The latest local news, weather and high school sports from the Heartland

The first trip through the MIAA schedule comes full circle on Wednesday night as the Truman men’s basketball team will host the University of Central Missouri in Pershing Arena at 7:30 pm.
 
The Bulldogs (5-11, 3-6 MIAA) will be home for just the second time since Dec. 7, having most recently played through a stretch of five out of six on the road.

However, Wednesday night kicks off back-to-back games in Pershing Arena this week, starting with the only conference team Truman has yet to face in 2011-2012.
 
Truman dropped a 68-64 decision at Lincoln University on Saturday, whereas Central Missouri (10-4, 6-3 MIAA) will be hitting the road for the first time in four games and is riding a three-game win streak.
 
 
Three to Watch:

1.     Keeping the turnovers in check. Truman ranks last in the MIAA in turnover margin (-2.1) whereas UCM is fourth (+2.0) in that category and fifth in steals (7.8).

2.     Bulldog guards from distance. The Mules rank second in the league in defending the three-pointer and held Truman to just six total triples in last season’s two meetings.

3.     Controlling the defensive glass. Both teams rank in the top-third of the league in defensive rebounds, with Truman’s 25.3/game average placing them fourth.

 
The Truman women’s basketball team returns to the friendly confines of Pershing Arena after a three-game road trip for four of their next five games starting on Wednesday night when they host the University of Central Missouri at 5:30 p.m.

The Bulldogs snapped a four-game losing streak on Saturday afternoon as they held Lincoln University to their lowest point total of the season and handed the Blue Tigers their worst loss of the year in a 70-48 victory in Jefferson City.

Becka McHenry and Nicole Gloor each scored a career high 24 points in the win with Gloor also pulling down a career benchmark 12 rebounds, nine offensive.

The Bulldogs grabbed a season-high 57 boards against the Blue Tigers and finished the game with 19 more rebounds.

The Jennies have won three straight, all at home, with their most recent victory being a 72-67 triumph over Missouri Western State University on Saturday.

Central found their touch from long range as they buried nine treys with three apiece from Renae Shippy and Saraethea Brown. Nicole Caddell paced the Jennies with 19 points as Central held off the Griffons after leading by as many as 16.

Central leads the MIAA in three-pointers per game at 8.3 a contest while Truman is allowing opponents to shoot 32% (good for ninth) from beyond the arc.

Both teams have a scoring margin of 10 points or more and both teams grab around 40 rebounds per game. The Jennies have a slight edge in blocks at 5.5 per game.

Caddell is second in the MIAA in scoring at 16 points per game while Truman’s Becka McHenry is sixth at 13.9.

McHenry is ranked in nine individual stat categories entering the week including points, rebounds, assists, free throw percentage, steals and minutes played.

Courtesy Truman State University