Box Score (KANSAS CITY, Mo.) – Junior
Shaquanda Wiggins led Central Missouri with 22 points and 11 rebounds, as the fourth-seeded Jennies defeated the fifth-seeded Fort Hays State Tigers, 73-61. Seniors
Alyssa Rhodes and
Nicole Caddell both finished with 14 points in the win.
The Jennies took a quick 4-0 lead with field goals from
Kaneesha Lee and Caddell to open the game, and controlled early on, with a 10-6 lead at the 14:14 mark. The Tigers answered with a quick 5-0 run, and by the midpoint of the first half, maintained a lead over the Jennies, mainly with their shooting from long range. Fort Hays was 7-of-13 from beyond the arc in the first half, and used that to take a 33-29 halftime lead.
The Jennies immediately answered out of the half, with an 11-4 run, highlighted by a pair of threes from
Taylor Hanson and
Renae Shippy, after the team went 0-3 from three in the first half. The Tigers would close to within two points at the 13:50 mark, 44-42, before Central Missouri pulled away with seven straight points, taking a 51-42 lead with 11:46 to play. UCM maintained a single-digit lead throughout the half, until a free throw from Rhodes made it 66-56 at the 2:43 mark. Rhodes shut the door with a trey on the next possession, giving the Jennies a 13-point advantage with two minutes to play.
Wiggins' double-double is the sixth of the season for the Chicago, Ill. Native, as well as her sixth 20-point performance of the year. Caddell nearly had a double-double herself, pulling down nine rebounds.
The victory is the Jennies first in the MIAA Tournament since 2010, and gives the program its' first 20-win season since 2006. The Jens advance to the MIAA semifinals, where they will take on top-seeded Washburn, on Saturday afternoon. Tip-off is set for noon.
