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Kansas City
Western Illinois
Leathernecks Take Down 'Roos At Swinney
12/29/2013 5:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball
(Kansas City, Mo.) – Kansas City senior guard Eilise O'Connor narrowly missed the second ever triple-double in school history, notching team-highs of 18 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists and three steals, as the Kangaroos fell 80-74 on Sunday afternoon to former Summit League rival Western Illinois at the Swinney Recreation Center.
“Even though our record is not where we want it to be at this point, our nonconference record does not reflect the talent and potential we have on this team,” O'Connor said. “We would like the record to be better, but we cannot and will not dwell on this portion of the season. Conference time is go time and you can believe we will be ready to go.”
Freshman Grace Mitchell recorded her first ever double-double with 10 points, a career-high 12 rebounds and two steals, while senior Kim Nezianya missed becoming the third 'Roo to record a double-double by one rebound, finishing with 18 points and nine rebounds.
“You aren't going to win too many games turning the ball over 25 times no matter who you play,” Head Coach Marsha Frese said. “The silver lining is that so much of what we did poorly today is controllable. With more effort and a focus to attention to detail on the defensive end, we can improve dramatically as we head into conference play. “
Freshman Calli White, meanwhile, added 13 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals, while sophomore Taylor Leathers was the final 'Roo in double figures, scoring 10 points.
In the opening half, the 'Roos took a six point lead at 23-17 after six straight, including the last two on O'Connor jumpers, but a 10-0 WIU run put the visitors in front by four with 8:29 left in the first.
The 'Roos answered with a rally of their own, building a four point cushion that they would hold until the 2:37 mark when Western Illinois closed the half on an 11-3 run to take a 43-39 lead into the locker room.
Kansas City opened the second half hot, cutting the lead to 45-44, with Nezianya netting the first four points for the 'Roos.
Western Illinois, however, withstood the surge and used a 12-4 stretch to push the lead to eight at the 14:32 mark, before extending it to a game-high nine at the midway point of the half.
At that point, the 'Roos began chipping away, knocking down six straight free throws, getting two each from O'Connor, Mitchell and Barnwell.
After a WIU basket, Nezianya followed with a jumper and White hit a free throw bringing Kansas City to within two with 4:38 left to play.
The Leathernecks would stretch the lead back to five late at 75-70 at the 1:24 mark but layups by Nezianya and Leathers around a WIU free throw brought the score to 76-74 with just 12 seconds remaining.
Western Illinois, though, would it four free throws in the closing seconds to come away with the 80-74 victory.
As a team, UMKC shot 88.9 percent (16-18) from the free throw line, while hitting 6-of-17 (35.3 percent) from beyond the arc and out-rebounding WIU 46 to 32.
The Blue & Gold will be back in action again after the New Year when they take on Idaho on Jan. 2 in their first ever WAC game on Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Swinney Recreation Center.
