`Roos Host Cougars Tuesday Night
11/22/2010 3:47:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Kansas City, Mo. -- The UMKC women's basketball team hosts SIU Edwardsville on Tuesday night inside Swinney Recreation Center at 7 p.m. The Kangaroos are 1-2 overall this season. The `Roos are coming off of 75-68 loss to Texas-Arlington.
The `Roos worked their way to a successful 2009-10 campaign that was highlighted by the program's first ever Division I postseason appearance. The `Roos took on Memphis in the inaugural Women' s Basketball Invitational.
Head coach Candace Whitaker is back for her fourth+ season and returning with her are four starters and 10 letterwinners from the 2009-10 record breaking squad. Whitaker welcomes back two seniors, six juniors and two sophomores. The Kangaroos will also welcome five newcomers, four freshmen and one sophomore, to the 2010-11 team.
Opponent Preview
SIU Edwardsville is 0-3 so far this season and are coming off of a 68-57 loss at Illinois State. The Cougars are led by Melia Duncan with 13 points per game and Jazmin Hill with 10 points per game. SIU Edwardsville is coached by Amanda Levens, who is in her third season.
Series Record
UMKC is 5-2 all-time against the Cougars. The Kangaroos fell 66-55 to SIU Edwardsville last season.
Nezianya Doubles Up
Kim Nezianya recorded her first double-double of the season on Saturday night against Texas-Arlington. Nezianya finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds. The Carrollton, Texas, native recorded three double-doubles last season as a freshman. Her last double-double was against Oral Roberts in The Summit League Tournament on March 8, where Nezianya finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Hall-Jones Remains Consistent In Early Games
Three games into the 2010-11 season, Dayon Hall-Jones has been stepping up for the `Roos in a big way. The junior is averaging 17.0 points per game, following big performances at Drake, and against Rockhurst and Texas-Arlington. Hall-Jones finished with 18 points against the Bulldogs and notched 20 points against the Hawks, just missing a career-high. The Dallas, Texas, native scored a career-high 21 points against Drake last season on Nov. 13.
Last Time Out: Nezianya Double-Double Can't Overpower Mavericks, `Roos Fall 75-68
The UMKC women's basketball team dropped a 75-68 decision to Texas-Arlington on Nov. 20 inside Swinney Recreation Center. The Kangaroos fall to 1-2 on the year, while the Mavericks notch their first win of the season and improve to 1-2. Despite the loss, Kim Nezianya recorded her first double-double of the year, leading the `Roos with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Dayon Hall-Jones continued to stay in double figures, scoring 13 points.
Still Tough At Home
Texas-Arlington snapped the `Roos 11-0 Swinney Recreation Center win streak on Saturday night, but UMKC is still tough at home. The Kangaroos are now 11-1 inside the SRC for the past three seasons. Prior to Saturday's contest, the `Roos hadn't suffered a loss there since Feb. 2, 1009.
Women's Hoops To Be Aired On KCWJ 1030 AM The Light & Hot Talk 1510 AM
Kangaroo fans will now have the opportunity to follow the UMKC women's basketball both home and away this season. During the 2010-11 campaign, over 80 percent of Kangaroo women's basketball games will be broadcast on the radio on KCWJ 1030 AM The Light and Hot Talk 1510 AM. T.J. Jackson will call all the play-by-play action for the 'Roos for the fifth straight season.
The Summit League Releases Women's Basketball Preseason Poll; `Roos Tabbed Sixth
The UMKC women's basketball team has been picked to finish sixth in The Summit League Preseason Poll after receiving a total of 253 points in a vote of the league's coaches, SIDs and members of the media. Oral Roberts is tabbed to finish first in The League this year, after claiming the 2009-10 regular season title.
School (1st place votes), Points
1. Oral Roberts (26), 438
2. South Dakota State (4), 393
3. Oakland, 336
4. IPFW, 285
5. North Dakota State, 274
6. UMKC, 253
7. Southern Utah, 162
Western Illinois, 162
9. IUPUI, 99
10. Centenary, 48
`Roos Break Even In 2009-10
UMKC finished the 2009-10 season with a 16-16 (.500) overall record, which is the second best winning percentage for the women's program since its admittance into The Summit League (former Mid-Continent Conference).
