EDMOND, Okla. — Central Missouri Jennies Basketball couldn't slow down the Central Oklahoma Bronchos on Thursday, Jan. 14 and dropped the front-end of a two-game road trip 70-66. The loss is the second-straight for the Jens, who fall to 7-2 on the season.
The Bronchos had an excellent shooting performance going 25-52 from the floor and 7-for-15 from three. They also hit 13-of-19 at the free throw line.
The Jennies meanwhile were just 20-for-60 from the floor and 5-for-24 from three.
Each team grabbed 36 rebounds, the Jennies had 15 on the offensive end and 13 second chance points.
Both teams struggled to hold onto the ball with UCM losing it 20 times and UCO 22.
Nija Collier got the scoring started with a three on the Jennies’ first possession. It was the Bronchos though who couldn't miss in the first quarter. They started out 7-for-11 and led by as much as five.
The Bronchos continued to lead, but the Jennies clamped down defensively. UCM outscored the Bronchos 13-7 in the second quarter.
Gigi McAtee gave the Jennies the lead, 24-23, with a tough layup midway through the second. The Jennies got the lead to three on some Olivia Nelson free throws, but lead went back to one at the half, 27-26.
Collier pushed the lead back to three with a layup to start the third, but the Bronchos went on a 7-0 run to retake the lead, 33-31. The Bronchos led the rest of the way scoring 21 points in the third shooting 9-for-14 from the field. They led at the end of the third by nine, 47-38.
UCM fired back on offense in the fourth, scoring 28 points. On a number of occassions they cut the lead back under five. Charley Bovaird with a three and Collier with a layup got the lead down to four, 47-43.
The Bronchos had a response every time though. UCO started the fourth going 6-for-7 from the field and 3-3 from three. They pushed the lead to 11, 56-45 midway through the frame.
Collier scored five straight getting the Jennies within six.
Down by six, Bovaird hit a pair of free throws and Brooke Littrell a layup to get UCM down two, 66-64 with 20 seconds left. The Bronchos though made their free throws, going 8-for-9 in the fourth and UCM didn't get any closer.
The Jennies will take the court again Saturday, Jan. 16 in Wichita, Kan. to take on Newman with a 1:30 p.m. start time.
