Kansas City
Eastern Michigan
Eagles Take Down ?Roos In Kansas City
12/15/2012 5:31:00 PM | Women's Basketball
(Kansas City, Mo.) - Senior Emile Blakesley reached career-highs in points, rebounds, assists and steals, but it was not enough as the Kansas City women's basketball team (4-7) dropped their third straight contest, falling 74-69 on Saturday afternoon to Eastern Michigan (2-8) at the Swinney Recreation Center.
The Hutchinson, Kan., native finished with a team-high 16 points, hitting 5-of-7 from the field including 4-of-6 from three-point range, while adding five rebounds, four assists and four steals.
"It felt good to knock down a few threes today," Blakesley said. "Lately teams have been keying on our posts, so when we are able to hit our threes, it really opens up our offense. Unfortunately we just came up a little short today."
Kansas City built a game-high seven point lead in the first half when Blakesley drained her first three in the last five games, capping a 6-0 run by the 'Roos.
A layup by junior Kara Lee put the 'Roos ahead 20-13 and kept the UMKC lead at seven, but a 10-2 run by EMU gave the Eagles a 23-22 advantage with 3:37 left in the first half.
A jumper by junior Ashli Hill on the ensuing Kansas City possession put the Kangaroos back in front, but the 'Roos would settle for a 28-28 tie heading into halftime.
The Eagles would strike first in the second half, but a 12-4 run by the 'Roos, including a pair of jumpers by Taylor Leathers and the final five points from Blakesley, gave Kansas City a 40-34 lead at the 15:34 mark.
Eastern Michigan answered with the next four points, before a three from freshman Lauren Dudding and a layup by Lee put the 'Roos in front 45-38, matching their largest lead of the game.
The Eagles, however, would go on a 10-3 run to tie the score at 48-48 with just over 10 minutes remaining in the game.
The score would be tied five more times over the next six minutes, including for the final time at 63-63 after Blakesley connected on her final three of the contest, but an 8-2 run by EMU over the next 2:27 put the Eagles ahead 71-65 with 2:13 left on the clock.
Blakesley would cut the lead to four with a pair of free throws, but three straight free throws by Eastern Michigan sealed the game for the visitors.
Junior Eilise O'Connor would add a jumper on the final 'Roo possession to put the final score at 74-69.
For the 'Roos, O'Connor finished with 14 points, seven assists and five rebounds, while Hill chipped in nine points and a team-high eight rebounds.
Dudding, meanwhile, added nine points on 3-of-5 shooting from three-point range, while Lexis Hardiek recorded six points and a career-high four assists.
As a team, the 'Roos out-shot the Eagles from beyond the arc, 41.7 percent (10-24) to 18.2 percent (2-11).
"Now that we are almost to league play it is good to have my confidence back," Blakesley added. "We will get ready for these final two non-league games and then prepare for Omaha after Christmas."
The Blue & Gold will hit the road for the final two non-league games of the season when they visit Texas Southern on Wednesday at 7 p.m. and New Mexico State on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
