.png&width=40&type=webp)
.png&width=40&type=webp)
Kangaroos Take On Tigers On Saturday
12/9/2010 4:29:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Kansas City, Mo. -- The UMKC women's basketball team will take on Missouri on Dec. 11 at 12 p.m. in Columbia, Mo. The Kangaroos are coming off of a 60-58 loss at IPFW. The `Roos are 3-6 overall and 0-2 in The Summit League.
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
Missouri is 4-4 on the year and is coming off of a 53-30 win over UT Martin. The Tigers are led by RaeShara Brown with 16.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. Christine Flores is also averaging 14.1 points per contest. Last season, Missouri fell to Texas in the first round of the Big 12 tournament.
Series Record
UMKC is 1-10 all-time against Missouri. The Kangaroos only win over the Tigers came on Nov. 25, 1991. The `Roos defeated Missouri, 60-58, under head coach Brian Agler.
Be A Part of the Action
Kangaroo fans can listen live to T.J. Jackson on KCWJ 1030 AM The Light. The game will also be televised on Fox Sports Network and MetroSports. For live stats, go to www.mutigers.com.
Whitaker Against the Tigers
Head coach Candace Whitaker has faced Missouri once before and almost notched UMKC's second program win over the Big 12 foe. The Kangaroos fell to the Tigers, 75-73, in overtime on Dec. 15, 2007.
Hill Just Misses UMKC Record
Freshman Ashli Hill recorded eight blocks in the 60-58 loss at IPFW. Hill just missed the UMKC school record for most blocks in a game. The current school record is nine blocks, set by Joy Ommen against William Penn back on Jan. 6, 1984. Hill did however tie the school record for most blocks in a half with five.
Just nine games in to her collegiate basketball career, Hill already ranks fifth for most blocks by a freshman in the UMKC record books. Hill leads The Summit League in total blocks but is fifth with 2.3 blocks per game.
Eldridge Back in Line-Up
Junior guard Brianna Eldridge returned back to UMKC's active roster on Monday night against IPFW. Eldridge logged 21 minutes and grabbed five rebounds, after being sidelined for seven games due to an ankle injury.
Rough Summit League Start
The Kangaroos dropped their opening weekend in the The Summit League, 0-2. UMKC fell at Oakland, 75-50, and was then edged by IPFW 60-58. Last season, the `Roos began Summit League play, 1-1, notching an 81-66 win over Centenary but then falling to Oral Roberts, 99-72.
Last Time Out: UMKC Drops 60-58 Decision At IPFW
The UMKC women' s basketball team dropped its second straight Summit League match at IPFW on Monday night, 60-58. The Kangaroos fall to 3-6 overall and 0-2 in league play, while the Mastodons improve to 4-3 overall and 1-1 in The Summit League. Despite the loss, Dayon Hall-Jones led the `Roos with 16 points and LeAndrea Thomas contributed 11 points. Freshman Ashli Hill recorded a career-high eight blocks.
Kim Nezianya brought down a season-high 11 rebounds.
Strong Off the Bench
The Kangaroos have been a force coming off the bench so far this season. The UMKC bench has out-scored its opponents in all but two contests this season. The `Roos bench combined for 48 points against Rockhurst and out-scored the Cardinals, 35-8, despite the loss.
Hall-Jones Leading `Roos
Dayon Hall-Jones leads the Kangaroos with 13.0 points per game so far this season. The junior recorded big performances against Drake, Rockhurst and Texas-Arlington. Hall-Jones has finished in double-figures in six games this season and led the Kangaroos in scoring in five. The Dallas, Texas, native scored a career-high 21 points against Drake last season on Nov. 13. Hall-Jones has recorded 20 points against two opponents this 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.
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: Junior Simone Bridges
In 2009-10, Bridges, played in all 32 games as a sophomore and started in two. She averaged 4.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 18.2 minutes per game... scored a career-high 18 points against Fairfield (12/29). Bridges led the Kangaroos in steals in five games on the season and scored in double figures in six games. She brought down a career-high nine rebounds against Northern Arizona (11/19) and Southern Utah (1/4). Bridges was named to the Iowa State all-Tournament team.
In 200809, Bridges started in eight games for the Kangaroos and appeared in 28 contests as a freshman. She averaged 4.4 points and 2.2 rebounds per game.
In high school, Bridges averaged 14.5 points and 6.9 rebounds per game and aided team to a 22-11 overall record as a senior. She was selected as the 2007 Defensive Player of the Year by The Dallas Morning News.
Bridges is a secondary education major at UMKC.
