No. 10 Jennies Basketball Hosts Augustana (S.D.) for 2023-24 Home Opener Thursday Morning

Game 3: No. 10 Central Missouri (2-0) vs. Augustana (S.D.) (0-0)
Thursday, Nov. 16 | 11:30 a.m. | Warrensburg, Mo. (UCM Multipurpose Building)
Radio: 1450 KOKO, 98.5 The BAR
Live Video (PPV) | Live Stats | Live Audio

UCM Game Notes (PDF)

Tip-Off

Preseason number 10-ranked Central Missouri Jennies basketball (2-0) is scheduled to host the Augustana (S.D.) Vikings for its 2023-24 home opener Thursday, Nov. 16, at 11:30 a.m. inside the UCM Multipurpose Building. Thursday's game is a school day game for area elementary students and will feature FREE admission.
The Jennies are coming off a 2-0 start to the season with a pair of wins in the MIAA/NSIC Regional Challenge Nov. 10-11 in Claremore, Okla. UCM beat Northern State, 71-55, before getting by MSU Moorhead in overtime, 63-57.
Through two games, the Central Missouri is paced by Brooke Littrell (20 ppg., 8.5 rpg., 3.5 spg.), Olivia Nelson (13 ppg., 5.5 apg., 3.0 spg., 2.5 rpg.) and Ashley Tull (10.5 ppg., 7.5 rpg.).
As a team through two contests, the Jennies are shooting 38.8 percent from the floor, 26.2 percent from three-point range and 61.3 percent at the free-throw line. UCM is outscoring its opponents, 67-56, but are being outrebounded, 27.5-22.0.

Storylines

UCM finished the 2022-23 season with an overall record of 25-5 and a MIAA mark of 19-3, placing second in the final conference standings. Central Missouri advanced to the NCAA-II Central Regional Tournament in Duluth, Minn., before falling in the first round to Minnesota State.
The Jennies return four of five starters from last season's team, including defending MIAA Player of the Year and WBCA Coaches All-American Brooke Littrell and All-MIAA Defensive Team selection Olivia Nelson.

Welcome to the 'Burg!

Central Missouri has four newcomers on its 2023-24 roster, including one high school freshman (Rylee Vierthaler, G), one junior college transfer (Jada Devine, F), one Division II transfer (Allie Clevenger, G) and one Division I transfer (Shannon Karlin, G).

Last Time Out for UCM

No. 10-ranked Central Missouri Jennies basketball outscored MSU Moorhead in overtime, 10-4, enroute to a 63-57 win over the Dragons in the MIAA/NSIC Regional Challenge Saturday, Nov. 11, inside the Claremore Expo Center.
Brooke Littrell netted a game-high 22 points on 10-of-20 shooting from the floor and a 2-of-3 showing at the free-throw line and snagged 11 rebounds for her first double-double of the season, pacing the Jennies.
Ashley Tull also reached double figures in the win with 14 points and added eight rebounds, while Olivia Nelson dished out a team-best six assists.
For the game, Central Missouri shot 36 percent from the floor, going 25-of-69, and were 9-of-15 at the free-throw line for 60 percent. The Jennies were outrebounded by the Dragons, 40-34, but outscored MSU Moorhead in the paint, 36-26.

Individual Milestones

UCM head coach Dave Slifer earned his 400th win at Central Missouri in the 66-64 overtime MIAA tournament semifinal win over Fort Hays State March 4, 2023. Slifer is an impressive 402-170 in his now 20 seasons as the Central Missouri women's basketball head coach. He's already the winningest head coach in both UCM and MIAA women's basketball history, and the second-winningest coach in NCAA Division II history (786 career victories in 33 seasons).

Jennies in the Rankings

Central Missouri was picked first in both the 2023-24 MIAA Preseason Coaches and Media Polls. UCM received 167 points and 11 first-place votes in the coaches poll and 283 points and four first-place votes in the media poll.
Central Missouri is ranked No. 10 in the WBCA Preseason Division II Coaches Top-25 Poll.

Returning Scoring

The Jennies return 86 percent of their scoring from last season's team.

Up Next

The Jennies head to Miami Shores, Fla., for the Barry University Classic Nov. 24-25. UCM will play Barry on the 24th before taking on Lynn on the 25th.

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