Whitaker Leads UMKC To School Win Record
The Kangaroos finished with a 12-6 Summit League record last season. UMKC's .667 winning percentage is the second best in school history and the 12 league victories are a school record.
Big Shoes To Fill
Despite returning 10 letterwinners from last year's squad, the `Roos will have big shoes to fill after losing Chazny Morris to graduation. Morris earned first team all-Summit League honors after ranking fourth in the league in scoring with 15.2 points per game in league play only. The honor was Morris' second consecutive first team all-league selection.
The Oakland, Calif., native also led the Kangaroos in scoring for the second straight season and broke the UMKC school record for career points on Dec. 29. The senior finished with 1,806 points, which also ranks seventh all-time in The Summit League in the category.
Doyle Joins UMKC Women's Basketball Staff As An Assistant Coach
Meredith Doyle joined the UMKC women's basketball program as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. Doyle joins the Kangaroos after serving as an assistant coach for Stephen F. Austin for three seasons. Doyle joins associate head coach Bruce Erickson (second season), assistant coach Wyketha Harrell (fourth season), director of basketball operations Jessica Trahan (third season)and graduate assistant Heather Wimberly (second season).
Player Profile: Senior Sam Sikkink
Sam Sikkink appeared in 25 games and started in 23 before suffering a season ending injury on Feb. 15, 2009. She led UMKC in free throw percentage at .905 (38-of-42) and also was the leading scorer in two games. Sikkink scored 10 points or more in six contests and averaged 6.9 points and 27.5 minutes per game. Sikkink finished with a career-high 17 points against North Dakota State (1/9), going 4-for-6 from the three-point line. The Rochester, MIch., native tallied four assists on two occasions, at Centenary (12/5) and IPFW (2/15) and brought down seven rebounds against North Carolina A&T (12/30) and at Oakland (1/18).Sikkink shot over .500 from the three-point line in four games and finished the season with 32 assists, four blocks and 17 steals. Sikkink was named to The Summit League Winter/Spring Academic all-League team and is majoring in psychology.
The `Roos worked their way to a successful 2009-10 campaign that was highlighted by the program's first ever Division I postseason appearance. The `Roos took on Memphis in the inaugural Women' s Basketball Invitational.
Head coach Candace Whitaker is back for her fourth+ season and returning with her are four starters and 10 letterwinners from the 2009-10 record breaking squad. Whitaker welcomes back two seniors, six juniors and two sophomores. The Kangaroos will also welcome five newcomers, four freshmen and one sophomore, to the 2010-11 team.
Opponent Preview
SIU Edwardsville is 0-3 so far this season and are coming off of a 68-57 loss at Illinois State. The Cougars are led by Melia Duncan with 13 points per game and Jazmin Hill with 10 points per game. SIU Edwardsville is coached by Amanda Levens, who is in her third season.
Series Record
UMKC is 5-2 all-time against the Cougars. The Kangaroos fell 66-55 to SIU Edwardsville last season.
Nezianya Doubles Up
Kim Nezianya recorded her first double-double of the season on Saturday night against Texas-Arlington. Nezianya finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds. The Carrollton, Texas, native recorded three double-doubles last season as a freshman. Her last double-double was against Oral Roberts in The Summit League Tournament on March 8, where Nezianya finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Hall-Jones Remains Consistent In Early Games
Three games into the 2010-11 season, Dayon Hall-Jones has been stepping up for the `Roos in a big way. The junior is averaging 17.0 points per game, following big performances at Drake, and against Rockhurst and Texas-Arlington. Hall-Jones finished with 18 points against the Bulldogs and notched 20 points against the Hawks, just missing a career-high. The Dallas, Texas, native scored a career-high 21 points against Drake last season on Nov. 13.
Last Time Out: Nezianya Double-Double Can't Overpower Mavericks, `Roos Fall 75-68
The UMKC women's basketball team dropped a 75-68 decision to Texas-Arlington on Nov. 20 inside Swinney Recreation Center. The Kangaroos fall to 1-2 on the year, while the Mavericks notch their first win of the season and improve to 1-2. Despite the loss, Kim Nezianya recorded her first double-double of the year, leading the `Roos with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Dayon Hall-Jones continued to stay in double figures, scoring 13 points.
