Kansas City
Central Missouri
UMKC Closes Out 2008 With A 67-53 Win Over Central Missouri
12/31/2008 6:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Kansas City, Mo. -- UMKC closed 2008 inside Swinney Recreation Center with a 67-53 win over Central Missouri on Wednesday afternoon. The Kangaroos improve to 6-7 on the year, while handing the Jennies (8-3) just their third loss of the season. Chazny Morris led UMKC with 22 points and nine boards, while senior Kalei Nance added 10 points and nine boards.
The Kangaroos got off to a quick start in the contest, as they jumped out to an 8-0 lead over the first three minutes of the contest.
Following a LeAndrea Thomas lay-up, UMKC secured a 15 point lead (20-5) with 14:08 left in the first half. The Jennies then found their groove, as they cut the Kangaroo lead to 10 (35-25) with less than three minutes left.
While the UMKC offense only shot 39 percent from the field in the first half it was its defense that would give them the edge. The Kangaroos recorded 12 steals and forced Central Missouri into committing 18 turnovers.
The Jennies gave the Kangaroos a little bit of a scare as they started to get hot from the three-point line in the second half. A Taylor Hanson three at 17:01 would pull Central Missouri within nine and then back-to-back three-pointers from Melia Pence and Fleming would cut the lead to six (48-42) with 13:52 left in the game.
A Morris field goal would put UMKC back up by eight and the `Roos would get some breathing room following another Thomas lay-up to stretch the margin to 11 (56-45) with 9:12 remaining.
Central Missouri got within seven (58-51) with 4:44 remaining but a pair of Morris free throws and a three from Jessica Halsig at the 3:48 mark would give UMKC 63-51 lead and ruin any chances of a Jennie comeback.
UMKC forced Central Missouri to commit 28 total turnovers and the `Roos finished with 19 steals. The Kangaroos finished 12-of-14 from the free throw line, shooting 86 percent.
The Kangaroos will now hit the road for three straight road Summit League games beginning with a Friday showdown at Western Illinois.
