Jennies Gear Up For NCAA Regional Finals

WARRENSBURG, Mo. (March 15, 2021) - Central Missouri Jennies Basketball has the chance to win their second Central Region Championship in four years (and two of the last three tournaments). A win punches their ticket to next week's Elite Eight held in Columbus, Ohio. 

Opponent
Nebraska-Kearney Lopers (22-3, 19-3 MIAA) 

When
Monday, March 15- 6 p.m.

Where
Warrensburg, Mo. - UCM Multipurpose Building

Fan Information:
• The UCM Multipurpose Building is limited to 25% capacity.
• Face masks are required at all times while on the UCM campus. 
• Fans are strongly encouraged to socially distance themselves when seated and only sit with the group they entered the facility with.
• Restrooms and east-end concessions will be open, but fans are asked not to congregate in hallways or the lobby. 
• There will be no reserved seating for visiting fans behind the visiting bench. 

Ticket Information
• $10 - Adult
• $5 - Senior/Student (with valid student-ID - if purchasing a student ticket, must be done in person)
• All tickets are a per-day pass. A single ticket will be valid for both games on the ticketed day. There will not be any all-tournament tickets sold. 
• While tickets will be sold at the UCM ticket office throughout the week, fans are strongly encouraged to purchase their tickets online at the link above to either print at home, or download to their mobile phone to scan for entry. Tickets will also be sold at the gate starting one hour prior to game one each day. 

On the Air:
• The game will be broadcasted 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. 
• Links to live stats and live video can also be found at ucmathletics.com. 
• All games will also be webcast online through the MIAA's Blue Frame portal at http://www.themiaanetwork.com/ucmmules/. All games are a free to view broadcast. 

Tip-Off
• Central Missouri is back in the NCAA Central Region Tournament for the fifth straight season. The Jennies won their first two games, defeating St. Cloud State and Fort Hays State and will host Nebraska-Kearney in the regional championship final. 
• Central Missouri has also been chosen as a predetermined host site for the entirety of the tournament. 
• The six team tournament will see two games on Friday and Saturday with the top-two seeds receiving a first round bye. Winners on Saturday advance to the regional championship game Monday, March 15. 

Storylines
• Central Missouri was set to host the NCAA Regional last season as the No. 1 seed. The tournament was canceled due to COVID-19 the day before it was set to begin. 
• This is the Jennies first time hosting the regional since 1990. 

Last Time Out
• The Jennies took on #1 seed Fort Hays State in the regional semifinals. In an exciting game, the Jennies prevailed 72-68. Brooke Littrell and Graycen Holden each scored 17 points and Olivia Nelson added 16.

Previously vs. Nebraska-Kearney
• The Jennies went on the road near the end of the regular season to defeat Nebraska-Kearney 70-66. UCM trailed after one, but a 16-5 second quarter carried the Jens to the win. Olivia Nelson and Graycen Holden each scored 16 points. Nija Collier had a 15 point, 14 rebound double-double. 
• The two teams split the regular season series with the road team winning each game. 

Jennies in the Rankings
• Central Missouri is ranked 20th in the final WBCA poll of the regular season. In the latestD2CCA poll, the Jennies sit 22nd.
• The defending MIAA Champion Jennies were picked to finish third this year by the league's coaches. They did receive three first-place votes. 
• The Jennies were picked to be in third place in the NCAA Central Region rankings. They slid down a spot following a first-round exit in the MIAA Quarterfinal round against Washburn. 

Individual Milestones
• Gigi McAtee is two field goals away from 100 for her career. 
• Nija Collier has entered the all-time UCM top-10 for blocks and is sixth with 93. She needs one more to get to fifth. She is also 11 rebounds away from 500 for her career. 
• Charley Bovaird needs four more three-pointers to get to 50 this season. 
• Morgan VanHyfte is six rebounds from 300 for her career. ––

Who's Hot?
• Olivia Nelson is averaging 18 points in two NCAA Tournament games. She also has six steals and six assists.
• Brooke Littrell was 5-7 from the floor against the Tigers and has double-figure points in four of her last five games. 

All-MIAA
• The Jennies put five on the All-MIAA team: First Team Nija Collier, Second Team, Olivia Nelson, Third Team Graycen Holden, Honorable Mention Gigi McAtee and Defensive Player of the Year Morgan VanHyfte!
• The Jennies have had back-to-back MIAA Defensive Players of the Year with Collier winning it last season.
• Nelson, Holden, McAtee and VanHyfte are all first-time All-MIAA award recipients. 

UCM in the NCAA Tournament
• In the last three seasons, UCM has gone 10-2 in the NCAA Tournament games. They are 30-21 all-time in postseason games.
• Central Missouri has hosted the NCAA Regional six times previously, last doing so in the 1989-90 season. 
• The last time UCM made five straight NCAA appearances was 1982-1991 when they made it nine straight years.

Scouting the Opposition
Nebraska-Kearney Lopers (22-3, 19-3 MIAA)
• The Lopers have nearly their entire team back from a year ago when they finished
near the top of the MIAA.
• Since losing to the Jennies in late February, the Lopers have won seven straight games including defeating Fort Hays State in Hays, Kan. for the MIAA Tournament Championship. 
• The Lopers are a defensive minded team. They lead the MIAA in scoring defense allowing just 52.4
points per game. Opponents are shooting just 36% overall and 24.5% from three, also No. 1 in the league
• While UNK is at the top of the league in defense, they score just 64 points per game, sixth in the MIAA. They lead the league shooting 44% from the floor, but their 30% shooting from three is eighth and their 63.4% from the free throw line is last.
• The Lopers do a good job on the glass. They average 38.4 rebounds per game which is second in the
MIAA and their +7.2 rebounding margin leads the MIAA. 
• UNK is nearly even in the turnover department. They've forced one more turnover than they've lost through 26 games, 336-335.
• The Lopers have a balanced team with four MIAA selections, though noone on the First Team.
• Elisa Backes and Brooke Carlson are each in double-figure scoring. Backes leads the team shooting nearly 40% from three and Carlson hits at almost 50% overall.
• Haley Simental runs the offense with 71 assists to 35 turnovers. 
Player to Watch
#5 Elisa Backes (6-1, F, Jr., Salina, Kan.) - 22 points, 3-6 from three in Regional Semifinal game vs. UMD