by MANKATO, Minn. — The 20th-ranked Jennies erased a 16-point second half deficit at Minnesota State, but were held off by Minnesota State, 70-68 in the season opener at the Taylor Center Friday night.
The loss was the first opening night loss for the Jennies program (0-1) since the 2007-08 season. The Jennies and Mavericks were engaged in a back-and-forth battle for the first 4 1/2 minutes before Minnesota State pulled away, scoring six unanswered points, taking a 14-7 lead.
A layup by redshirt junior Danielle Barry and a triple by senior Justina Prairie Chief (Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes) closed the deficit to 14-12, but a 15-3 run ensued for Minnesota State over the next 5:47, putting UCM in a 29-15 hole with 7:43 left in the first half.
After Central Missouri scored five straight points, the Mavericks answered with a jumper from Tyra Johnson to expand the lead back to double-digits with 4:47 remaining. The Jennies responded with four free throw conversions from senior Jasmine Thompson and a layup by freshman Olivia Godfrey to pull to within six points at 32-26, but saw their deficit balloon to 14 following an 8-0 run by Minnesota State to close the half.
The Jennies were outscored 14-4 in the paint and 16-8 in the points off turnovers department.
A little more than two minutes into the second half, the Mavericks kept their foot on the gas, taking a 16-point lead following an Aubrey Davis three-pointer. Seniors Revonnia Howard, Breonna Embray and Thompson, along with Prairie Chief combined for the next 10 UCM points to close the gap to 7 at 45-38 with 15:10 remaining in the game.
It remained a three-possession game until 11:52 left in the second half after junior Tayler Weiks splashed a triple to pull the Jennies within five at 49-44.
However, a 10-4 spurt over the next two and a half minutes for the Mavericks increased the deficit to 11.
UCM kept battling, closing the gap to three behind five points from Thompson over the next three-plus minutes. The Jennies were unable to make up any ground over the next minute, trailing, 66-59 with 4:51 left in the game.
One final run by the Jennies offense put UCM in position to complete the comeback, pulling to within two at 68-66. UCM went on a 7-2 mini-run, all points accounted for by Thompson, who finished with her first double-double as a Jennie (27 points, 15 rebounds).
Following a missed layup by Britney Scherber on the ensuing possession with 23 seconds left, Prairie Chief took the ball from the top of the circle and manuevered her way underneath the basket to drop in a layup to tie the game at 68-68.
The Mavericks turned the ball over on their next possession, setting up a final play for the Jennies offense with 11 seconds remaining. However, a turnover by sophomore Andee Wahlert spoiled the comeback, as Ashley Olsen ran the length of the floor, finishing on a layup to put the Mavericks back on top, 70-68 with two seconds left.
The game ended after Prairie Chief’s last-second triple hit glass, giving Minnesota State their third win in four tries against Central Missouri. Justina finished the game with 11 points, 5 assists, and 4 steals.
Howard finished with 13 points and six rebounds, while Prairie Chief chipped in 11. The Jennies held a slight 39-38 edge in rebounds and outscored Minnesota State, 42-30 in the second half.
The Jennies will look to get their first victory of the season next Friday, November 21 at 5:30 p.m. against Newman University in Rolla, Missouri.
