WARRENSBURG, Mo. (March 12, 2021) - It took a full year, but the Central Missouri Jennies finally got to host their NCAA Regional. The #4 Jennies got by #5 St. Cloud State 66-52 to advance to tomorrow's regional semifinal game.

How it Happened
• The Jennies shot 48% for the game while the Huskies were below 40% at 36.8%.
• UCM was 26-54 and hit six three pointers. The Jens held the Huskies to just three three-pointers in 17 attempts.
• Central Missouri held a 37-28 edge on the glass, all of that advantage coming in the fourth quarter where the Jens grabbed 17 to the Huskies seven.
• The Jennies dominated points in the paint, 38-24. Both teams turned it over 13 times and UCM scored 11 points off SCSU turnovers to the Huskies six.
• UCM led for nearly 38 minutes in a game that featured just one tie and three lead changes.
• The two teams traded the lead back-and-forth at the start of the game. Leading 6-5, Nija Collier pulled down an offensive rebound and put in a layup for an 8-5 lead. St. Cloud kept it close for a while, but the Jennies led the rest of the way. 
• Central Missouri kept up a three-point lead after one quarter, 16-13.
• UCM used a mini 6-0 run early in the second quarter to put the lead to nine, 24-15. Morgan VanHyfte and Nija Collier each hit layups and Olivia Nelson put in a floater for the Jens.
• Both teams hit a scoreless drought late in the half, going more than two minutes without a point. 
• In the final 120 seconds, Collier hit a pair of threes and the Jennies led by seven at the half, 32-25. 
• Central Missouri brought the lead to double-figures in the third when Gigi McAtee hit a three. The lead continued to hover around 10 most of the period and was 54-44 with under 10 seconds to play. The Huskies though hit a three at the buzzer and UCM's lead stayed at seven going to the fourth, 54-47.
• The fourth quarter though is where the Jennies shined. The outscored the Huskies 12-5 as SCSU was just 1-14 for the period. McAtee found a streaking Nija Collier on the fast break for an easy two and Olivia Nelson hit another floater putting UCM back up 10, 58-48.
• Up eight, Morgan VanHyfte hit a three with 6:11 left in the game and the Huskies were 0-9 from the floor the rest of the way as the Jennies closed out round one 66-52.

It Was Over When...
• Morgan VanHyfte didn't let the Huskies creep back in, hitting a line drive three with 6:11 left to play get the Jennies lead back over 10, 61-50. The Huskies scored just two more points the rest of the game.

Jennies Stat Leaders
• Olivia Nelson led all scorers with 20 going 8-12 from the floor. She also dished out six assists.
• Nija Collier was a force at the rim going 8-13 and scored 19 points with seven rebounds. 
• Morgan VanHyfte scored 10 points and came up with two steals and three rebounds.
• Graycen Holden was a point away from a double-double with nine points and 11 rebounds.
• Gigi McAtee scored five and dished out six assists without a turnover.

For the Huskies
• Tori Wortz kept them in the game scoring 16 points and passing out five assists.
• Brehna Evans added 13 points and four rebounds.
• Nikki Kilboten was 6-11 from the floor scoring 12 points and grabbing six rebounds.

News and Notes
• The Jennies held the Huskies below 60 points. It's the 12th time this season they've held an opponent below 60.
• UCM also allowed just five fourth quarter points. It's also the 12th time this season they've kept an opponent below 10 for a period.
• Gigi McAtee grabbed her 200th career rebound and played her 2,000th career minute.
• Graycen Holden hit her 100th field goal of the season.
• Morgan VanHyfte made the 50th three-point field goal of her career.
• The Jennies improve to 6-0 all-time against the Huskies. They last met in 1989. 
• This is the first time the Jennies are hosting a regional since 1990.

Up Next
• The Jennies will play the top-seeded Fort Hays State in the regional semifinals tomorrow evening at 5 p.m. As the top-seed, the Tigers earned a bye into the semifinals. The winner will play in the finals Monday at 6 p.m.