Jennies roll past Bearcats, 93-77
The Central Missouri Jennies found their shooting touch against Southwest Baptist, cruising to a 93-77 victory on Tuesday night in Bolivar, Mo. For the Jennies it was the most points they have scored against an MIAA since defeating Truman, 98-62 on February 5, 2005, Dave Slifer’s first season.
After struggling to shoot the ball in their last game against Washburn, Central Missouri (9-3, 2-1 MIAA) came out of the gates strong by knocking down its first six shots of the game to race out to an 18-11 lead not quite five minutes in. The first half was an offensive showdown between Ashley Millham and SBU’s Amber Wheeler, with each player answering basket for basket. Millham scored 14 points on 4-of-8 shooting and made two threes, while Wheeler connected on five shots including three from three-point land for 15 points. The Jens had their biggest lead of the half at 47-30 with 3:26 remaining before the Bearcats (8-4, 0-3 MIAA) closed the opening stanza on an 8-1 run to cut the lead to 48-38 at the intermission. Central Missouri shot 51.7 percent (15-of-29) from the field, and was even better from behind the arc connecting on 8-of-12 (66.7 percent).
Millham led the way offensively and Stephenie Cook had 10 points in the frame to pace UCM. Wheeler was the only Bearcat in double figures.
In the second half it was more of the same for the Jennies as they continued their hot shooting by connecting on 11-of-23 (47.8 percent) from the floor and went to the foul line 26 times, making 20 of them compared to only nine trips for the ‘Cats. SBU would get as close as 11 in the second half, but the Central Missouri offense was too much as they expanded their lead to as much as 20 on three different occasions before settling for the 16-point victory.
Millham led five Jennies in double figures with 26. Lindsey Maple contributed 21, Kim Battle scored 14, and Meagan Fromm and Cook had 10 apiece.
Wheeler led all scorers with 29 points and Livia Brito added 12.