Warrensburg, Mo. (Nov. 14, 2000) -- Central Missouri State University's basketball teams open their respective 2000-01 campaigns at the CMSU Multipurpose Building this weekend. Coach Scott Ballard's Jennies will be the host team for the University Inn Jennies Classic Friday and Saturday, while coach Don Doucette's Mules make their season debut Saturday.

Joining the Jennies for the University Inn Classic are Lincoln University (Mo.), Metropolitan State College and Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. Friday's pairings will send Metro State against SIU-Edwardsville at 5:30 p.m. and the Jennies against Lincoln at 7:30 p.m. Saturday's third-place game will be at 3:30 p.m., followed by the championship game at 5:30 p.m. The Mules' contest with Monmouth College (Ill.) Saturday will follow at approximately 7:30 p.m.

The Jennies, in their sixth season under Ballard, return 10 players from last year's 22-7 squad. Junior guard Lori Nichols led the team in scoring (13.4 ppg), while senior guard Marlies Ozias was second (10.2). Junior center Katie Vaske led the squad in rebounding with a 6.3 average and also averaged 9.6 points.

Lincoln is in its second season under coach Tim Abney, and hopes to improve on last year's 4-21 record with a lot of new faces. Junior Brianne Clay, who averaged 5.0 points and 5.3 rebounds, and senior Melinda Gosa (5.0 ppg, 1.7 rpg) are the only returners who saw much playing time last season.

Metro State, 16-11 last season, is in its third year under coach Mike Power. The Roadrunners return three of last season's starters, led by senior Sarah Gordon. She averaged 11.2 points per game and 7.7 rebounds per game a year ago. Also returning are junior Michelle McArthur, who averaged 9.8 points and 5.6 rebounds, and senior Jodie Jennison, who averaged 7.2 points and 4.1 rebounds. Natasha Zacharova, a 6-4 junior from Russia, is expected to be a major addition to the Roadrunners this season.

SIU-Edwardsville, in its 22nd season under coach Wendy Hedberg, was 18-9 last year and expects to improve on that this season with 11 players returning. The Cougars are picked for second in the Great Lakes Valley Conference behind defending national champion Northern Kentucky University. Senior Misi Clark (21.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg), last year's co-MVP in the GLVC, is the Cougars' top returner and is joined by seniors Sarah Cook (10.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg) and Crystal Gladson (8.7ppg, 6.4 rpg).

The Jennies have won 34 of the previous 35 meetings with Lincoln and are 8-2 against SIU-Edwardsville, with the last meeting coming in 1993-94. They have never played Metro State.

The Mules' opener against Monmouth will mark the 10th straight year the Division III Fighting Scots have played CMSU. Coming off last season's 16-11 record, the Mules are led by senior guards Daryl Greene (15.9 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and Sean Price (15.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg).

Monmouth was 9-13 last season. Coach Terry Glasgow is in his 29th campaign as head coach at Monmouth and last year went over the 400-win mark for his career. Junior Jeff Stenoish (16.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg) is the Fighting Scots' top returner, along with juniors Greg Kloepping (15.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg) and Steve Glasgow (12.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg). The Mules have won all 13 previous meetings with Monmouth, including a 112-67 decision last season.