Jennies Red-Hot From Three In Win Over Lions

JOPLIN, Mo. (Feb. 6, 2021) - Jennies Basketball has run their winning streak to seven in a row thanks to a 78-59 win over Missouri Southern in Joplin. The Jens were led by three in double-figures and improved to 14-2 on the season.

How it Happened
• Central Missouri shot 43% but were deadly from behind the arc hitting 14-28. Missouri Southern shot 43% as well and were 7-17 from three.
• UCM did a great job controlling the ball. They out-rebounded the Lions 38-31 including 18-8 on offensive boards. That allowed them to score 21 second-chance points to the Lions three.
• The Jennies also lost the ball just eight times while forcing 17 Lion turnovers. 
• UCM assisted on 20 of their 29 made baskets, moving the ball exceptionally well.
• It was a three-point shooting contest in the first 10 minutes. The Jennies were 5-5 from deep with Nija Collier and Charley Bovaird each going 2-2. Missouri Southern though kept up making three-of-four from behind the arc.
• Down 6-2, Collier hit two straight from three to give the Jennies an 8-6 lead. They led the rest of the quarter, but couldn't get up by more than five. Bovaird hit a pair from deep in the final 90 seconds, but the Lions had an answer each time and after 10 minutes the Jennies led 22-19.
• UCM finally got some separation to start the second. At the media timeout, UCM was outscoring the Lions 8-1 in the period and led by 10, 30-20. 
• The Jennies pushed the lead to as much as 15, 38-23, on a Gigi McAtee three with under two minutes left to play in the half. The Lions though outscored the Jennies 8-3 in the final 90 seconds and got back to within 10, 41-31 at the half.
• Central Missouri was 9-12 from three in the first half. They also grabbed eight offensive rebounds and outscored the Lions 12-0 on second-chance points. 
• The Jennies picked up where they left off in the second. Olivia Nelson led the way hitting three triples in the third period. She put in back-to-back giving the Jennies a 51-34 lead and forcing a Lion timeout.
• Nearing the end of the quarter, Nelson hit another three and Kade Hackerott with a layup at the buzzer gave the Jennies a 64-42 lead.
• With the game in hand, the Jennies emptied their bench nearing the end of the game. The Lions were never able to get back into single digits and the Jennies were able to cruise to a 78-59 win.

It Was Over When...
• In the final 30 seconds of the third quarter, Olivia Nelson hit a desperation three as the shot clock expired and off of a defensive rebound, Makenna Vanzant found a cutting Kade Hackerott who finished with a layup putting the Jennies up 64-42 heading to the final frame.

Jennies Stat Leaders
• Nija Collier led the way with a game-high 22 points. She was 9-15, 3-3 from three and pulled down four rebounds.
• Olivia Nelson, 4-5 from three scored 16 with three rebounds, three assists and two steals.
• Charley Bovaird, also 4-5 from three scored 12 points.
• Graycen Holden scored eight with a game-high six rebounds. 
• Gigi McAtee chipped in six points. She also set a new career-best with seven assists, also the most for a Jennie this season.

For the Lions
• Layne Skiles scored 21 points going 5-7 from three.
• Carly Turnbull scored seven with five coming at the free throw line.
• Madi Stokes entered the game averaging a double-double. She scored five and grabbed four rebounds while also blocking four shots.
• Anna Hall was 3-5 from the field for six points.

News and Notes
• The Jennies 14 made three-pointers are a season-high. That's the most three-pointers in a game for UCM since Nov. 23, 2018 at St. Mary's in a double-overtime effort. 
• UCM also set a season-high with 20 assists. 
• The Jennies eight turnovers are a season-low. 
• Olivia Nelson matched a season-high with 16 points. 
• The last time UCM shot 50% from three was back in December against Lincoln. 
• UCM held another opponent below 60 points. The ninth time in 16 games this season.
• Central Missouri now has nine straight wins over Missouri Southern. 

Up Next
• The Jennies wrap up a three-game road trip with a makeup game Tuesday, Feb. 9 at Emporia State.