?Roos Look To Get Back To Winning Ways Against Utah Valley
1/22/2014 9:57:00 AM | 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: 102.9 FM – TJ Jackson (p-b-p), Steven St. John (color)
Live Online Audio: KCXL.com (Free) - TJ Jackson (p-b-p), Steven St. John (color)
Twitter: @TheUMKCKangaroos
The Game
The Kansas City women's basketball team (6-12, 2-3) returns to Kansas City to take on WAC foe Utah Valley (3-14, 0-4) on Jan. 23. Tip-off between the 'Roos and the Wolverines is slated for 7 p.m. on Thursday at the Swinney Recreation Center.
The Opponent
Utah Valley enters the contest with a 3-14 mark overall and an 0-4 record in WAC play, picking up its three wins over Walla Walla, Idaho State and New Orleans. Katie Kuklok leads the Wolverines at 18.7 ppg, while Tina Doughty (10.9) and Rhaiah Spooner-Knight (10.1) are both averaging double figures. On the glass, Karlee Kartchner leads the squad at 7.1 rpg, to go along with 7.5 ppg. As a team, UVU is shooting 36.9 percent from three-point range.
The Series
This will be the first meeting between the 'Roos and the Wolverines. Overall, UMKC is 17-16 against schools from Utah, going 16-14 against Southern Utah, 1-1 against BYU and 0-1 against Utah.
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.
Cathy Nixon is entering her 19th year as the head coach of Utah Valley women's basketball in 2013-14. During her tenure, Nixon's teams have consistently displayed hard work and character, on and off the court. Nixon spent the past 10 seasons of her coaching career ushering Utah Valley into NCAA Division I Athletics, and now she shifts those attentions to UVU's first season of WAC play.
The Venue
Municipal Auditorium, which has a rich and storied basketball tradition, is now in its eighth decade in Kansas City. The Venue, which was opened in 1936, has hosted nearly every type of event - from U.S. presidential campaigns to NCAA Final Four Championships. In fact, the auditorium has hosted a total of nine NCAA Championships, which are the most of any other building in the country. The facility is also the home to the NAIA National Tournament and the MIAA Tournament.
In the fall of 2013, a $5 million renovation included new video boards, LED scorer's table, sound system, lighting, seating in the lower level and electrical upgrades.
Last Time Out
Senior Eilise O'Connor set a new WAC and UMKC record for free throws in a game, finishing 22-for-23 from the line as the Kansas City women's basketball team (6-12, 2-3) fell, 106-77 on Saturday night to New Mexico State (6-12, 3-2) in WAC play at the Pan American Center.
The San Francisco, Calif., native breaks her own school record set last year with 17 against Fort Wayne, while topping TCU's Tricia Payne's mark of 20 in the WAC. The 22 made free throws are the most in the NCAA this season and are one shy of the NCAA record. Overall, O'Connor set a new career-high with 35 points, while matching her career-high with 12 rebounds and passing Penny Waggener for second place on the UMKC career scoring list.
Kim Nezianya, meanwhile, recorded her second straight double-double and seventh of the season, scoring 10 points and grabbing 12 rebounds, while Calli White was the only other 'Roos in double figures with 12 points. On the glass, UMKC out-rebounded the Aggies 50-45 and out-scored them 14-8 off the bench.
Closing in on the Top Spots
Seniors Kim Nezianya and Eilise O'Connor are each closing in on school records. Nezianya sits just 65 rebounds behind Laurie Smith and would need to average 5.5 rebounds over the remaining 12 games to eclipse the mark. O'Connor, meanwhile, trails Chazny Morris by 297 points, leaving her with a 24.8 ppg pace to overtake the top spot, while she trails Penny Waggener by 79 assists with 6.6 per game needed for the record.
Back at the Line
After setting the UMKC record for free throws in a career, season and game last year, senior Eilise O'Connor is again setting records in 2013-14. In the season opener, she tied her own mark with 17 made free throws at North Texas. On Jan. 18, meanwhile, O'Connor again broke the record, hitting 22 against New Mexico State, marking a new WAC record and finishing one shy of the NCAA record. Currently the San Francisco, Calif., native ranks third among active players with 520 made free throws and 11th in free throw percentage at 83.2 percent.
