Muleskinner

Issue date: 3/20/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: David Penner: Digitalburg.com For coach Dave Slifer (center) and his Jennies, the MIAA postseason tournament was not the picture they had in mind. [Click to enlarge]

The Central Missouri Jennies' basketball team could not stop the No. 3 seeded Southwest Baptist Lady Bearcats, as they lost 89-80 March 6. UCM had four players in double figures, including Jojuana Jones, who also set a conference tournament record for rebounds in a game with 21.

"The first half, I thought I had like eight," Jones said. "When they said I had 16, I was like, 'Where'd the other eight come from?'"

SBU adjusted its defensive scheme from the last time the two teams met and played zone, which gave the Jennies offense fits.

Senior guard Lindsey Maple said the zone didn't surprise her after what happened in the teams' last meeting.

"We drove the ball on them really well the last game we played," she said. "Teams are going to adapt."

Turnovers were also a problem for the Jennies, as they committed 16.

"We had too many turnovers at critical times," Maple said. "You just can't do that against a No. 3 seeded team. They are pretty talented, and they are going to go a long way."

The Jennies were paced by Maple offensively, who scored 20 points. Jones and MIAA Freshman of the Year Kara Fleming each scored 17, and Deidra Dace came off the bench to score 13.

Still, it wasn't enough, especially when SBU guard Erika Souza scored a game-high 27, and SBU, as a team, shot 70 percent.

"You saw a pretty good SBU team shoot the ball extremely well tonight, and there was nothing we could do," Jennies' coach Dave Slifer said. "The difference in this game was they scored 56 second-half points. Today, we just had no answers.

"I can't believe Jones had 21 rebounds, because I don't remember them missing too many shots."

The Jennies were able to make a small run halfway through the second half, but couldn't capitalize on SBU's mistakes.

"We were able to get the ball up the floor," Maple said. "Our shots weren't hitting, so we had to take it to the basket."

This year may be especially bitter for Slifer because this marks the end of his coaching relationship with Maple and Stephenie Cook, his first two four-year players.
"They came in as young freshmen and it was great watching the maturity and the rivalry between the two of them, but for them to figure out their spots on the team was really neat to see," Slifer said. "It was just fun to see that growth and that friendship."

With this being the closing chapter on the playing careers of Maple, Jones and Cook, Slifer said this loss was unfortunate.

"We are always going to be remembered as the team that showed a lot of heart, and figured out how to play the game of basketball," he said. "I really honestly thought we were going to make a run through this tournament."

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