Post Play Perpetually Pounds Pitt

PITTSBURG, Kan. (Feb. 4, 2021) - Central Missouri trailed by as many as 11 late in the first half, but thanks to Nija Collier and Graycen Holden continually chipped away until they took a late lead and held on for their sixth straight win. The Jennies scored 46 second-half points and were 15-26 from the floor in the final 20 points. After getting the lead, the Jennies held the Gorillas scoreless over the final 2:02 and went on to win 76-71 to sweep the Gorillas in the season series.

How it Happened
• Central Missouri led for just 8% of the game, scoring the first and last baskets of the game.
• Pittsburg State shot the ball well, hitting 50% from the floor and 8-16 from three. The Jennies were also above 50% from the floor, but just 2-12 from three.
• The Jennies got Pitt into foul trouble and held a 20-13 edge in made free throws.
• UCM used their size. They had a 30-24 edge rebounding the ball and scored 17 second chance points with the help of 14 offensive rebounds.
• The Jens cleaned up their act in the second half. They committed nine first half turnovers but just five in the second. Pittsburg State lost the ball 17 times. 
• Gigi McAtee started the scoring with a beautiful driving layup taking the ball from the top of the key all the way down to the hoop. From there though, the Gorillas went on a 10-2 run getting a pair of three-pointers for a 10-4 lead.
• Down seven, 14-7, the Jennies went on a 6-0 run to get within one, 14-13. Charley Bovaird buried a three during the stretch and after 10 minutes PSU was up three, 16-13.
• Starting the second quarter, Nija Collier tied the game with a layup and a foul. 
• Sloppy play and turnovers kept the scoring down in the early portion of quarter number and with under five minutes left in the half, PSU led by one, 21-20.
• The Gorillas got hot out of the timeout though and went on a 16-5 run, taking their largest lead, 37-26.
• In the final 30 seconds, Makenna Vanzant sank a pair at the line and Nija Collier came up with a steal, fed Vanzant who's desperation three rebounded off the glass to VanHyfte who was just able to get a shot off before the buzzer signaling the end of the half to make it a seven-point game, 37-30 at the break.
• Collier and Brooke Littrell started the half by getting UCM to within three, 37-34. The Gorillas though quickly got the lead back up to six, 46-40.
• The Jennies though went to work underneath with Collier and Graycen Holden. Holden with a three-point play and a layup tied the game at 53. PSU made a jumper in the final minute and led by two heading to the fourth, 55-53.
• The fourth quarter promised to be tight and was it ever. Olivia Nelson with an old-fashioned three-point play gave the Jennies the lead, 58-57, their first lead since the first basket of the game.
• Pittsburg State had an answer each time for the Jennies. The two teams continued to trade the lead back and forth. Under three to play it was Nelson again, breaking a 65-all tie with an unbelievable reverse layup with 2:50 remaining.
• The Gorillas though got back-to-back threes from Tristan Gegg and led by two with under two minutes left to play.
• Nija Collier though had the answer. She caught the ball on the wing, stepped back behind the arc and let one fly. Her three splashed true giving the Jennies a 72-71 they held on to the rest of the way.
• With just 41 seconds left, Graycen Holden had a big-time layup, pushing the lead to three, 72-71.
• After a defensive stop, the Gorillas fouled Olivia Nelson where she was 2-2 at the line putting the Jens up five, 76-71 with 15 seconds left to play.
• The Jennies held the Gorillas scoreless over the final 2:02 and came out of Pittsburg with a 76-71 win.

It Was Over When...
• The Jennies led for only 3:11 of the game, but when they took the lead with under two minutes, held on. Olivia Nelson was fouled with 15 seconds left and her two free throws gave UCM their largest lead, 76-71 which went on to be the final.

Jennies Stat Leaders
• Graycen Holden was 8-14 from the floor for 22 points. She also grabbed six boards.
• Nija Collier was a force with 19 points and seven rebounds.
• Olivia Nelson added 12 points with three rebounds, three steals and six assists.
• Brooke Littrell chipped in eight points.
• Gigi McAtee was 3-3 and scored six points.

For the Gorillas
• Tristan Gegg scored a game-high 26 points and was 3-7 from three with four assists.
• Kaylee DaMitz was 6-6 at the line and dished out nine assists while adding 13 points.
• Sydnee Crain hit two three and scored 10 points.

News and Notes
• Charley Bovaird's three in the first quarter gave her 100 points this season.
• The Jennies have won four straight over the Gorillas for the first time since 2013-16.
• After not playing a game finished within five points, the Jennies have played back-to-back tight ones.
• Graycen Holden has scored 42 points in two games against the Gorillas.
• After going 3-8 from the line to start the game, the Jennies went 17-19 the rest of the way.
• Olivia Nelson ties a season-high with six assists. 

Up Next
• Central Missouri will head back south Saturday, Feb. 6 to take on Missouri Southern from Joplin, Mo. Tip-off is set for 1:30 p.m.