Kansas City
VCU
Quick Second Half Start By Rams Dooms ?Roos In Season?s First Road Contest
11/20/2012 7:37:00 PM | Women's Basketball
(Richmond, Va.) - The Kansas City women's basketball team (2-3) trailed by just six points as the first half came to a close, but a 13-2 run by VCU (1-3) to open up the second half doomed the Kangaroos in the 79-55 loss to the Rams on Tuesday night at Verizon Wireless Arena.
Freshman Taylor Leathers and sophomore Lexis Hardiek each reached career-highs for the 'Roos, scoring 10 and nine points, respectively.
"We had spurts of good energy tonight, but when we play on the road we have to create our own," senior forward Kim Nezianya said. "When we have a good defensive possession and get a stop we have to build off that and sustain our energy for 40 minutes."
Nezianya notched her third double-double of the season, tying Leathers for the team high in points with 10, while grabbing 10 rebounds and dishing out three assists.
After giving up the first three points of the game, the Kangaroos scored the next six, taking a 6-3 lead after a steal and layup by senior Emile Blakesley.
The Rams, however, answered with a 21-5 rally to take a first half-high 12 point lead at the 7:28 mark.
Kansas City trimmed the margin to 11 six minutes later before closing the half with a jumper by Leathers and a three from Hardiek to cut the deficit to 32-26 heading into halftime.
Coming out of the locker room, the Rams opened up with a flurry, scoring 13 of the first 15 points to stretch the lead to 17 less than four minutes into the second half.
VCU would build its lead to 20 with 11:13 remaining in the game, but the 'Roos would mount one final comeback attempt, cutting the lead to 11 at 64-53 with just over six minutes left to play.
The rally, though, would fall short, as the 'Roos scored just two points the rest of the way, falling 79-55.
As a team, the 'Roos out-scored the Rams 23-16 off the bench, while freshman Lauren Dudding added eight points and six rebounds in the loss.
"We are excited to go to New York," Nezianya added. "Hopefully we can bring that excitement to these two games and get the taste of this one out our mouth."
The Blue & Gold will be back in action again on Friday when they head north to New York for the LIU Turkey Classic to take on Drexel at 3 p.m. CT before facing either LIU Brooklyn or Colgate.
