Instate Rival Southeast Missouri State Heads East For Showdown With The 'Roos
11/11/2012 3:11:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Kansas City women's basketball team (0-1) will welcome in instate rival Southeast Missouri State (1-0) on Monday night. Tip-off for the game between the Kangaroos and the Redhawks is slated for 7 p.m. at the Swinney Recreation Center.
Opponent Preview
Southeast Missouri State enters the game with a 1-0 record after knocking off Wright State in the season opener. Four Southeast Missouri players scored in double figures and the Redhawks led by as many as 21 points in a season-opening 78-66 win. The Redhawks won their season opener for the first time since the 2009-10 season and its 78 points were more than the team scored in all but one game during the 2011-12 campaign.
Series Records
This will be the seventh meeting between the two Missouri schools with Southeast Missouri State holding a 3-2 lead in the series, after a win vacation by the 'Roos in the 1999 contest. The last meeting between Kansas City and the Redhawks took place on Nov. 21, 2000 with SEMO winning 65-48 in Kansas City.
Coaching Matchup
Coach Frese will make her regular season head coaching debut on Friday when she guides the 'Roos against the Griffons. Prior to UMKC, Frese served as the associate head coach at Northern Illinois and Illinois, while serving as an assistant at Ball State, Maryland and Minnesota during her career.
Southeast Missouri head women's basketball coach Ty Margenthaler spent his first season at the helm moving the roster in a positive direction, leading the Redhawks' to a 7-22 record in his first season.
Margenthaler picked up his first career victory on Nov. 29, 2011, when the Redhawks outlasted Arkansas State, 56-52, in a thrilling back and forth contest at the Show Me Center. A dominant 66-48 win over Jacksonville State on Jan. 2, 2012 represented Margenthaler's first victory over an OVC opponent.
Last Time Out
Senior Kim Nezianya led the Kansas City women's basketball team (0-1) with 17 points and five rebounds, while junior Ashli Hill added 11 points and six blocks in the season opening 68-51 loss to Missouri Western State (1-0) on Friday night at the Swinney Recreation Center. As a team, the 'Roos outscored the Griffons 24-16 in the paint.
O' Captain
Senior forward Kim Nezianya and junior guard Eilise O'Connor were named as the Team Captains in a vote by the team's players and coaches. The players were selected after members of the team went through an evaluation process with their teammates and coaches.
300th Win
The UMKC women's basketball program currently sits on 299 wins and will get number 300 with its next victory.
'Roos Tabbed Second in Summit League Preseason Poll
The Kansas City women's basketball team was picked to finish second in The Summit League this season in a vote by the league head coaches, SID's and media.
School (1st place votes) Points
1. South Dakota State (22) 330
2. Kansas City (1) 260
3. Oakland 234
4. North Dakota State 221
5. IUPUI (1) 213
6. South Dakota 151
7. Western Illinois 138
8. Fort Wayne (1) 96
9. Omaha 43
O'Connor and Nezianya Honored by the League
Senior forward Kim Nezianya and junior guard Eilise O'Connor were each selected to the Preseason First Team All-Summit League. Kansas City teammates Nezianya, an all-tournament team honoree last season, and O'Connor, and Honorable Mention All-League selection, represent the only teammates on the First Team after helping the Kangaroos to just their second appearance all-time in the championship game last year.
College Sports Madness recognizes a Trio of 'Roos
Kansas City women's basketball junior Eilise O'Connor was named to the preseason First Team All-Summit League, while senior Kim Nezianya and junior Ashli Hill were each named to the Second Team according to College Sports Madness.
Rockin' 'Roo Talent Show
The women's basketball team walked away the winners of the third annual Rockin' Roo Talent Show on April 12. This year's event was held at the Student Union Theater on the UMKC campus and consisted of celebrity judges evaluating nine teams and their acts in front of a crowd of 300.
Cousins on the Roster
The UMKC roster will feature cousins Kelsey Barnwell and Lauren Dudding this season after the duo each decided to join the 'Roos out of separate states. Barnwell comes to the squad out of Jay, Okla., while Dudding is a Lubbock, Texas, native. Junior Eilise O'Connor, meanwhile, enters her third season in the Blue & Gold after becoming familiar with the school thanks to her cousin and UMKC Hall of Famer Katie Houlehan.
Teammates Reunited
This season, senior Emile Blakesley and junior Kara Lee are reunited on the court after spending the 2010-11 season as teammates at Hutchinson Community College. That year, the duo helped the Blue Dragons to 29-4 record, a conference championship and a spot in the NJCAA Region VI Semifinals.
Nezianya on the Glass
Senior forward Kim Nezianya entered the 2012-13 season as the leading active rebounder in The Summit League with 592. After leading the Kangaroos in rebounding in each of her first three seasons, along with her five rebounds this season, the Carrollton, Texas, native now has 597 in her career, seventh most in school history.
Kansas City Record Book
Several members of the current Kansas City women's basketball team have already placed their names in the school's record book. Senior Kim Nezianya is currently seventh all-time in rebounds with 597 in her career and ninth in three-point percentage at .354, while her 263 rebounds and .392 three-point percentage last season rank sixth and 10th, respectively. Junior Ashli Hill, meanwhile, is second all-time in blocks with 147, while her total from her freshman and sophomore seasons rank fourth and fifth all-time. Junior Eilise O'Connor, the final 'Roo, sits eighth in free throw percentage (.766) in her career, while ranking third in assists (154) and eighth in free throws made (104) and attempted (136) in a season.
