Kangaroos Look For Revenge As Aggies Come To Kansas City
2/12/2014 9:01:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Site: Kansas City, Mo./Swinney Recreation Center
Television: none
Live Online Video: UMKCKangaroos.com
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 (8-14, 4-5) returns to Kansas City to host New Mexico State (8-15, 5-5) in a WAC battle on Thursday night. The 'Roos and the Aggies are slated of a 7 p.m. tip on Feb. 13 at the Swinney Recreation Center.
The Opponent
New Mexico State enters the contest with an 8-15 record overall and a 5-5 mark in WAC play after knocking off Seattle on Saturday. Reigning WAC Player of the Week Danesia Williamson leads the Aggies offense at 21.4 points, while Sasha Weber (12.8), is also averaging double figures. On the glass, four Aggies are averaging more over five rebounds a game led by Bradley Nash and Tyler Ellis at 6.4 rebounds per game.
The Series
This will be the sixth meeting between the 'Roos and the Aggies with NMSU leading 3-2. UMKC is 1-0 in Kansas City against NMSU.
First Meeting
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.
New Mexico State
Series: NMSU leads 3-2.
Home: 1-0
Away: 0-2
Neutral: 1-1
Last Meeting: New Mexico State won 106-77 on Jan. 18, 2014 in Las Cruces.
New Mexico State (2-2)
N26, 1988 (N) L, 58-61 Agler
N25, 2005 (N) W, 89-55 Overton
J4, 2012 (H) W, 68-57 Whitaker
D21, 2012 (A) L, 50-75 Frese
J18, 2014 (A) L, 77-106 Frese
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.
Mark Trakh enters his third season at the helm of the NM State women's basketball program. Coming off a successful 2012-13 season, Trakh notched his 300th career victory as a Division I head coach while leading the Aggies. The milestone came off a 70-68 win over Southern Utah (12/1) in Cedar City, Utah. Entering the 2013-14 season, Trakh has guided the Aggies to 20 wins in two seasons and holds 309 victories as a head coach.
The Venue
The home of UMKC Athletics, the Swinney Recreation Center houses the Kangaroo administration, coaches and student-athletes. The Dutton Brookfield Strength and Conditioning Center, the Victor F. Swyden Athletics Training Facility and the Student-Athlete Support Services Office also are located in the facility.
Last Time Out
Senior Kim Nezianya finished with 19 points and a career-high tying 17 rebounds and classmate Eilise O'Connor tallied 16 points, 10 assists, six rebounds and three steals as the Kansas City women's basketball team (8-14, 4-5) rolled to an 84-52 win over Chicago State (3-19, 0-9) on Saturday afternoon at the Jones Convocation Center. For Nezianya, this marks her 11th double-double of the season, while O'Connor now has four.
As a team, the 'Roos shot 50.7 percent from the field and limited the Cougars to just 33.9 percent, while dominating the glass, out-rebounding CSU 56-25, and out-scoring them 42-20 in the paint and 28-9 off the bench
