Central Missouri (14-8, 8-6 MIAA) got off to a fast start, running out of the gates with a 7-2 lead in the first 3:51.

The Jennies went on a 12-5 run over the next 7:45 to take a commanding 19-7 advantage. Howard scored seven of her 19 points in the first 12 minutes.

Missouri Southern jumped back into the game, going on an 8-0 run to cut the Jennies’ lead to 19-15 with 6:30 left to play in the opening half. However, UCM’s defense held the Lions scoreless for the rest of the half, scoring six unanswered points to take a 25-15 advantage into the intermission.

The Jennies outscored Missouri Southern, 14-6 in the paint and converted eight points off of six Lions turnovers in the first 20 minutes.

After the Lions scored the first four points of the second half to cut the deficit to six, Howard and Winkelmann combined for four points to bump their advantage back to double-digits, 29-19.

A 9-0 run by Missouri Southern ensued over the next 2:21, as the Jennies saw their 10-point lead dwindle to a single point at 29-28.

The Jennies’ offense responded with an 11-2 run of their own to re-claim a 10 point lead with 9:48 to go. SophomoreAndee Wahlert hit a three-pointer as the shot clock expired with 10:18 to go that put the Jennies up, 38-30. Central Missouri continued their offensive spurt scoring the game’s next 11 points to put the game in doubt at 51-30. Winkelmann’s three-pointer capped off the scoring run for the Jennies.

UCM’s lead never dipped below nine for the rest of the game as the Jennies defeated Missouri Southern for the seventh time in the last eight meetings.

The bench produced 14 points for the Jens, five of them coming from junior Tayler Weiks.

The Jennies look to extend their win streak to three games next Wednesday, February 11 at Lincoln for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off.