Kansas City
Troy
`Roos Go 2-0 In Lady Osprey Tournament; Hand Troy A 62-55 Loss
12/19/2010 3:39:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Jacksonville, Fla. -- The UMKC women's basketball team played its way to a 62-55 win over Troy on Sunday. The Kangaroos finished the Lady Osprey Tournament, 2-0, after a 60-51 win over Bethune-Cookman yesterday. The `Roos improve to 5-7 overall on the season and the Trojans drop to 2-9. Jade Tinner led UMKC with 13 points, while Eilise O'Connor finished with 10 points.
The first half was a back-and-forth battle between the Kangaroos and the Trojans. Troy jumped out to an early lead but the `Roos were able tie the game and take a five-point lead (13-8) following back-to-back three-pointers by Dayon Hall-Jones and Brianna Eldridge with 15:21 left in the first half.
Troy would tie the game in the middle minutes of the first half by forcing UMKC to commit five straight turnovers. The Trojans would take over the lead with 11:37 on the clock after a made free throw by Donette McNair. The Kangaroos were able to get within one and regain the lead following an O'Connor three, 20-17, with 6:09 left.
The game would tie three more times before the end of the first half, but the `Roos were able to hold on for a 29-27 halftime lead.
The Trojans would quickly regain the lead in the opening minutes of the second half. It wasn't until the middle minutes of the second half that the `Roos would wake up and really begin to execute the offense. A lay-up by Tinner at the 15 minute mark would ignite a 13-0 run for the Kangaroos.
Troy would get one basket to break its drought but Kaycie Boyles would make a free throw to give UMKC a 15-point lead, 51-37, with 9:20 left in the game. The Trojans would get as close as nine points but the Kangaroos were solid from the line in the final minutes to keep a safe distance. Tinner, O'Connor and Kim Nezianya were all able to go two-for-two from the line to seal the win.
Tinner finished 4-of-6 from the field and 5-of-6 from the free throw line. While O'Connor went 8-of-10 from the line and Brianna Eldridge led all players with a season-high seven rebounds.
UMKC will break for the holiday but head back to work soon in preparation for a difficult Summit League week. The Kangaroos will host North Dakota State on Dec. 29 and South Dakota State on Dec. 31.
