Kansas City
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Kansas
`Roos Solid Defensive Effort Can't Produce Win At Kansas
1/3/2011 10:29:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Lawrence, Kan. -- The UMKC women's basketball team suffered a 56-41 loss at Kansas despite a tough defensive effort by the `Roos. The Kangaroos fall to 5-10 overall this season while the Jayhawks improve to 13-1 on the year. Freshman Eilise O'Connor led the Kangaroos with nine points and Ashli Hill finished with six blocks.
Hill's six blocks were all recorded in the first half to break the UMKC school record for most blocks in a half.
Both teams gave up very little in the first half, with Kansas only holding a 10-7 lead over UMKC with 12:07 left. But a 7-0 run by the Jayhawks over the next five minutes would extend the home team's lead to seven points, 17-10. The Jayhawks were able to head into the locker room with a 26-16 lead.
Kansas got a little more comfortable in the second half on the offensive end, taking an 18 point lead, 40-22, with 13:46 left on the clock. The `Roos were able to stay under a 20 point deficit by hitting shots here-and-there and got a lift from Sam Sikkink after the senior drained a three to get UMKC within 10 (43-33) with 8:45 left in the game.
But the Kangaroos wouldn't get any closer than that, as Carolyn Davis worked hard in the paint and on the boards to secure the Jayhawks 13th win of the season. Davis would lead all players with 27 points and 14 rebounds.
UMKC struggled on offense, only shooting .283 from the field and .091 from the three-point line.
The Kangaroos over powered the Jayhawks in blocks, 10-1, thanks to six from Hill. The Jayhawks were also averaging 82 points a game in non-conference play this season and the UMKC defense was able to hold them to just 56 tonight.
UMKC is officially done with its non-conference portion of the schedule and will resume Summit League play on Saturday. The Kangaroos host Southern Utah at 4 p.m., inside Municipal Auditorium. Saturday will serve as a double-header for UMKC, as the men's team will also face the Thunderbirds at 7:05 p.m.
