(LAS VEGAS, Nev.) – With a career-high 30 points, junior BreAnna Lewis led the Central Missouri Jennies in its 92-80 win over the Academy of Art Urban Knights Wednesday.
The Jens capped off a 2-0 finish at the Las Vegas Challenge, the only team at the tournament to win both of their matchups.
Academy of Art (9-3) took a quick 3-2 lead after Regina Camera’s three-pointer about a minute into the game. From that point, the Jennies took control, going on an 11-3 run, highlighted by three treys from Lewis. After the Urban Knights answered with seven straight points, taking a narrow 16-15 lead, UCM exploded from beyond the arc again, as three different players hit a three-pointer as part of an 11-1 run.
The Jennies (8-1) pulled away during the last six minutes of the first half, outscoring Academy of Art 22-9. UCM finished with a 50-31 halftime lead, as their 50-point performance was the highest in a single half this season. The Jens went 8-for-11 from three during the first act, scoring nearly half of their points before the break from outside.
UCM didn’t let up coming out of the half, starting a 9-2 run in the first two minutes of the second half, taking a 59-33 advantage. The Jens maintained a 20-point lead throughout much of the second half, never allowing the Urban Knights to make a comeback run and get back in the game. With Central Missouri ahead 88-60 with 3:37 to play, Academy of Art finished by outscoring the Jennies 20-4, but it was too late, as the Jens earned the 12-point victory.
Along with her 30 points, Lewis knocked down a career-high seven three-pointers, going 7-of-14 from beyond the arc. Her seven treys ties for third on UCM’s all-time three-point field goals made list, matching Jessica Burkholder’s performance against Truman in 1997, and Lindsey Maple’s game against Cameron in 2007.
Junior Keuna Flax had another outstanding performance in just her second game for the Jennies. The Haltom City, Texas, native tallied 23 points and seven rebounds. Flax has two 20-point performances in as many games for the Jennies, just one behind Lewis, who has hit 20 points three times this year.
Senior Nicole Caddell nearly picked up her second double-double in Las Vegas, scoring eight points while pulling down 11 rebounds. Caddell also dealt out a team-high five assists in the win.
The Jennies are off for Christmas break, and then return to the Multi in Warrensburg for an in-region matchup with Great American Conference foe Arkansas Tech on Sunday, Dec. 30. The game will be webcast live at americaone.com, and can be found on the air at 98.5 The Bar, 1450 KOKO, and online at www.warrensburgradio.com.