Kansas City
Seattle
White Hits Game Winner With 3.5 Seconds Left To Lift ?Roos To 73-71 Overtime Win
3/7/2014 12:19:00 AM | Women's Basketball
(Seattle, Wash.) – Freshman Calli White hit the game-winning jumper with 3.5 seconds left in overtime as the Kansas City women's basketball team (11-17, 7-8) completed the season sweep of preseason WAC favorite Seattle U (13-15, 8-7) on Thursday night at the Connolly Center.
“Kim (Nezianya) set an awesome screen on the final shot,” White said. “(Head) Coach (Marsha) Frese and I watched film before the game and we talked about slowing down and attacking hips when they run out on me. I did my best to execute that on the floor and was able to hit the shot.”
Senior Eilise O'Connor led the 'Roos offensively with 24 points, including two late free throws to send the game to overtime, while adding a season-high five steals. Classmate Kim Nezianya, meanwhile, recorded her 16th double-double of the season, finishing with 21 points and 11 rebounds.
“It was the most complete game we've played this season,” Head Coach Marsha Frese said. “People came in off the bench and contributed and the whole team was focused from start to finish. We know how hard it is to win on the road and Seattle is a phenomenal team. We are excited to gets this win on the road.”
White was the final 'Roo in double figures, scoring 17 points, including the game winner and a pair of late threes that helped the 'Roos overcome an eight point deficit with 2:37 left in regulation.
“Tonight was an amazing team effort the entire game,” White added. “We couldn't have pulled it out without everyone on the team coming together. We brought energy into the gym and carried it onto the floor.”
The 'Roos opened the contest when Nezianya knocked down a jumper and would lead the entire first half, opening up a seven point lead on two separate occasions before taking 31-26 lead into the locker room.
Coming out of halftime, UMKC quickly stretched the lead to 12 after Taylor Leathers buried a jumper and O'Connor followed with a three and a steal and layup in the first minute of play.
The 'Roos maintained their double digit lead midway through the half, holding a 10-point cushion at 51-41, but Seattle would go on a 22-4 run over to take their first lead of the game, building it to eight with just 2:37 left in regulation.
UMKC, however, did not go away as White drilled two threes to pull the 'Roos to within two at 63-61 with 1:33 on the clock.
Kansas City followed with back-to-back stops on the Redhawks and O'Connor was fouled on the ensuing possession with the senior knocking down a pair of free throws to send the game to overtime.
In the extra period, the 'Roos quickly fell behind by five, but White's third three of the game cut the lead back to two for UMKC.
Two possessions later two O'Connor free throws tied the score at 70-70 with just over a minute to play.
On its next two possession, the Redhawks would make just 1-of-4 free throws, while Nezianya split a pair, giving the 'Roos the ball with the game tied at 71-71 and 34 seconds on the clock.
On the ensuing possession, the 'Roos would work the clock before White drained the pull up jumper from the right elbow with 3.5 seconds left to send Kansas City to the 73-71 victory.
In the win, Leathers finished with a career-high six assists to go along with six rebounds and three points.
As a team, the 'Roos shot 46.2 percent from the field, including 33.3 percent from beyond the arc, while limiting the Redhawks to just 23.1 percent shooting from threes.
At the line, UMKC hit 72.7 percent, while Seattle made just 10-of-18 for 55.6 percent.
The Blue & Gold will be back in action again on Saturday when they head to Moscow, Idaho, for the final regular season contest against Idaho at 3 p.m. CT.
“You're always going to be focused for postseason, because every game could be the last one you play” Frese added. “I'm not worried about the team being ready to play in the postseason. I want them focused for Saturday's game.”
