WARRENSBURG, Mo. – The Golden Bears women's basketball team (1-0) opened up their 2016-17 season with a 74-65 win at Central Missouri (0-1) on Friday afternoon.
"I couldn't be more proud of these girls getting a big win on the road against a tough Central Missouri team. We had multiple palyers step up which is always great to see. Shay Jones really took over as a senior in the game and that's what we expect her to do," head coach
Amanda Johnson said following the win.
Mishayla Jones led the way for CSP with game-high 20 points while going a perfect 2-2 from downtown and 6-6 from the free-throw line, she also finished with five steals.
Anna Schmitt added 16 points, seven rebounds and six assists while both
Caitlyn Russell and
Kayla Miller finished with 10 points for Concordia.
After both teams traded baskets for the first three minutes of the game, Concordia used an 8-0 run to build a 14-6 lead with five minutes remaining in the first quarter. Central Missouri would not back down as they would outscore the Golden Bears 14-4 the remainder of the quarter to take a 20-18 to close out the first quarter.
Jones would lead Concordia with six points in the first quarter. The Jennies would finish the first 10 minutes of play with six offensive rebounds and Ashley Duffy would lead Central Missouri with six first quarter points.
In the second quarter, the Jennies would still hold a slight lead for the first six minutes of the quarter that was until Schmitt drained a three-pointer to give CSP a 27-26 lead with 4:01 left in the first half. Central Missouri would respond with a basket and foul to regain a two point lead and later make it four point lead of a layup by Kelsey Williams with 3:08 remaining in the quarter.
The Golden Bears would continue to fight back as Jones would drain a deep three-point shot to pull within one on the following possession. Duffy would, however sink her third three-point basket off the first half just 19 seconds later to give Central Missouri a 34-30 with 2:32 left in the half.
After a couple empty possessions and the Golden Bears still down by four with 1:23 left in the half, CSP would put together a 10-0 run to close out the half and go into the locker room with a 40-34 lead.
Kayla Miller would trigger the run as she drained a three-pointer. Central Missouri would try to regain the lead but Jones would make an incredible steal and as she was falling out of bounds, she threw the ball ahead to a wide open Schmitt who would lay it in on the fast break. Concordia would get their second consecutive defensive stop and it would be Schmitt again who would drain her second three-point basket of the game to give CSP a 38-34 lead. Jones would close out the half and the 10-0 run with a pair of free throws to give Concordia a six point lead at the half.
Jones and Schmitt would lead the Golden Bears with 11 and 10 points, respectively in the first half. Duffy led Central Missouri with 11 first half points while going a perfect 3-3 from downtown.
Coming out of the intermission break the Jennies would use a 6-0 run to tie the game at 40 apiece with 7:28 left in the third quarter. Over the next two minutes neither team could find the go head basketball, that was until Schmitt beat her defender for the lay-up and was fouled in the process for a three-point play opportunity. She would make the free-throw making it a 43-40 lead for CSP.
Jones would get a steal and easy lay in on the following possession to give Concordia a 45-40 lead until Sydney Skaggs would get the Jennies first basket in almost four minutes to cut CSP's lead to three. The Golden Bears would yet again, put together another run to build their lead to nine with 2:21 left in the third quarter.
Concordia would hold a 51-42 lead with 1:38 left in the third quarter and looked to be in complete control, however Central Missouri used an 8-4 run to close out the quarter to pull within five heading into the final quarter of play. All eight of the Jennies points came off of free throws during the run to close the quarter.
In the fourth and final quarter, Central Missouri pulled to within one just over a minute into the quarter after a three-point basket by Megan Skaggs. The Golden Bears would not surrender their lead rest of the way and whenever the Jennies pulled within one point, CSP would respond with a basket on the offensive end to rebuild their lead.
Miller and Jones would hit back-to-back threes with just over six minutes left in regulation and Russell would score six of her 10 points in the final quarter and four of those six points gave Concordia a two possession lead with little time left on the clock.
With under 31 seconds remaining, Central Missouri trailed by five and was forced to foul, sending CSP to free throw line to close out the game. The Golden Bears would go 5-8 at the charity stripe to seal the 74-65 win.
Central Missouri was led by Ashley Duffy and Morgan Fleming who scored 12 points apiece and Keyonna Lee added 10 points and 16 rebounds (6 offensive) on the afternoon. The Jennies went 27-29 from the free-throw line for the game and out rebounded CSP 40-33, 20 of which were offensive rebounds.
CSP returns to action tomorrow as they travel to #12 Pittsburg State for a 2 pm start time.
