Big first half propels Jennies to win over Bearcats

          Sophomore Lindsey Maple led the Central Missouri State Jennies in a big first half and a win over Northwest Missouri State, 77-68 at Bearcat Arena on Saturday night. CMSU shot a season-high 59.1 percent from three-point range in the outing.

           The Bearcats (12-8, 4-5 MIAA) jumped out early in the game but Maple kept the Jennies (12-7, 5-4 MIAA) within striking distance, hitting four early three-pointers. CMSU would make a 14-4 run to take control by the first media timeout, 21-16. It was then that the Jennies turned it up on defense. They held the Bearcats to only 12 more points in the half and cruised to a 46-28 halftime lead.

           Maple would finish the period with 18 points (she tied a school record for a half, making six from three-point range) to lead Central Missouri while Northwest was paced by Kelli Nelson with 15. The Jennies went 9-of-15 from beyond the arc in the half.

           The Bearcats stormed out in the second stanza though, cutting the lead to 50-44 by the 15:08 mark. They held the Jennies to only eight points in the first seven minutes of the period. Central Missouri moved its lead back to 11 with 8:06 remaining but Northwest Missouri had one more run in the tank. The Bearcats went on a 10-2 rally to put the score at 67-64 but would get no closer. Kara Rewerts and Anna Rorvig hit back-to-back three-pointers for the Jennies to seal the win. CMSU out-rebounded Northwest 27-to-18 in the second half and hit more free throws (16) than the Bearcats had attempts (9) in the outing.

           Maple tied a career-high with 22 points for the Jennies while Rorvig added 12 and Rewerts put in 11. Tiffany Vincent and Maple both had career-highs in rebounds with 13 and nine, respectively.

           The Bearcats were led by Nelson with 17 while Laura Friederich scored all 14 of her points in the second half. Mandi Schumacher had nine boards to pace NWMSU.