Jennies no match for Lions inside game as they fall 79-61

                For the first half the Central Missouri Jennies defensive game plan worked well on Missouri’s Southern post players, but in the second, the Lions were able to make the necessary adjustments for a 79-61 victory on Saturday night in Joplin, Mo.
            In the opening frame the Jennies (9-4, 2-2 MIAA) denied the ball into the post and forced MSSU (10-2, 3-1 MIAA) to put up 13 three point-attempts (making five of them). The Lions jumped out to a quick 10-4 lead a little over four minutes into the game behind eight points from Robin Kantin. The Jens would tie the game at 10-10 when Lindsey Maple converted an old fashioned three-point play. Central Missouri would then take its first lead of the night on a Megan Schoenfeld three-pointer that sparked a 13-4 run which gave UCM a 26-20 advantage. The Lions would close the frame by scoring 12 of the final 20 points to cut the lead to 34-32 at the half though.
            After struggling to get the ball inside in the first half, Missouri Southern was determined to get the ball inside to start the second, and they were successful, using an 18-3 run to take a 50-37 lead a little more than six minutes in. MSSU would build its lead to as much as 21 with four minutes remaining before settling for the final 18-point margin. The Lions shot 65.5 percent (19-of-29) from the floor in the second half as they outscored the Jennies 47-27. UCM was held to only 11-of-36 (30.6 percent) from the floor in the stanza and was out rebounded by their hosts 23-12 in the frame.
            The Jens set a new school record for three-point attempts in a game with 35, breaking the mark of 32 which was set against Winona State on December 4, 2004, in Dave Slifer’s first season.
            Maple and Ashley Millham led UCM with 13 points apiece while Meagan Fromm had 10. Kantin led five MSSU players in double figures with 18 points. Fatai Hala’Api’Api had 16 points and 14 rebounds, Danielle DeVader contributed 15, Dana-Mae, Robbs and Tynesha Pierce had 12 and 10 points respectively.