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Kansas City
South Dakota
Kangaroos Lockdown Coyotes For First Summit League Win
1/12/2013 5:55:00 PM | Women's Basketball
"So proud of our team's effort and energy today," Kansas City head coach Marsha Frese said. "We didn't play a perfect game, but we played hard as team! Every member of our team took ownership today and when that happens, good things will inevitably happen."
"This is a huge win for us," freshman Taylor Leathers said. "We have been close and this shows us, that if we play all 40 minutes, we can finish games and are a force to be reckoned with. Teams can't just walk over us."
Leathers posted her second career double-double in the win, scoring a career-high 12 points to go along with 10 rebounds in a career-high 38 minutes of action.
"Offensively, I played within the game and within myself and didn't force shots, but did what was best for the team," Leathers added. "On the glass, I just tried to do what I always do, and that's get position early and want it."
Junior Ashli Hill opened the game with a three from the top of the key to get the 'Roos rolling on their first possession.
The Coyotes would hang close, but an 11-3 run by Kansas City, starting at the 8:00 minute mark, put the 'Roos in front by a first half-high 11 with just over a minute remaining.
South Dakota closed the gap to eight, but a pair of free throws by junior Kara Lee sent the Kangaroos to the locker room with a 29-19 halftime lead, their largest halftime advantage of the season.
Coming out of the break, USD sliced the lead to six 1:16 into the half, but the 'Roos rallied to score 17 of the next 22 points, building a game-high 18 point lead midway through the half.
South Dakota, though, slowly began chipping away, trimming the lead to 51-41 with just over four minutes remaining.
Hill answered with a pair of free throws to stretch the lead back to 12, but a 10-2 run by South Dakota pulled the visitors to within four at 55-51 with just 50 second left to play.
Junior Eilise O'Connor ended the Coyotes rally with two free throws, but a layup on the other end cut the margin back to four.
Two Emile Blakesley free throws put the score at 59-53, but a free throw and a layup from South Dakota pulled the Coyotes to within three at 59-56 with just 11 seconds remaining.
On the following UMKC possession, South Dakota again fouled Blakesley, sending the senior to the line where her first free throw pushed the lead to four and sealed the 60-56 win for Kansas City.
Offensively, O'Connor paced the 'Roos with team-highs of 14 points and three assists, while sophomore Lexis Hardiek and junior Hailey Houser each chipped in eight points.
Hill, meanwhile, finished with seven points, four rebounds and three blocks.
As a team, Kansas City out-rebound the Yotes, 38-31, while limiting USD to just 31.7 percent shooting.
"We have had great practices this week," Leathers said. "If we keep working hard every day and give it everything we have and we stay mentally prepared we will compete in every game."
The Blue & Gold will be back in action again on Thursday when they welcome in Oakland for a Summit League contest at 7 p.m. in the Swinney Recreation Center.
