HAYS, Kan. (Feb. 20, 2021) - Central Missouri Jennies Basketball saw their 10-game winning streak snapped their share of the lead atop the MIAA fall all at once. UCM battled the No. 8 Fort Hays State Tigers to a tie for 30 minutes, but fell behind the fourth and couldn't catch up, falling 72-63. The Jennies slide into second place with a 17-3 record with two games left in the regular season.
How It Happened
• Fort Hays State shot 41.4% from the field and held the Jennies to just 34.4%. Both teams were 31% from three with the Jennies hitting nine and the Tigers six.
• The Jennies had to battle early foul trouble. They committed 23 and sent the Tigers to the line 25 times where they hit 18. UCM was 10-13 from the charity stripe.
• Central Missouri out-rebounded the Tigers 43-37 including grabbing 12 offensive boards. The Jennies scored 14 second chance points to two for FHSU.
• The Jennies had 13 turnovers, but played a cleaner game in the second half with just four. The Tigers though lost the ball just five times. FHSU also scored 12 fast break points to the Jens five.
• Central Missouri started the game red hot from behind the arc. They hit four in the first quarter with four different Jennies getting in on the action.
Nija Collier and
Morgan VanHyfte started it off and the Jennies were off to a 6-0 lead.
•
Charley Bovaird and
Olivia Nelson also popped one from long range and
Graycen Holden ended the period with an old-fashioned three-point play. Heading to the second quarter the Jennies led by seven, 17-10.
• The second started with
Makenna Vanzant hitting a three and Jennies built their largest lead, 20-10. With 5:10 left to play in the half another three from VanHyfte and the Jennies led 27-18.
• Fort Hays State closed the half though on a 15-2 run over the final 4:43 and led 33-29 at the break.
• The Tigers kept a two possession lead for much of the third quarter. At the 7:05 mark
Nija Collier picked up her fourth personal-foul and didn't see the floor again until the fourth quarter.
• FHSU pushed the lead to eight, 47-39. The Jennies though got three-pointers from Nelson and
Gigi McAtee and used a 10-2 run over the final 2:34 to tie the game at 49 heading into the fourth.
• UCM ran out of gas though after 30 minutes. Fort Hays State started the fourth scoring eight unanswered points. The Jennies first points of the quarter came at the 7:09 mark on an
Olivia Nelson layup and free throw, cutting the lead to five, 57-52.
• That was as close at UCM got. The Tigers scored another five straight, pushing the lead to 10, 62-52 with six minutes to play.
• Central Missouri never brought it back to a two-possession game and the Tigers held on for a 72-63 win.
It Was Over When...
• It looked like
Olivia Nelson gave the Jennies some life with a layup and a foul, cutting the lead to five, 57-52, but the Tigers hit a three on their next possession to start a mini 5-0 run spurt getting the lead back to 10 and the Jennies could never get to within a single possession.
Jennies Stat Leaders
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Olivia Nelson scored 20 points going 7-11 from the field with three rebounds and six assists.
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Graycen Holden was the only other Jennie in double-figures scoring 11 points.
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Makenna Vanzant came off the bench to score seven points.
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Nija Collier added six points with eight rebounds.
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Gigi McAtee chipped in with five points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals.
For the Tigers
• Jaden Hobbs scored 16 points and dished out 10 assists for a double-double. She also added seven rebounds.
• Whitney Randall scored 15 points with three boards, three assists and three steals.
• Katie Wagner added 12 points going 4-7 with four rebounds.
• Jessie Sallach scored 10 off the bench, six coming at the free throw line.
News and Notes
• This game broke a tie atop the MIAA standings. The Tigers improve to 18-2 while the Jennies are now tied with Nebraska-Kearney at 17-3.
•
Olivia Nelson's 20 points are a career-best. She now has seven straight 10+ point games.
• The loss snaps the Jennies season-long 10-game winning streak.
• UCM's 23 personal-fouls are a season-high. Their 34.4% field goal percentage is their second lowest in 20 games.
• While the Tigers took the lead in the second quarter, UCM was just 3-17 from the floor in the period.
• Fort Hays State has now won eight of the last 13 matchups with UCM.
• Gross Memorial Coliseum is also a bit of a house of horrors for the Jennies. The Tigers have won six straight in Hays dating back to 2011.
Up Next
• The Jennies will wrap up the regular season next week with a pair of games at the Multi. UCM will look to avenge an early season loss to Central Oklahoma Thursday, Feb. 25 at 5:30 p.m.
