Kansas City
South Dakota State
UMKC Can't Contain No. 21 South Dakota State, Fall 83-63
1/19/2009 11:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Kansas City, Mo. -- The UMKC women's basketball team couldn't out last the No. 21 South Dakota State Jackrabbits, as it dropped a home contest, 83-63, on Monday night at the Swinney Recreation Center. The Kangaroos fall to 8-10 overall on the season and 3-4 in The Summit League, while the Jackrabbits improve to 18-2 overall and 7-1 in league play. UMKC was led by Chazny Morris who finished with 15 points and nine rebounds, while Brianna Eldridge contributed a career-high 12 points.
UMKC hit the floor in the opening minutes and showed SDSU that they weren't intimated, as the Kangaroos and the Jackrabbits took turns sharing the lead. Following a Mariah Davis jumper, the Kangaroos held a 4-2 lead just two minutes into the game. But a pair of good free throws from Kristin Rotert would tie the game back up and from there on out the `Roos would play catch up, but just weren't able to get a defensive stop, allowing the Jackrabbits to remain one field goal ahead.
With 5:47 remaining in the first half, Kalei Nance drained a jumper to put UMKC up by two (21-19), but SDSU converted on the following possession to tie the game for the 11th time. A three-point play by Ketty Cornemann would get the Jackrabbits back out on top, 24-21 with 4:52 left in the first half.
A pair of free throws from Nance would tie the game for a 12th time and give the `Roos a one point edge, 25-24. SDSU answered back by going on a 9-0 run, draining three back-to-back three pointers and headed into the locker room with an 11 point lead.
The second half was all SDSU and the closest UMKC would get to its opponent would be eight (44-36) with 17:11 remaining. The Jackrabbits would continue to hammer away on the Kangaroos and led by 23 (74-51) with 5:28 remaining.
Morris would have another stellar second half for UMKC, scoring 11 of her 15 points in that time frame, but it wouldn't be enough to stage a comeback.
SDSU was led by Cornemann who finished the night with 23 points, with Jennifer Warkenthien scoring 17 and Jill Young adding 15. The Jackrabbits were able to overpower the young Kangaroo squad on the boards, grabbing 37 rebounds compared to UMKC's 24.
The Kangaroos will look to bounce back in The Summit League on Saturday against Centenary in Shreveport, La. Tip-off is set for noon.
