No. 11 Jennies Basketball Opens NCAA-II Central Regional vs. No. 12 Minnesota State Friday

Tip-Off

No. 11-ranked and fourth-seeded Central Missouri Jennies basketball (25-4) is scheduled to face No. 12-ranked and fifth-seeded Minnesota State (25-4) in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Central Region Tournament Friday, March 10, at 7:30 p.m. inside Romano Gymnasium in Duluth, Minn.
All Warrensburg area Jennies fans are invited to watch the game at Traditions Restaurant at Pertle Springs.
The Jennies are coming off a 78-63 setback to Missouri Southern in the MIAA Women's Basketball Championship game March 5 in Kansas City, Mo., while the Mavericks last game saw them fall the top-seeded and regional host, No. 6-ranked Minnesota Duluth, in the NSIC Championship game, 80-74, in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Feb. 28.
UCM is making its 24th appearance in the NCAA-II tournament and its first since 2020-21 when Central Missouri advanced all the way to the Division II Final Four.
Through 29 games, the Jennies are paced by redshirt sophomores Brooke Littrell (18.8 ppg., 8.7 rpg., .501 FG%, .355 3FG%, .828 FT%, 66 A, 29 Blk, 43 Stl) and Olivia Nelson (12.9 ppg., 3.3 rpg., .470 FG%, .321 3FG%, .893 FT%, 118 A, 36 Stl), and junior Ashley Tull (9.7 ppg., 5.6 rpg., .575 FG%, 46 Blk, 23 Stl).
As a team, UCM is averaging 75.1 points and 40.2 rebounds per game and shooting 46.4 percent from the field while holding its opponents to 60.2 points and 31.5 rebounds per game and a 37.9 percent field-goal percentage.
The Jennies are eighth in all of NCAA Division II in field-goal percentage through 29 games at 46.4 percent. Central Missouri is also ranked in the top-50 in assist-to-turnover ratio (23rd at 1.13), assists per game (43rd at 14.9 per game), blocks per game (30th with 3.9 per game), rebound margin (seventh at +8.7), rebounds per game (47th at 40.24 per game), scoring margin (14th at +14.9), scoring offense (18th at 75.1 points per game), winning percentage (15th at 86.2 percent) and turnovers per game (24th at 13.2 per game).

Jennies in the NCAA Division II Tournament

The Jennies enter their 24th NCAA-II tournament with a record of 32-22.
UCM last qualified for the NCAA-II tournament in 2020-21, winning the Central Regional and advancing all the way to the Division II Final Four before falling to top-ranked Lubbock Christian in the semifinals, 63-61.
Central Missouri has won two NCAA Division II National Championships (1984 and 2018).
UCM and Minnesota State will meet for the first time ever in postseason action Friday in the NCAA tournament first round.

Last Time Out

No. 10-ranked Central Missouri Jennies basketball couldn't overcome 12 Missouri Southern three-pointers in the 2023 MIAA Women's Basketball Championship game, falling to the Lions, 78-63, Sunday, March 5, inside Municipal Auditorium.
Brooke Littrell netted 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting and pulled down seven rebounds while Lauren Frost scored 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting, pacing Central Missouri in the contest.
UCM went 24-of-53 from the floor for 45 percent and were 4-of-12 from three-point range for 33 percent. The Jennies went just 11-of-22 at the free-throw line for 50 percent.
Central Missouri outscored Missouri Southern in the paint, 38-24, but were outrebounded, 37-32.
The Lions connected on 12 of 21 three-point attempts for a sizzling 57 percent despite shooting just 43 percent from the floor, going 25-of-58.
Littrell and Olivia Nelson were both voted to the MIAA Women's Basketball Championship All-Tournament Team.
Layne Skiles netted 20 points and MIAA Women's Basketball Championship Most Outstanding Player Lacy Stokes compiled 15 points and dished out nine assists, leading Missouri Southern.

Last Time Out vs. Minnesota State

The 20th-ranked Jennies erased a 16-point second half deficit at Minnesota State, but were held off by the Mavericks, 70-68 in the season opener at the Taylor Center Friday, Nov. 14, 2014.
Jasmine Thompson led the Jennies with a double-double (27 points, 15 rebounds) while Revonnia Howard (13 points) and Justina Prairie Chief (11 points) also scored in double figures.

Littrell Earns D2CCA All-Central Region First Team Honors

Brooke Littrell was voted to the Division II Conference Commissioner's Association (D2CCA) All-Central Region First Team, it was announced Thursday, March 9.
This is Littrell's second straight season of being named to the D2CCA All-Central Region First Team.

Two Jennies Earn All-MIAA Women's Basketball Honors, Littrell Voted Player of the Year

Central Missouri Jennies basketball had two student-athletes earn All-MIAA accolades for their performances during the 2022-23 regular season, the conference office announced Tuesday, Feb. 28. Brooke Littrell was named the MIAA Player of the Year and First Team All-MIAA while Olivia Nelson was tabbed an All-Defensive Team selection and Second Team All-MIAA.
Littrell becomes the first Jenny to garner MIAA Player of the Year honors since Megan Skaggs in 2019-20 and the 10th UCM women's basketball student-athlete to earn the honor at least one time.

Jennies in the Rankings

UCM is ranked No. 11 in the most recent WBCA Division II Coaches' Poll and No. 17 in the latest D2SIDA Division II Media Poll.
Central Missouri was picked third in the 2022-23 MIAA Preseason Media Poll and fifth in the Preseason Coaches' Poll. UCM received three first-place votes and 218 points in the media poll and 127 points in the coaches' poll.

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. Slifer is an impressive 400-170 in his 19 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 (784 career victories in 33 seasons).

A Streak for the Record Books

UCM's 16 consecutive wins to start the season set a new mark for the best start in program history, surpassing the 15 straight victories in 1995-96.
The streak was snapped when Central Missouri fell at Missouri Western Jan. 21, 66-63.

Up Next

If the Jennies are victories in their first-round game vs. Minnesota State, they'll advance to the second round of the NCAA-II Central Regional and will face either host and No. 1 seed Minnesota Duluth or No. 8 seed Southern Nazarene Saturday, March 11, at 7:30 p.m. in Duluth.

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Players Mentioned

#30 Brooke Littrell: G/F; 6' 2"; Redshirt Sophomore

#1 Olivia Nelson: G; 5' 7"; Redshirt Sophomore

#13 Lauren Frost: G; 5' 8"; Redshirt Sophomore

#44 Ashley Tull: F; 6' 0"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#30 Brooke Littrell
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Sophomore
: G/F

#1 Olivia Nelson
: 5' 7"; Redshirt Sophomore
: G

#13 Lauren Frost
: 5' 8"; Redshirt Sophomore
: G

#44 Ashley Tull
: 6' 0"; Junior
: F