Kansas City
South Dakota State
UMKC Falls At South Dakota State
1/31/2011 10:35:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Brookings, S.D. -- The UMKC women's basketball team fell 82-57 at South Dakota State on Monday night. The Kangaroos drop to 9-13 overall and 4-7 in The Summit League, while the Jackrabbits improve to 10-12 overall and 6-5 in league play. Kaycie Boyles and Eilise O'Connor led the `Roos with 12 points, while Brianna Eldridge brought down 10 rebounds.
UMKC got off to a slow start in the first half and SDSU jumped out ahead, 11-1. The Kangaroos also got in foul trouble early on in the opening minutes of the first half, which didn't make things any easier. The Jackrabbits had an 18-point lead, 21-3, with 12:10 remaining following a pair of free throws by Steph Paluch.
The `Roos were finally able to hit score 11 points with seven minutes left in the first half, but SDSU still held a commanding 19-point lead, 30-11.
The Kangaroos were able to cut the lead to 11 points with 1:34 left in the half, following LeAndrea Thomas free throws, a Sam Sikkink three-pointer and a Kim Nezianya lay-up. Kristin Rotert hit a free throw with three seconds on the clock to send the Jackrabbits into the locker room with a 17-point lead, 43-26.
UMKC really got to work in the opening minutes of the second half and began to chip away at SDSU's lead. O'Connor, Boyles and Eldridge hit all three of their shots in the opening minutes and got the `Roos within 10 points, 43-33. The `Roos were able to put another solid stretch together and get within eight points, 47-39.
But the momentum would again switch out of the `Roos favor in the middle minutes of the second half as missed lay-ups would plague any come back attempts. With 8:07 left in the game, the Jackrabbits jumped out again to 15-point lead, 65-50, and with 2:49 left in the game they would extend the lead to 21 points.
Jennie Sunnarborg led all players with 28 points and two other Jackrabbits finished in double figures.
UMKC is on the road again on Saturday, heading to Cedar City, Utah, for a Summit League matchup against Southern Utah.