Last Season
Last season, the Kansas City women's basketball team had one of its best ever, finishing 22-12, making it to the championship game of The Summit League Tournament and appearing for the first time ever in the WNIT, while four 'Roos earned postseason honors for their play on the court.
2012 Kansas City Women's Basketball Team Accomplishments
- 22 win is the 2nd most in school history and only second 20 win season
- 6 road wins is most in school history
- 12 home wins is 3rd most in school history
- 4 neutral court wins is the most in school history
- Played in Summit League Tournament Championship Game for the 2nd time in school history
- Defeated three RPI top-100 teams
- Led The Summit League in off. rebound % (.357) and off. rebounding (14.3)
- Had five comeback wins when trailing by double-digits
2011-12 Individual Honors
Last season, several 'Roos received individual honors, including Dayon Hall-Jones who was named First Team All-Summit League by the league and Second Team by College Sports Madness, to the All-Summit League Tournament, to the World Vision Basketball Invitational All-Tournament Team and league player of the week three times. Eilise O'Connor, meanwhile, was named Honorable Mention All-League by the league and to the Third Team by College Sports Madness, while LeAndrea Thomas was named the league's Sixth Woman of the Year and league player of the week once and Kim Nezianya was named to the Fourth Team All-League by College Sports Madness and to the All-Summit League Tournament Team.
The Seniors
This season, the 'Roos will be led by a pair of seniors in four-year member Kim Nezianya and second-year member Emile Blakesley. In 2011-12, Nezianya averaged 11.1 ppg and 7.7 rpg, while being named to the All-Summit League Tournament Team, while Blakesley posted 2.4 ppg, 19 rebounds, 15 assists and 11 steals.
Fresh Faces
In 2012-13, the Kangaroo roster will feature five newcomers, including four freshman who will see plenty of action with just 11 players on the roster. This year's club welcomes in junior college transfer Kara Lee, along with freshman Taylor Leathers, Jordan Evans, Lauren Dudding and Kelsey Barnwell.
'Roos In The Backcourt
Starting point guard, Eilise O'Connor (5-8), returns for her third-year after being named preseason First Team All-Summit League and will serve as one of the team's two team captains. Joining O'Connor in the backcourt is a pair of second year 'Roos in senior Emile Blakesley (5-8) and sophomore Lexis Hardiek (5-7). Last season, the sharpshooting duo combined to hoist 95 of their 103 field goals from three-point range, knocking down 33. Rounding out the Kansas City guards are freshmen cousins Kelsey Barnwell (5-8) and Lauren Dudding (5-9). Barnwell comes to Kansas City out of Jay, Okla., where she was a three-time all-state selection after leading Kansas High School to a state championship during her tenure. Dudding, meanwhile, joins the 'Roos out of Lubbock, Texas, where she was named the District 2-5A and Avalanche Journal Player of the Year a season ago.
Kansas City at The Forward
At the forward position, the Kangaroos feature the longest tenured 'Roo on the roster in four-year member Kim Nezianya (6-0), who has led the 'Roos in rebounding in each of her three seasons, while being named to The Summit League Championship All-Tournament Team a season ago. This year, Nezianya enters the year as a preseason First Team All-Summit League selection and team captain. Taylor Leathers (6-0) joins the 'Roos out of Blue Valley High School in Overland Park, Kan., where she led the Tigers to a runner-up finish in the Kansas 5A State Championship as a junior. Jordan Evans (6-2), meanwhile, comes to Kansas City from Tulsa, Okla., where she guided Webster High School to the 4A Area 3 District Championship in each of the three previous seasons.
Women in the Middle
In the middle, the Kangaroos will send out a trio of juniors all over 6-3. In 2011-12, Lawrence, Kan., native Ashli Hill (6-5) improved both her points and rebound per game numbers, including notching a career-high 20 points in Allen Fieldhouse against Kansas. Hailey Houser (6-3) enters her third season at UMKC after posting 2.4 points and 1.7 rebounds per game last season, while twice matching her career-high of 10 points. Kara Lee (6-4), meanwhile, helped Hutchinson Community College to a 33-1 record and a runner-up finish in the national championship game a season ago, while averaging seven points and four rebounds per contest.
The Staff
The 2012-13 Kansas City women's basketball coaching staff returns four members from last season's staff, while adding one new assistant coach. Associate head coach Bruce Erickson enters his fourth season with the program, while assistant coach Meredith Doyle enters her third year at UMKC. Jessica Trahan, meanwhile, enters her fifth season as the Director of Basketball Operations with the program, while Liz Sowers is in her second year as a graduate assistant coach after serving as a graduate manager. Danielle Gratton is the final member of the staff, serving as the squad's other assistant in her first season.
'Roos In The Classroom
Last season, eight 'Roos were named to The Summit League Academic All-League team, Kaycie Boyles, Sydney Crimmins, Brianna Eldridge, Dayon Hall-Jones, Lexis Hardiek, Kelsey Knoche, Kim Nezianya and Eilise O'Connor. In order to be named to academic all-league team, each student-athlete must post a GPA of 3.0 or higher in the semester in which they compete. Additionally, Boyles, Crimmins, Hardiek, Knoche and O'Connor were each named a Distinguished Scholar for posting a GPA above 3.6.
Meanwhile, Boyles, Eldridge, Hall-Jones, Hailey Houser, Knoche, Nezianya and O'Connor, were named to the Commissioner's List of Academic Excellence for posting a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better.
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 2012-13 campaign, all 32 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 seventh straight season.
KSMO, meanwhile, will broadcast two TV games this season, including Nov. 8 against Colorado and Dec. 28 against Omaha.
