Kansas City
Centenary
Kangaroos Hold On For 66-58 Victory Over Centenary
1/24/2009 4:15:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Shreveport, La. -- The UMKC women's basketball team improved to 9-10 overall and 4-4 in The Summit League following a 66-58 win over Centenary on Saturday afternoon. Chazny Morris led the Kangaroos with 25 points to go along with eight rebounds, while Simone Bridges finished with a career-high 13 points. On the boards for UMKC, Kalei Nance finished with 12, and Mariah Davis also set a career-high with 11 rebounds. Centenary falls to 3-16 on the season and 1-7 in league play.
The Kangaroos exploded in the first half, snagging five steals to take a 12-point lead (21-9) with 11:45 left in the half. Following two free throws from LeAndrea Thomas, UMKC stretched its advantage to 19 points (34-15) with under four minutes remaining until the half and appeared to have everything under control.
Much to the Kangaroos surprise, the Ladies would go on a 9-0 run sparked by a Karolina Zaloga three pointer. Centenary then cut its deficit to six (34-28) heading into the locker room.
After the break, UMKC was able to calm down and push its lead back to 15, 43-28, just two minutes into the second half. Both teams suffered a scoring drought in the middle of the half, with neither team scoring for three minutes. The Ladies kept fighting, however, as another Zaloga field goal helped her team pull to within six, 43-37. with 14:25 left in the game.
Much of the second half resulted in a back-and-forth battle with UMKC extending its lead and then Centenary would chip away at it. A Morris jumper at the 8:53 mark put the Kangaroos back up by seven (54-47).
The Kangaroos would gain a nine point lead (58-49) with five minutes remaining after two free throws from Bridges. Not quite in the clear yet, the Ladies stayed within striking distance, as they pulled to within four, 60-56, with 1:08 left on the clock.
With UMKC holding the lead and the ball, Centenary was forced to foul and the Kangaroos again secured their win at the free throw line, going six-for-eight down the stretch.
UMKC out rebounded its opponent, 42-35, and recorded 10 steals on the day, with Morris and Bridges each recording three.
UMKC will continue its road trip in Tulsa on Monday night at Oral Roberts. The Kangaroos and Golden Eagles will tip-off at 7:05 p.m. inside the Mabee Center.
