assists and three boards.
• Corbyn Cunningham had a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
• Kylee Williams added 11 points with three triples.
• Anastacia Johnson and Chris Wilson each chipped in 10 points.  Wilson also pulled down 10 rebounds.
News and Notes
• The Jennies last MIAA regular season loss came back on Feb. 9, 2019 to Emporia State
• The loss snaps a seven-game winning streak against the Griffons.
• UCM's 15 straight wins are the second-most in the
Dave Slifer era. They won 16 straight in 2017-18.
•
Morgan Fleming grabbed her 500th career rebound. She also moved into 15th in scoring all-time at UCM.
•
Megan Skaggs moved into a tie for eighth place all-time in scoring in UCM history.
• This is the first time in the last 14 games UCM has lost the rebounding battle.Â
Up Next
• The Jennies will return home for two games next week starting Thursday, Feb. 13 against Fort Hays State.
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