WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Feb. 17, 2021) - This week could go a long way towards determining the MIAA regular season champion as the Jennies are on the road against the other two teams in the MIAA's three-team tie for first place.
Opponents:
Nebraska-Kearney Lopers (16-2, 16-2 MIAA)
Fort Hays State Tigers (16-2, 16-2 MIAA)
Where:
Thursday -
Health & Sports Center - Kearney, Neb.
Saturday -
Gross Memorial Coliseum - Hays, Kan.
When:
Thursday, Feb. 18 - 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 20 - 4:00 p.m.
Fan Information:
• Both Nebraska-Kearney and Fort Hays State are operating at 25% capacity in their facilities. Fans are strongly encourage to purchase their tickets in advance at the link above.
• For Thursday's games against the Lopers, visiting fans will sit in sections A2 and A3.
• For Saturday's games against the Tigers, visitor seating will be located in the upper level GA.
• Face masks are required at all times while on both campuses.
• Fans are strongly encouraged to socially distance themselves when seated and only sit with the group they entered the facility with.
• Restrooms and concessions will be open at each facility, but fans are asked not to congregate in hallways or the lobby.
On the Air:
• Both games will be broadcast on 1450 KOKO, 98.5 The Bar and now the all new 107.9 fm. You can also stream online at warrensburgradio.com with Greg Hassler calling the action.
• All games will also be webcast online through the MIAA's Blue Frame portal at http://www.themiaanetwork.com/ucmmules/.
• Links to live stats and live video can also be found at ucmathletics.com.
Tip-Off
• Central Missouri will play their final road games of the season this week going out of state to take on a pair of ranked opponents in Nebraska-Kearney and Fort Hays State.
• The Jennies have played just one ranked opponent this season, Emporia State last week. They are in a stretch of three out of four games against ranked opponents.
Storylines
• Central Missouri leads the all-time series with Fort Hays State 18-14. Although the Jens defeated the Tigers twice last season and earlier this year, FHSU has won seven of the last 12.
• The Jennies four game winning streak over the Lopers came to an end earlier this season in a 68-56 loss at the Multi. UCM is 8-2 all-time against UNK.
• The Jennies have clinched a berth in the upcoming MIAA Tournament. One more win will clinch a top-four seed and they'll host an MIAA Tournament semifinal game.
Last Time Out
• The Jennies got all they could handle from Washburn Saturday afternoon at the Multi but were up to the task.
Nija Collier recorded her sixth double-double of the season and
Olivia Nelson scored a team-high 17 points.
Previously vs. UNK/FHSU
• The Jennies first loss of the season came against Nebraska-Kearney. The Lopers pulled away in the third quarter for a 68-56 win.
Graycen Holden scored 13 points, seven at the FT line.
• Four Jennies freshmen scored in double-figures in a 79-72 win over Fort Hays State. Holden was 9-12 for 18 points. UCM scored 29 in the second quarter going 10-16 and 3-6 from three
Jennies in the Rankings
• Central Missouri moved up four spots to No. 16 this week in the WBCA top-25 poll.
• In the latest D2SIDA poll, the Jennies moved up three spots to No. 19.
• The defending MIAA Champion Jennies were picked to finish third this year by the league's coaches. They did receive three first-place votes.
Individual Milestones
•
Morgan VanHyfte is three points away from 100 this season and six steals away from 50. She needs 27 more for 400 career points as well.
•
Graycen Holden one more rebound to get to 100.
•
Nija Collier has entered the all-time UCM top-10 for blocks and is eighth with 83. She needs eight more to get to seventh all-time which is 91.
Who's Hot?
•
Nija Collier continues to be red hot. She has six straight games with 10+ points and three double-doubles in that stretch.
•
Olivia Nelson is scoring more than 15 points per game over her last five games.
• As hot as
Olivia Nelson has been from three, no Jennie is shooting better than
Charley Bovaird. She's hit 40 three-pointers on the season and has made 12 of her last 19.
•
Kade Hackerott picked up career-highs in points and rebounds Saturday against Washburn. She's seen more action of late playing 10+ minutes in six of her last seven games.
Free-bees
• Central Missouri is eighth in the NCAA this season in free throws made. They've hit 256 of 336 and their 76.2 FT% is 35th in D2.
•
Olivia Nelson is third in the MIAA and 24th nationally shooting 88.9% at the line.
• In crunch time, the Jennies have been even better at the line, shooting 86% in the final five minutes of games.
Nija Collier is 17-18 this season at the line in the final five minutes.
Starting Strong
• The Jennies have given teams trouble starting games, allowing just 26.6 points per game in the first half. They typically go into halftime leading by more than eight points.
• The third quarter is where UCM is scoring the most, averaging 18.9 points in the period.
Scouting the Opposition
No. 12 Nebraska-Kearney Lopers (16-2, 16-2 MIAA)
• The Lopers have nearly their entire team back from a year ago when they finished near the top of the MIAA.
• The only team to top UNK this season has been Fort Hays State and they have since won four straight.
• The Lopers are a defensive minded team. They lead the MIAA in scoring defense allowing just 51.4 points per game. Opponents are shooting just 35% overall and 23.5% from three, but No. 1 in the league.
• While UNK is at the top of the league in defense, they trend towards the bottom on offense. They score just 62.8 PPG which is 10th in the league. Their 26.6% three-point shooting is third from the bottom.
• The Lopers do a good job on the glass. They average 38.6 rebounds per game which is second in the MIAA and their +7.1 rebounding margin is second to UCM.
• UNK is nearly even in the turnover department, losing it 13.2 times per game and forcing 13 turnovers per game from their opponents. They force more miscues than take it away though, averaging 6.6 steals.
Player to Watch
#5 Elisa Backes (6-1, F, Jr., Salina, Kan.) - 4 20+ point games in last 8. 30 points vs. UCO
No. 8 Fort Hays State Tigers (16-2, 16-2 MIAA)
• The Tigers are the hottest team in the MIAA right having won 11 straight games and are the only team to defeat Nebraska-Kearney.
• Fort Hays State has one of the top offenses in the MIAA averaging 72.4 points per game while their defense is second allowing 58.7 points per contest.
• Hays is the top shooting team in the league. They lead the MIAA converting on 44.5% of their field goal attempts. They are also third in the league from three shooting 34.4% behind the arc and fifth at the free throw line hitting 74.5%.
• Two Tigers are in double-figure scoring led by Whitney Randall at 15.8 points per game
• Jaden Hobbs is their deep threat hitting 46.7% from three. She also has an MIAA leading 2.8:1 assist to turnover ratio with 101 assists to just 36 turnovers.
• Katie Wagner and Olivia Hollenbeck each score more than 8 points per game right around the rim.
• Fort Hays is second in the MIAA in turnover margin losing it 12.3 times per game and forcing 14.7.
Player to Watch
#11 Jaden Hobbs (5-8, G, Sr., Alva, Okla.) - leads the MIAA in 3FG% - 46.7%, min 2.5 3FG per game
