Kangaroos To Battle Golden Eagles On Monday In Tulsa
1/25/2009 2:15:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Kangaroos will next test their abilities at Oral Roberts on Monday, Jan. 26 in Tulsa, Okla. The pair tip-off in the Mabee Center at 7:05 p.m. UMKC is 9-10 overall and 4-4 in The Summit League following a 66-58 win over Centenary on Saturday afternoon. Chazny Morris led all players with 25 points and eight rebounds, but it was a true team effort for UMKC to hang on the win over the Ladies. Simone Bridges finished with a career-high 13 points, going 5-of-8 from the field. UMKC out boarded Centenary 42-35, led by Kalei Nance's 12 boards and a career-high 11 boards from Mariah Davis.
ORU is 10-9 on the year and 3-5 in Summit League action. Junior forward Janae Voelker and freshman guard Georgia Jones helped give the Oral Roberts women's basketball team a 64-59 victory over Southern Utah Saturday afternoon in the Mabee Center.
Kangaroos Hold Their Own In League Stats
Headed into the game with ORU, UMKC is 4-4 in the league and fifth overall in the standings. The Kangaroos lead The Summit League overall in free throw percentage and steals. UMKC is shooting 74.2 percent (270-364) overall and is the league leader in steals with 197 total, a 10.4 average.
Chazny Morris is the front leader in scoring both overall and in The Summit League. Overall, Morris leads with 352 points for a 18.5 average in 29 games played.
Morris Sitting Pretty at 27-Game Streak
Guard Chazny Morris is currently on a 27-game scoring streak where the junior has finished the game in double digits. The streak began back in the 2007-08 season where she recorded 17 points against South Dakota State on Feb. 16, 2008. Morris has carried the streak well into the 2008-09 season and has finished with double figures in every game so far this season.
Kangaroos Hold On For 66-58 Victory Over Centenary
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 and recorded 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 first half. Following two good free throws from LeAndrea Thomas, UMKC led Centenary by 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 was able to escape out of the first half down six to UMKC, 34-28.
Following halftime, UMKC was able to calm down and get back up by 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. Another Zaloga field goal with get the Ladies 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 would put the Kangaroos back up by seven (54-47), following a Anne Farrell layup.
The Kangaroos would gain a nine point lead (58-49) with five minutes remaining after two good free throws from Bridges. Not quite in the clear yet, the Ladies would work really hard to try and keep within striking distance and got 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.
UMKC out-boarded its opponent 42-35 and recorded 10 steals on the day, with Morris and Bridges each recording three.
