(WARRENSBURG, Mo.) — The Jennies fell in a narrow 54-52 contest to visiting No. 5 Pittsburg State at the Multipurpose Building on Thursday evening.
Central Missouri (10-4, 4-2 MIAA) were held to just 21 points on 30.4 percent shooting (7-of-23) in the second half after battling the Gorillas to a 31-31 halftime draw. Three Jennies scored in double-figures, including senior Revonnia Howard, who picked up her fifth double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Pittsburg State came out of the gate scoring the game’s first eight points, but senior Jasmine Thompson cut the deficit in half using a pair of layups just four minutes in.
An 8-2 run by the Gorillas ensued over the next 3:51, but four straight points by junior Shelby Winkelmann brought UCM to within 16-10. Pittsburg State’s lead grew back to 12 points at 26-14, however the Jennies rattled off 13 unanswered points through Winkelmann and senior Justina Prairie Chief, giving UCM its first lead of the game with 3:44 left in the first half.
The next seven points of the game came via free throws – five for Pittsburg State, two for Central Missouri. Prairie Chief ended the first half action, dropping in a layup with five seconds on the clock, knotting the game a 31-31. The Jennies outscored Pittsburg State, 18-8 in the paint in the first half, with five Jennies scoring points.
Pittsburg State opened the second half scoring the first four points, but a layup from junior Tayler Weiks and four straight points from Thompson gave UCM a 37-35 lead with 13:35 remaining in the game.
After PSU deposited two free throws to tie the game at 37-37, Mikaela Burgess gave them a 40-37 lead with a trey with 9:55 remaining.
The two foes exchanged buckets for the next six possessions before Kylie Gafford stretched Pittsburg State’s lead to 48-43 with 4:46 left.
Again, the two teams exchanged baskets for the next seven possessions, as the Jennies faced a 54-51 deficit going into the final minute of the game.
Senior Breonna Embray forced and came up with a steal and drew a foul underneath the basket with 44 seconds left. After splitting the free throws, Pittsburg State’s Lizzy Jeronimus misfired on a three-pointer with 17 seconds remaining, giving the Jennies one final chance to tie or win the game.
Winkelmann hit iron on the game-tying three-point attempt with three seconds left, snapping the Jennies’ four-game win streak overall and two-game win streak against the Gorillas.
The Jennies came up with 10 steals but also committed 11 turnovers. UCM outscored Pittsburg State, 32-24 in the paint and 14-10 off turnovers.
UCM will host No. 1 Emporia State on Saturday for a 1:30 p.m. tipoff.