Klein's 16-Point Outing Not Enough As Kangaroos Fall To Oakland

Monday, December 10

Rochester, Mich.

6:00 p.m. CT

Kansas City

Oakland

Klein's 16-Point Outing Not Enough As Kangaroos Fall To Oakland

12/10/2007 10:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball

By: UMKC Athletics

Rochester, Mich. -- On the road for the second consecutive game, UMKC visited reigning league champion Oakland for a Monday night contest. The Kangaroos battled early in the first half but couldn't overcome a sloppy stretch late in the stanza and fell by a 78-50 count.

Despite turning the ball over on its first possession, UMKC grabbed an early 3-1 lead, as Chazny Morris hit a three pointer with just over a minute elapsed.

The teams would trade the lead back and forth for the first six minutes of the game, with Alysa Klein banking in a layup to give the Kangaroos a 11-10 lead with 13:49 left in the half.

Unfortunately, it would be the last points over a lengthy span for UMKC, as Oakland took advantage of poor shooting and eight Kangaroo turnovers to reel off a 20-0 run.

Brittny Picconi finally found net for the Kangaroos with 5:31 left in the half, but it was only able to stanch the bleeding, as UMKC went into the half down 41-24.

UMKC continued to have troubles hanging on to the ball coming out of the break. The Kangaroos allowed Oakland to stretch out a 27-point cushion, committing three turnovers in the first four minutes.

Lindsay Fields sparked a 9-2 run for UMKC, converting a three-point play with 13:17 left in the game and adding a pair of free throws on UMKC's next possession. Klein and Taushelle Rushing added buckets during the run, but the Kangaroos were only able to close the gap as close as 63-44, with just over 10 minutes left in the contest.

Oakland fired back with seven unanswered points over a span of 2:18, holding off the Kangaroos - who could never find the mark down the stretch.

Klein was the only Kangaroo to finish in double figures on the night, scoring 16 points to lead all scorers. She also led the team off the glass, grabbing seven of UMKC's 23 rebounds.

Oakland had three players finish with 10 points or better, led by Charlese Greer with 15 points. Melissa Jeltema grabbed seven rebounds to lead the Golden Grizzlies, who dominated the battle off the glass, pulling down 40. Oakland also swiped the ball 15 times to just seven for the Kangaroos.

UMKC, who falls to 5-5 overall and 0-2 in The Summit League, continues its road swing on Saturday. The Kangaroos take on in-state foe Missouri in Columbia, Mo., with tipoff set for 1 p.m.