COLUMBUS, Ohio (March 24, 2021) - Central Missouri Jennies Basketball gave it a run against the No. 1 team in the country Lubbock Christian and came up just a bit short at a berth in the national championship. UCM had a chance at the end but the Chaparrals held on for a 63-61 win in the national semifinals. UCM finishes the season at 23-5.
How it Happened
• Each team shot better than 40% from the floor. The Jennies were 22-54 and the Chaps 24-55.
• Three-point shooting played a big factor. The Jennies shot 2-11 while the Chaps hit 7-of-15.
• The Jennies also left points at the free throw line going 15-22 and LCU, the top free throw shooting team in the country, was 8-9.
• Central Missouri turned the ball over 14 times, but nine of them were in the second half. The Chaps lost the ball just 10 times.
• UCM had a big advantage on the glass grabbing 36 to the Chaparrals 26. UCM also grabbed 13 offensive rebounds.
• The Jennies took an early lead and carried that into the half.
Olivia Nelson gave the Jennies a lead at the 6:10 marking hitting a spinning layup for a 6-5 lead.
• UCM kept up a one-to-two possession lead for the rest of the quarter. Leading by two, 17-15,
Kade Hackerott beat the buzzer with the desperation layup to put the Jens up four, 19-15.
• Momentum stayed with the Jennies to start the second quarter. The scored the first six points and took the largest lead of the game, 25-15. It was Hackerott again catching, spinning and hitting a layup to put the Jennies up 10.
• The Chaps hung around long enough to cut the lead in half at the break.
Charley Bovaird hit a three to keep the Jennies up seven, 33-26, but it was LCU's turn to beat the buzzer hitting a layup to make it 33-28 at the break.
• Central Missouri kept a slim lead into the media timeout in the third, but LCU tied the game quickly thereafter and took their first lead since 5-2, 44-45.
• The Chaps got hot from three in the third quarter. They hit four of five and lead by two going into the fourth, 50-48.
• LCU hit back-to-back three's early in the fourth taking their largest lead, 58-52.
• UCM locked down on defense though and made a run.
Olivia Nelson started it with an old-fashioned three-point play and
Nija Collier hit two free throws and itw as a one-possession game, 58-55.
• Trailing by four, 63-59,
Charley Bovaird came off the bench to replace an injured
Brooke Littrell to sink two free throws to get to 63-61. On the ensuing Chaps possession, they failed to inbound the ball and was called for a five-second violation giving the ball back to UCM with just under 30 seconds left. The Jennies got some looks at a three to take the lead, but none of them found the bottom of the basket and time expired on the Jennies season.
It Was Over When...
• The Jennies had a chance at the end, but none of their three-point attempts fell and Lubbock Christian held on to advance to the finals.
Jennies Stat Leaders
•
Brooke Littrell led the Jennies with another double-double. She scored 16 with 11 rebounds.
•
Nija Collier also finished with a double-double scoring 11 with 10 boards.
•
Olivia Nelson also scored 11 with five rebounds and five assists.
•
Kade Hackerott came off the bench to score six points on 3-4 shooting.
•
Charley Bovaird and
Graycen Holden each scored five. Holden also grabbed six boards.
For the Lady Chaps
• Allie Schulte scored a game-high 24 points. She was 8-14 from the floor and 6-7 at the line. She had four rebounds and four assists as well.
• Emma Middleton was 2-2 from three and scored 14.
• Madelyn Turner chopped in eight points and five rebounds.
News and Notes
•
Brooke Littrell finished the season with three straight double-doubles.
• UCM moves to 31-22 in all-time NCAA games. They are 11-2 since 2018.
• This is the first time the Jennies have lost to Lubbock Christian. They were 2-0 previously against the Lady Chaps.