Still Tough At Home
Texas-Arlington snapped the `Roos 11-0 Swinney Recreation Center win streak on Saturday night, but UMKC is still tough at home. The Kangaroos are now 11-1 inside the SRC for the past three seasons. Prior to Saturday's contest, the `Roos hadn't suffered a loss there since Feb. 2, 1009.
Women's Hoops To Be Aired On KCWJ 1030 AM The Light & Hot Talk 1510 AM
Kangaroo fans will now have the opportunity to follow the UMKC women's basketball both home and away this season. During the 2010-11 campaign, over 80 percent of Kangaroo women's basketball games will be broadcast on the radio on KCWJ 1030 AM The Light and Hot Talk 1510 AM. T.J. Jackson will call all the play-by-play action for the 'Roos for the fifth straight season.
The Summit League Releases Women's Basketball Preseason Poll; `Roos Tabbed Sixth
The UMKC women's basketball team has been picked to finish sixth in The Summit League Preseason Poll after receiving a total of 253 points in a vote of the league's coaches, SIDs and members of the media. Oral Roberts is tabbed to finish first in The League this year, after claiming the 2009-10 regular season title.
School (1st place votes), Points
1. Oral Roberts (26), 438
2. South Dakota State (4), 393
3. Oakland, 336
4. IPFW, 285
5. North Dakota State, 274
6. UMKC, 253
7. Southern Utah, 162
Western Illinois, 162
9. IUPUI, 99
10. Centenary, 48
`Roos Break Even In 2009-10
UMKC finished the 2009-10 season with a 16-16 (.500) overall record, which is the second best winning percentage for the women's program since its admittance into The Summit League (former Mid-Continent Conference).
Whitaker Leads UMKC To School Win Record
The Kangaroos finished with a 12-6 Summit League record last season. UMKC's .667 winning percentage is the second best in school history and the 12 league victories are a school record.
Big Shoes To Fill
Despite returning 10 letterwinners from last year's squad, the `Roos will have big shoes to fill after losing Chazny Morris to graduation. Morris earned first team all-Summit League honors after ranking fourth in the league in scoring with 15.2 points per game in league play only. The honor was Morris' second consecutive first team all-league selection.
The Oakland, Calif., native also led the Kangaroos in scoring for the second straight season and broke the UMKC school record for career points on Dec. 29. The senior finished with 1,806 points, which also ranks seventh all-time in The Summit League in the category.
Doyle Joins UMKC Women's Basketball Staff As An Assistant Coach
Meredith Doyle joined the UMKC women's basketball program as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. Doyle joins the Kangaroos after serving as an assistant coach for Stephen F. Austin for three seasons. Doyle joins associate head coach Bruce Erickson (second season), assistant coach Wyketha Harrell (fourth season), director of basketball operations Jessica Trahan (third season)and graduate assistant Heather Wimberly (second season).
Player Profile: Senior Sam Sikkink
Sam Sikkink appeared in 25 games and started in 23 before suffering a season ending injury on Feb. 15, 2009. She led UMKC in free throw percentage at .905 (38-of-42) and also was the leading scorer in two games. Sikkink scored 10 points or more in six contests and averaged 6.9 points and 27.5 minutes per game. Sikkink finished with a career-high 17 points against North Dakota State (1/9), going 4-for-6 from the three-point line. The Rochester, MIch., native tallied four assists on two occasions, at Centenary (12/5) and IPFW (2/15) and brought down seven rebounds against North Carolina A&T (12/30) and at Oakland (1/18).Sikkink shot over .500 from the three-point line in four games and finished the season with 32 assists, four blocks and 17 steals. Sikkink was named to The Summit League Winter/Spring Academic all-League team and is majoring in psychology.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's BasketballHead Coach Mark Turgeon Full Introductory Press Conference
Monday, March 09
Women's Basketball Highlights vs. #2 South Dakota State
Thursday, March 05
Women's Basketball Highlights at St. Thomas
Wednesday, February 25
Women's Basketball Highlights vs. Oral Roberts
Saturday, February 21