Box Score Warrensburg, Mo. - The Central Missouri Jennies
snapped the Missouri Southern Lions' five-game winning streak with
a 71-58 win Saturday afternoon (Dec. 5) in Warrensburg, Mo.
Things started out well enough for the Lions as they grabbed an
early 8-4 lead on the strength of a three by Jolea Apon and the
first career three from Michelle Hedgecock.
The Lions extended that lead to 14-6 on a layup from Apon and
consecutive layups from Jasmine Lovejoy at the 14:00 minute of the
first half.
But that's where things went south in a hurry for the Lions (5-2,
1-1 MIAA) as the field goal by Lovejoy would be the last the Lions
would hit until only eight seconds remained in the first half.
After single free throws by Apon put the Lions up 17-9, the Jennies
exploded for a 12-0 run that was capped by a four-point play by
Taylor Hanson with 5:06 left in the first half.
Danielle Harris and LaTice Jones each converted two free throws
that brought the Lions even at 21-21, but Brittney Slifer hit a
three that was sandwiched around six made free throws that gave the
Jennies a nine-point advantage at 30-21 with just 1:12 remaining in
the first half.
A layup by Erin Rice ended the Lions' field-goal drought at the
eight second mark that pulled the Lions within 32-25 at the
half.
It didn't take long for the Jennies (5-2, 2-0 MIAA) to seize total
control from there as Rebecca Roberts nailed a jumper and Meghan
Waggoner hit a three that quickly gave the Jennies a double-digit
lead at 37-25 just two minutes in the second half.
The Jennies went on to hit six of their first eight from the field
to begin the second half to extend the lead to 48-29 with 14:32
remaining.
The Lions trailed 59-41 when Lovejoy and Jones helped lead one
final push by combining for six points of a 7-1 surge that pulled
the Lions within 60-48 at the 5:14 mark of the second half.
Jones hit two free throws to bring the Lions as close as 10 at
63-53 with 3:37 left, but the Jennies then closed the door as
Deidra Dace hit a layup to cap a 6-0 spurt that gave the Jennies a
commanding 69-53 advantage with just 1:50 left.
Jones led the Lions with 12 points, including making 8-of-10 at the
charity stripe. Lovejoy finished with 10 and a game-high seven
rebounds.
Waggoner scored a game-high 16 for UCM and was the only one to
reach double-figures for the Jennies. She also finished tied for
the team-lead with five rebounds.
The Lions will next play a non-conference matchup at Missouri
S&T (formerly Missouri-Rolla) on Wednesday evening (Dec. 9) at
7 p.m. in Rolla, Mo. The Lions defeated the Lady Miners last season
75-69 at the MSSU Thanksgiving Classic in Joplin.