.png&width=40&type=webp)
.png&width=40&type=webp)
Kansas City
Oakland
Oakland Knocks Off 'Roos In Summit League Action
1/17/2013 10:28:00 PM | Women's Basketball
(Kansas City, Mo.) - Junior Eilise O'Connor finished with 26 points, her second highest total of her career, to go along with eight rebounds and three steals, but it was not enough as the Kangaroos (5-13, 1-4) fell 55-46 to Oakland (8-10, 2-4) on Thursday night at the Swinney Recreation Center.
"Overall, we are all disappointed," Kansas City Head Coach Marsha Frese said. "We came out and - I think we were ready to play - we just didn't execute well. We got a little more upset than we needed to be, but we have to build from it. We have to be better starting the second half. I think the momentum definitely shifted in the second half. We need to do a better job of controlling the tempo."
"I'm pretty disappointed in our effort tonight," O'Connor said. "We made huge strides last weekend against South Dakota, but took a big step backwards tonight. We strayed from our game and lacked the energy it takes to win conference games. We had spurts where we battled, but overall we have to be better and bounce back quickly for Saturday's game."
O'Connor, who finished 9-for-9 from the free throw line, led the 'Roos in points, rebounds and steals and played the entire 40 minutes for the eighth time this season, while fellow junior Kara Lee added six points and six rebounds in the effort.
"Eilise comes to work every day and that's what she does," Frese continued. "We have to have people around her who are willing to step up and perform. I think we battle that every night, just seeing who is going to step up and battle with her. We know that Eilise is going to be a player every single night."
The 'Roos opened with the game's first points on an O'Connor jumper and maintained the two point advantage at the 15:37 mark when Lee converted a jumper to put Kansas City ahead 6-4.
Oakland, however, would use a 14-2 run over the next 6:29 to build an 18-8 lead over the Kangaroos, but O'Connor ended the Grizzly rally, knocking down three free throws.
The 'Roos would go on to close the margin to eight on three separate occasions down the first half stretch, before a layup by junior Hailey Houser and a pair of O'Connor free throws closed the deficit to 25-21 heading into the locker room.
In the second half, the two teams started out slow coming out of the break, as each scored just six points over the opening 7:51 of play, before freshman Kelsey Barnwell converted a layup to pull the Kangaroos to within two at 31-29.
The next three points went to Oakland, but two more free throws from O'Connor cut the lead to 34-31 with just under 10 minutes left in the contest.
Kansas City, however, would be able to get no closer than three the rest of the way, as Oakland extended its lead to a game-high 12 before taking the 55-46 victory.
Defensively, Kansas City forced 16 Golden Grizzly turnovers and had five blocks, while limiting Oakland to just 29.4 percent shooting from beyond the arc.
As a team, the 'Roos outscored Oakland 10-2 off the bench.
"I think you have to learn from mistakes," Frese added. "We have been very tentative against pressing teams. We have to be better about being in attack mode and seeing people down court. Whether you win or lose, there will always be things you take away from every game."
The Blue & Gold will be back in action again on Saturday when they welcome in Fort Wayne for a Summit League contest at 2 p.m. in the Swinney Recreation Center.
