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'Roos Rekindle Old Rivalry Against Leathernecks On Sunday
12/27/2013 6:05:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Site: Kansas City, Mo./Swinney Recreation Center
Television: none
Live Online Video: UMKCKangaroos.com (Subscription) – TJ Jackson (p-b-p), Steven St. John (color)
Radio: 1510 AM – TJ Jackson (p-b-p), Steven St. John (color)
Live Online Audio: 1510.com (Free) – TJ Jackson (p-b-p), Steven St. John (color)
Live Stats: UMKCKangaroos.com (Free)
Twitter: @TheUMKCKangaroos
The Game
The Kansas City women's basketball team (4-8) will conclude its non-conferene slate when it welcomes in old Summit League foe Western Illinois (5-7) to Kansas City on Dec. 29. The game between the 'Roos and the Leathernecks is scheduled for a 2 p.m. tip on Sunday at the Swinney Recreation Center.
The Opponent
Western Illinois enters the contest with a 5-7 record overall, going 1-3 against Eastern Illinois (L, 64-68), Southeast Missouri State (W, 79-58), SIU Edwardsville (L, 70-78) and Missouri (L, 60-75), all common opponents with the 'Roos. Ashley Luke leads the Leathernecks at 19.9 ppg and 10.8 rpg, while Tori Niemann (12.3) and Michelle Maher (11.9) are both scoring double figures. WIU is outscoring opponents 77.0 to 75.2.
The Series
This will be the 47th meeting between the two schools with WIU leading 24-21 (the 'Roos vacated a win in 2008). Oral Roberts (48) is the only team the 'Roos have played more times.
Western Illinois
Series: Western Illinois leads 21-24
Home: 10-11
Away: 10-13
Neutral: 1-0
Last Meeting: Western Illinois won 63-38 on Feb. 22, 2013 in Kansas City.
Western Illinois (21-24)
D29, 1990 (H) W, 71-51 Agler
D8, 1991 (A) L, 81-88 Agler
J2, 1993 (H) W, 92-58 Agler
J7, 1995 * (A) L, 49-65 Glass
F11, 1995 * (H) L, 71-75 Glass
J15, 1996 * (H) W, 84-78 Glass
F12, 1996 * (A) L, 55-56 Glass
J2, 1997 * (H) W, 63-58 (OT) Tadtman
F24, 1997 * (A) W, 77-72 Tadtman
J3, 1997 * (A) L, 65-78 Tadtman
J3, 1998 * (A) W, 75-61 Tadtman
J4, 1999 * (H) W, 65-59 Tadtman
J28, 1999 * (A) L, 68-72 Tadtman
J8, 2000 * (A) L, 65-80 Tadtman
F3, 2000 * (H) L, 56-69 Tadtman
J15, 2001 * (A) L, 44-66 Eikenberg
F12, 2001 * (H) L, 43-51 Eikenberg
J21, 2002 * (A) W, 61-57 Eikenberg
F16, 2002 * (H) L, 48-61 Eikenberg
F3, 2003 * (A) L, 55-78 Eikenberg
M1, 2003 * (H) W, 70-63 Eikenberg
N26, 2003 (A) L, 90-117 Eikenberg
J19, 2004 * (H) W, 59-55 Eikenberg
F16, 2004 * (A) L, 58-79 Eikenberg
J11, 2005 * (A) L, 40-58 Overton
J19, 2005 * (H) L, 54-64 Overton
F13, 2006 * (H) L, 46-55 Overton
F27, 2006 * (A) W, 70-61 (OT) Overton
J27, 2007 * (H) L, 38-50 Whitaker
F26, 2007 * (A) W, 64-61 (OT) Whitaker
J5, 2008 * (H) L, 54-68 Whitaker
F4, 2008 * (A) L, 46-56 Whitaker
M8, 2008 + (N) W, 62-55 Whitaker
J3, 2009 * (A) L, 57-61 Whitaker
F2, 2009 * (H) L, 51-57 Whitaker
J25, 2010 * (H) W, 54-46 Whitaker
F20, 2010 * (A) W, 65-57 Whitaker
J25, 2010 * (H) W, 54-46 Whitaker
F20, 2010 * (A) W, 65-57 Whitaker
J22, 2011 * (H) W, 58-51 Whitaker
W, 53-47 * (A) W, 53-47 Whitaker
J23, 2012 * (H) L, 63-66 Whitaker
F18, 2012 * (A) W, 84-69 Whitaker
M5, 2012 + (N) W, 71-56 Whitaker
J26, 2013 * (A) W, 51-50 Frese
F22, 2013 * (H) L, 38-63 Frese
Underlined contest vacated due to league sanctions.
The Coaches
Renowned for her top-notch recruiting classes, Marsha Frese enters her second season as head women's basketball coach at UMKC. Named as the Kangaroo head coach on April 25, 2012, Frese brings 16 seasons of experience as a Division-I player and coach to the UMKC campus.
JD Gravina was named as the seventh head coach in Western Illinois Women's Basketball history on April 15, 2011 after a highly successful four-year stint at nearby Quincy University. The Leathernecks have improved in each of Gravina's first two seasons at the helm, going from eight wins in 2010-11 before his arrival, to 12 in 2011-12 in his inaugural season, to 14 in 2012-13.
The Venue
The home of UMKC Athletics, the Swinney Recreation Center houses the Kangaroo administration, coaches and student-athletes. The Dutton Brookfield Strength and Conditioning Center, the Victor F. Swyden Athletics Training Facility and the Student-Athlete Support Services Office also are located in the facility.
Last Time Out
The Kansas City women's basketball team (4-8) used a strong second half effort to overcome an 11-point second half deficit to take a one-point lead late in the game, but could not hold on as San Jose State (6-5) knocked off the 'Roos 81-76 on Saturday afternoon at the Event Center.
Senior Eilise O'Connor and Kim Nezianya led the 'Roos with 19 points each, while freshman Calli White and Grace Mitchell added 11 and 10 points, respectively. On the glass, sophomore Taylor Leathers collected a season-high 10 rebounds for UMKC.
As a team, UMKC limited San Jose State to just 16.7 percent (5-30) from three-point range, including 0-12 in the second half, while knocking down 38.9 percent (7-18) themselves
