MIAA/NSIC Regional Challenge
Game 1: Central Missouri (1-2) vs. Northern State (0-0)
Friday, Nov. 12 | 6:30 p.m. | Warrensburg, Mo. (UCM Multipurpose Building)
Radio: 1450 KOKO, 107.9 FM, 98.5 The BAR
Live Audio | Live Video (PPV) | Live Stats

Game 2: Central Missouri vs. MSU Moorhead (0-0)
Saturday, Nov. 13 | 6:30 p.m. | Warrensburg, Mo. (UCM Multipurpose Building)
Radio: 1450 KOKO, 107.9 FM, 98.5 The BAR
Live Audio | Live Video (PPV) | Live Stats

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Tip-Off
• University of Central Missouri Jennies basketball will open the home portion of its 2021-22 schedule when it hosts the 2021 MIAA/NSIC Regional Challenge Friday, Nov. 12, and Saturday, Nov. 13, at the UCM Multipurpose Building.
 • The Jennies are slated to face Northern State for their home opener Friday at 6:30 p.m. before taking on MSU Moorhead Saturday at 6:30 p.m. The other games in the MIAA/NSIC Regional Challenge will feature Rogers State vs. MSU Moorhead at 8:30 p.m. Friday and Rogers State vs. Northern State at 8:30 p.m. Saturday.

Storylines
• The Jennies got an early start to their 2021-22 season, playing three games in the D2CCA Tipoff Classic presented by Suddenlink Oct. 29-31 in Canyon, Texas. UCM defeated West Texas A&M, 69-57, before falling to preseason No. 16 SWOSU, 86-80, and preseason No. 2 Drury, 84-81.
• The three games in October marked the earliest start to a regular season in program history.
• Central Missouri is coming off a 23-5 campaign in 2020-21 that saw it win the NCAA-II Central Region Championship and advance all the way to the Division II Final Four.
• The Jennies finished second in the MIAA last season, compiling a conference record of 19-3.
• UCM returns three starters and 10 letterwinners from last season's Final Four team.
• Returning starters include All-American and First Team All-MIAA selection Nija Collier (G/F), in addition to second team all-conference honoree Oliva Nelson (G) and Central Region MVP Brooke Littrell (F).

Jennies in the Rankings
• The defending NCAA Division II Central Region Champion Jennies were picked to finish second this year in the MIAA preseason coaches' poll. UCM received three first-place votes in the poll.
• Central Missouri was voted to tie for first with Fort Hays State in the MIAA preseason media poll. The Jennies tallied 118 points and five first-place votes in the poll.
• The Jennies are ranked fourth in the D2SIDA Preseason Media Poll and tied for sixth in the WBCA Division II Preseason Coaches' Poll.

Individual Milestones
 • Nija Collier is tied for sixth in career blocks at UCM with 106 through three games this season. She needs three more blocks to break into the top five in UCM program history.

Last Time Out for the Jennies
• Olivia Nelson scored a career-high 21 points and Charley Bovaird added a career-best 18 points as the University of Central Missouri Jennies basketball team fell to the Drury Panthers, 84-81, in their final game of the D2CCA Tipoff Classic presented by Suddenlink Sunday, Oct. 31, at the First United Bank Center.
• Nelson made just four shots from the floor but went an impressive 14-of-18 at the free-throw line for her career-best 21 points, while fellow redshirt freshman guard Bovaird netted her career-high 18 points on 5-for-8 shooting, including a 4-of-7 performance from three-point range, and a perfect 4-of-4 showing at the free-throw line.
• Brooke Littrell tallied a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds, and Nija Collier scored 14 points, rounding out the Jennies in double figures for the game.
• Central Missouri shot 41 percent from the floor (19-for-46) and went 35-for-42 at the foul line for 83 percent but turned the ball over 20 times which led to 23 Drury points off turnovers. The Panthers had 13 steals in the contest.
 
Up Next
• The Jennies travel to Jackson, Tenn., for a non-conference game at preseason No. 19 Union Nov. 20 before returning home to host Bellevue University Nov. 22 for their final non-conference contest before tipping off MIAA play.