Kansas City
Fort Wayne
Mastodons Take Down Kangaroos In Defensive Struggle
2/14/2013 7:39:00 PM | Women's Basketball
(Fort Wayne, Ind.) - The Kansas City women's basketball team fell 49-42 to Fort Wayne on Thursday night in a Summit League showdown at the Gates Sports Center despite a career-high 11 rebounds by junior Ashli Hill.
The Kangaroos' 6-5 center added six points and three blocks, as the 'Roos fell to 8-17 overall and 4-8 in league play, while Fort Wayne improved to 10-14 overall and 6-6 in The Summit League.
As a team, the 'Roos limited Fort Wayne to 25.5 percent shooting from the field, including 19.0 percent from three-point range, and 12 field goals, both season-lows for 'Roo opponents.
"Our defense was our main focus coming in to the game," Hill said. "We knew that they were going to be shooting a lot of three so I knew I would have to work hard on the glass to limit their second chances. We really wanted to go 2-0 on the road trip to put us in better standing in the league for the tournament, but we will comeback against Oakland on Saturday."
Freshman Taylor Leathers led the 'Roos offensive attack with nine points, while junior Eilise O'Connor and freshman Kelsey Barnwell each chipped in eight.
The 'Roos cracked the scoreboard first when senior Emile Blakesley hit a jumper in the lane, but the 'Dons countered with the next five to take their first lead of the game at 5-2.
Six straight by the 'Roos, including four from O'Connor, put Kansas City back in front 8-5, before a 9-2 run by Fort Wayne over the next six minutes sent the Mastodons to their largest lead of the half at 14-10 with 7:43 remaining in the first.
A layup by Hill and back-to-back jumpers by Barnwell flipped the lead for the sixth time, but a jumper by Fort Wayne gave the 'Dons a 17-16 lead with 4:43 on the clock.
Sophomore Lexis Hardiek then answered with a three from the right corner, but two free throws by Fort Wayne tied the game for the fourth time and sent the teams to the locker room even at 19-19.
Coming out of the break, Leathers scored the 'Roos first seven points on a pair of driving layups and a three from the left wing, matching the three field goals by the 'Dons over the first six minutes, keeping the score tied with 13:59 left to play.
The Mastodons then held the 'Roos scoreless over the next five minutes before Leathers buried a baseline jumper and Barnwell had a steal and fast break layup on back-to-back possessions to stop the run and cut the lead to 32-28.
The 'Roos would hold the 'Dons to just two free throws over the next nine minutes, before a three from the left corner stretched the lead to 37-30 with just under three minutes left to play.
Junior Hailey Houser would end the 'Roos six and a half minute scoring drought with a three-point play, but IPFW immediately answered on the other end to extend the margin to 39-33
Two free throws by O'Connor brought the Kangaroos to within four, but a three-point play by Fort Wayne pushed the margin to 42-35 with less than a minute to play.
Barnwell found Hill down low on the ensuing Kansas City possession to make it a five point game, but Fort Wayne would convert its free throws down the stretch to hold on for the 49-42 victory.
The Blue & Gold will be back in action again on Saturday when they head to Rochester, Mich., to take on Oakland at 1 p.m. CT at the O'Rena.
