Kansas City
IUPUI
Jags Knock-Off 'Roos In Summit League Tourney Opener
3/9/2013 5:18:00 PM | Women's Basketball
"I'm really proud of how this team continued to battle in the second half," Kansas City Head Coach Marsha Frese said. "I thought the girls did a good job of battling through the second half. I think we were a little shell-shocked at first. We were not hitting shots, but we were still hanging around. Playing before 4,000 fans created some jitters."
The loss ends the 'Roos season at 9-21 overall, while IUPUI improves to 20-10 and will now face the winner of No. 3 South Dakota and No. 6 North Dakota State in the semifinals on Monday at 2:30.
Junior Eilise O'Connor and freshman Kelsey Barnwell led the Kangaroos in the contest, as each scored 11 points, while O'Connor added five assists, four rebounds and three steals.
"This team is never going to accept a loss and play out the minutes," O'Connor said of her team's second half effort. "The good thing about this team, we're always going to fight for each other."
IUPUI opened the game on a 9-2 run, but back-to-back baskets by freshman Taylor Leathers and junior Hailey Houser pulled the 'Roos to within three.
The Jaguars answered with an 11-1 run, holding the 'Roos without a field goal for over six and a half minutes.
O'Connor would end the run with a layup, but IUPUI would take a 29-11 lead into the break.
Coming out of the locker room, IUPUI stretched the lead to a game-high 20, but nine of the next 13 went to the 'Roos, cutting the lead to 15.
IUPUI withstood the first UMKC run and pushed the lead back to 20, but a 12-3 run by the Kangaroos brought the underdogs to within 11 at 45-34 after O'Connor buried a three.
The 'Roos would go on to trim the lead to seven after Barnwell knocked down a pair from the line at the 2:53 mark, but the squad could get no closer, falling 59-47.
Defensively, Kansas City limited the Jaguars to just 33.3 percent shooting, including 17.8 percent from three point range, while out-scoring them 18-8 off the bench,
The Blue & Gold will be back in action again next fall when they open up the 2013-14 season as a member of the Western Athletic Conference.
