Warrensburg, Mo. (Dec. 27, 1999) -- Central Missouri State University basketball fans will get to see the final CMSU athletic event of 1999 free of charge. The Jennies meet Lincoln University Thursday night (Dec. 30) at 7 p.m. at the CMSU Multipurpose Building and all fans will be admitted free to what will be the final athletic event of 1999 for CMSU.

Coach Scott Ballard's Jennies will take a 6-1 record into their final non-conference game of the season. The Jennies, currently on a five-game winning streak, have been idle since an 81-49 victory over William Woods University on Dec. 11. LU, in its first year since leaving the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, is 1-13 and last played on Dec. 20, when the Blue Tigers lost 68-44 at home to Kentucky Wesleyan College.

Guard Lori Nichols (So., Nevada, Mo., NHS) leads the Jennies in scoring with a 14.6 average. Also scoring in double figures for the Jennies are center Katie Vaske (So., Bancroft, Iowa, Bishop Garrigan H.S.), with a 12.2 average, and Marlies Ozias (Jr., Centerview, Mo., Crest Ridge H.S.), with a 10.4 average. Vaske is the Jennies' leading rebounder, averaging 7.0 per game. Senior Janice Modeste is Lincoln's top scorer and rebounder, averaging 15.2 points and 7.9 rebounds per contest.

Following Thursday night's game, the Jennies and Mules open the MIAA portion of their seasons Jan. 3 at Pittsburg State University. Currently 7-1, Pittsburg State's women have been idle since Dec. 18. They were picked to finish fifth in the women's MIAA preseason coaches' poll, while the Jennies were picked to finish seventh.

The Mules will take a 7-1 record into their MIAA opener against the 6-3 Gorillas, who have not played since Dec. 13. Pittsburg State was picked to finish fourth in the men's MIAA preseason coaches' poll, while CMSU was picked to finish fifth.

Coach Don Doucette's Mules have been off since Dec. 19. Center Raymond Hugley [Sr., Opelika, Ala., Enterprise (Ala.) State J.C.] is the Mules' top scorer and rebounder, averaging 17.6 points and 9.1 rebounds, while newcomers Daryl Greene [Jr., Mattapan, Mass., Newbury College (Mass.)], Sean Price [Jr., Port Charlotte, Fla., Pasco-Hernando C.C. (Fla.)] and Tyrone Johnson [Jr., Canal Point, Fla., Brevard C.C. (Fla.)] are averaging 17.5, 16.4 and 12.6 points per game, respectively.