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Kansas City
Eastern Michigan
Eastern Michigan Steals One At Home From UMKC
12/1/2010 10:19:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Kansas City, Mo. -- The UMKC women's basketball team suffered a 64-58 loss to Eastern Michigan on Wednesday night. The Kangaroos fall to 3-4 on the year, while the Eagles improve to 5-2. Ashli Hill led the `Roos with 11 points and four blocks.
The Kangaroos would dig themselves a hole in the first half that they would later be unable to overcome. The Eagles shot .516 from the floor compared to .281 by the Kangaroos in the first half. But the real difference in the first half was eight steals by the Eagles compared to UMKC's one.
Four lead changes would take place in the first seven minutes of the game. Eastern Michigan would finally take over the lead for good at the 12 minute mark following a Cassie Schrock lay-up. Sam Sikkink would do her best to keep things close, draining three straight three-pointers for the UMKC, keeping the `Roos within five points (25-25) with 6:14 left.
The Eagles would string together an 8-0 run to jump ahead by 12 points and were able to head into the locker room with a 36-22 advantage.
The `Roos weren't down-and-out just yet and put forth a great second-half effort. Despite the final score, the Kangaroos out-right won the second half, 36-28.
Early on, Eastern Michigan appeared to be running away with the game, jumping out to a 21-point lead (51-30) with 13:42 left in the game. UMKC slowly chipped away at the lead and got within 10 points (55-45), following an Eilise O'Connor jumper. LeAndrea Thomas then stepped up for the `Roos, scoring seven of her nine points in a two minute time span.
Thomas got UMKC within eight points (58-50) with 5:25 left and then countered an Eagle three-pointer with a three of her own, making it 60-53 Eastern Michigan with 4:37 on the clock. The Kansas City, Mo. native, scored her seventh straight point on the following possession to get the `Roos within five, 60-55, with 3:36 on the clock.
The Kangaroos were able to get within two points (60-58) following free throws from Mariah Davis and O'Connor but were forced to foul the Eagles to get the ball back. Senior Sydney Huntley calmly hit two free throws with 22 seconds remaining to jump ahead, 62-58. The `Roos had time for one last play but didn't get a good look at the basket and a missed long three-pointer gave Eastern Michigan an open opportunity for an easy lay-up for the final score of 64-58.
O'Connor, Thomas and Sikkink all finished with nine points, while Simone Bridges led the `Roos with seven boards. The UMKC bench again out-scored its opponent, 22-8.
UMKC will dip into Summit League action this weekend taking on Oakland and IPFW. The Kangaroos first head to Rochester, Mich., to face the Golden Grizzlies on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
