Jennies advance on Vincent bucket

The Central Missouri State Jennies survived a first round scare on Thursday night over Northwest Missouri, 68-66, in the MIAA post-season Tournament.

Tiffany Vincent hit the game-winning lay-up with 12 seconds remaining to break a 66-66 tie. The Jennies (20-8) led by as many as 14 in the second half but saw the Bearcats chip away to tie the game on a 13-1 run with 1:34 on the clock. NWMSU had a clear lane to the basket with six seconds left but CMSU's Anna Rorvig smartly fouled Laura Freiderich to stop the play. Northwest was not yet to the bonus and were forced to inbound the ball again. The play paid off as Katie O'Grady's last second attempt was guarded tightly and fell short.

The opening period was dominated by the Jennies as they shot 57.7 percent from the floor. They had many open looks due to good ball movement, generating 11 assists on 15 made shots. Central Missouri went into the half with a 12-point lead at 43-31. The Jennies grabbed the advantage at the 15:54 mark of the stanza and never let Northwest grab it back. Rorvig tallied 12 points in the period to lead the Jennies.

The final half was highlighted by three runs from the two squads. Northwest Missouri cut the margin to four but Central Missouri moved it back to 14 within five minutes at the 12:58 mark. The Bearcats had the late run to tie it, but Vincent's rebound off a missed shot proved to be the difference.

The free throw line again proved to be the difference in the game for CMSU, hitting 12-of-15 compared to NWMSU attempting only eight, making five.

The Jennies were led by Vincent, putting up 17 points and tying a career-high with six assists. Rorvig tied a season-high with 16 points while Melissa Richardson took her first double-double of the year with 10 points and 10 boards.

Freiderich led the Bearcats with 16 on the night while Meghan Blay tallied 12. Mandi Schumacher also pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds.