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Kansas City
Texas Southern
'Roos Hold On To Knock Off Tigers 80-79
12/15/2013 4:22:00 PM | Women's Basketball
“I was really hungry to get out there again,” Nezianya said after missing the last game against Eastern Michigan. “At halftime coach talked to us about hitting the boards and kind of called me out, so I knew I had to pick it up. Every game means a lot to me and I have to show up in every one. Right now we are looking to finish off with three wins to close out the nonconference schedule.”
Freshman Calli White led the 'Roos (3-7) offensive attack with a career-high 26 points, including hitting 6-of-7 from beyond the arc, and four assists, while senior Eilise O'Connor finished with 16 points, six assists and four rebounds before fouling out with 1:11 left in regulation.
“A win is a win and with a young team, you take them when you can get them,” Head Coach Marsha Frese said. “Whether it is a win or a loss, you can learn a lot from a game like this. We made a lot of youthful mistakes, but we will correct them and build on this win.”
In the opening half, the 'Roos trailed the Tigers (3-6) by five early, before taking a 31-24 lead into the halftime locker room.
In the second half, the 'Roos opened up a game-high 12 point lead at 51-39 with 11:12 on the clock after a 9-0 run by that featured three jumpers from O'Connor.
The Tigers, though, began chipping away and took a 56-55 lead with 6:26 left in regulation.
Kansas City answered back with seven straight after a jumper and a three from White, before extending the lead to seven when Nezianya buried a three with 2:09 on the clock.
Those, however, would be the last points the 'Roos would score in regulation, as the Tigers closed out the second half with seven straight, tying the contest at 67 on a layup from Alexus Johnson with five seconds left to play and sending the game into overtime.
In overtime, the 'Roos struck first on a pair of Nezianya free throws before opening up a four point advantage midway through the extra session.
Kansas City stretched the lead to five with 51 seconds left, but four of the next five went the Tigers way, cutting the lead to 78-76 with 13 seconds remaining,
After two White free throws, the Tigers split a pair of free throws and forced a UMKC turnover, but could only manage a layup, as the 'Roos held on for the 80-79 victory.
As a team, the 'Roos shot 42.9 percent (9-21) from three-point range, while limiting the Tigers to just 17.9 percent (5-28) from beyond the arc.
The Blue & Gold will be back in action again on Wednesday when the head to northern California to take on San Jose State at 9 p.m. CT.
“(San Francisco native) Eilise O'Connor has left a huge legacy on this program,” Frese added. “It's exciting anytime you get a chance to take a kid like that home and we are thrilled to give her one last chance to play in front of her family and friends.”
