WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Jan. 7, 2021) - There was no holiday hangover for Jennies Basketball as they improved to 7-0 with an impressive 79-72 win over Fort Hays State. The Jennies had four score in double-figures in a game that featured two of the top-three teams in the MIAA.
How it Happened
• Both teams shot well with UCM hitting 51% from the field and the Tigers 49%. UCM went 9-20 from three while the Tigers made six triples.
• Central Missouri was plus-six in rebounding, 30-24, and grabbed 10 offensive rebounds.
• Each team had trouble with turnovers. The Jens committed 18 and the Tigers 20. UCM though made the most of their opportunities with 20 points off the Tiger miscues.
• The Jennies defense came to play blocking eight shots and came away with 13 steals.
• Fort Hays State started out strong using an 8-0 run to lead 15-6 with five minutes left in the first.
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Charley Bovaird hit her first of three three-pointers in the half to stop to scoring run and after 10 minutes the Jennies trailed 17-13.
• The second quarter started with another Bovaird three. As the shot clock was winding down, she buried one from the corner to get UCM within one, 17-16.
• The Jennies tied the game at 22 and took their first lead, 28-27, on
Morgan VanHyfte's three. The Jennies hit four threes in the opening half and added five in the second.
• The lead ping-ponged for a bit as both offense's were in a groove. Hays retied the game at 37 with 1:37 left in the half. UCM closed the half on a 5-0 run getting another three from Bovaird and
Graycen Holden made a layup with under 10 seconds left to play as UCM took their largest lead, 42-37 into the half. Holden scored 12 of her 18 points on 6-7 shooting in the first half.
• Central Missouri scored seven straight coming out of the break and were on a 12-0 run going back to the end of the first half. They lead by a dozen, 49-37, early in the third.
• The teams went back and forth for a bit, trading baskets, and the UCM lead was still in double-figures, 64-53 with one period left to play.
• Fort Hays started to chip away in the fourth, cutting the lead down to six, 71-65.
Olivia Nelson ended the Tiger spurt with a floater in the lane, pushing the lead back to eight.
• With 30 seconds left, the Tigers brought the lead down to five, 75-70, but the Jennies went 4-4 at the free throw line to keep the Tigers at bay and win their seventh straight, 79-72.
It was Over When...
• Fort Hays was charging in the fourth quarter, getting the lead down to five, 75-70. Two freshmen,
Olivia Nelson and
Charley Bovaird each calmly went 2-2 at the free throw line to clinch the victory.
Jennies Stat Leaders
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Graycen Holden finished 9-12 from the floor for a team-high 18 points. She also grabbed six rebounds.
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Olivia Nelson scored 16 with six assists and three steals. She was 8-8 at the free throw line.
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Brooke Littrell was 4-7 for 11 points with three boards.
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Charley Bovaird hit three triples and scored 11 points.
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Makenna Vanzant was 2-3 from deep and added eight points.
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Morgan VanHyfte helped out with six points, five steals, four rebounds, three assists and a blocked shot.
For the Tigers
• Jaden Hobbs scored a game-high 26 points and was 4-8 from three.
• Whitney Randall chipped in 12 points.
• Katie Wagner came off the bench to score 11 points, going 5-6 at the free throw line with a team-best six rebounds.
News and Notes
• For just the sixth time in school history the Jennies have started the season 7-0. It matches the best start under Coach Slifer and is just the second 7-0 start in the last 25 seasons.
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Morgan VanHyfte came up with her 100th career steal. Her five today match a career-best.
• The Jennies home winning streak now stands at 18 straight games.
• UCM has now won three straight over the Tigers.
• This is the first time UCM has allowed 70 points in a game. Their 79 points are their second-most this season.
• Fort Hays entered the game averaging just 12.5 turnovers per game. UCM forced the Tigers into a season-high 20.
Up Next
• The Jennies are home once again Saturday, Jan. 9 against Nebraska-Kearney in a battle of 8-0 squads.
