Kansas City
Idaho
?Roos Drop First WAC Game To Vandals
1/2/2014 11:15:00 PM | Women's Basketball
(Kansas City, Mo.) – Senior Kim Nezianya recorded her fifth double-double of the season with 15 points and 11 rebounds, while classmate Eilise O'Connor added team-high's of 16 points and eight assists, as the Kansas City women's basketball team (4-10, 0-1) dropped its WAC opener 81-64 against Idaho (8-7, 1-) on Thursday night at the Swinney Recreation Center.
“You have to have a short term memory when it comes to conference play,” Head Coach Marsha Frese said. “We would have liked a better outcome tonight, but this is what conference play is all about. Everybody is going to bring their best effort every night and we have to be prepared.”
Freshman Grace Mitchell chipped in 11 points and eight rebounds in the loss, with Taylor Leathers notching 10 points as the fourth 'Roo to reach double figures.
“A bright spot defensively tonight was Taylor Leathers,” Frese added. “Give her a lot of credit for being hungry and battling. She showed what we want all of our players to look like on the defensive end. She almost guarded every spot on the court, from guards to posts and does a phenomenal job of following the scout and being prepared. If we can get a few more kids following her lead defensively, we are going to be in good shape moving forward in conference play.”
The 'Roos hung close early, trailing by just three after Calli White connected on a layup at the 15:50 mark of the first.
Idaho, though, turned the lead into 18 seven minutes later at 33-15 and built it to a first half high 20 before taking a 44-26 lead into halftime.
Coming out of the break, Idaho extended the lead to a game-high 22, but a 7-0 run later in the half by the 'Roos, sparked by four straight from Mitchell, cut the lead to 58-44 with 12:20 left to play.
Kansas City, however, would be unable to battle back any closer and Idaho went on to take the WAC opener for both teams 81-64.
As a team, UMKC out-rebounded the Vandals 41-38, while matching the taller Idaho squad with 30 points in the paint.
The Blue & Gold will be back in action again on Saturday when they continue WAC play at 2 p.m. against Seattle at the Swinney Recreation Center.
