Kansas City
Denver
?Roos Make It Three Straight After Win Over Pioneers
12/12/2015 6:48:00 PM | Women's Basketball
(Kansas City, Mo.) – UMKC women's basketball picked up its third straight victory on Saturday afternoon after knocking-off Denver 68-58 at Municipal Auditorium behind 21 points from Aries Washington and a career-high 13 from Sierra Bone.
“We are thrilled that we could complete the sweep this week,” Head Coach Marsha Frese said, “I'll echo the girl's sentiments that something has clicked with this team. A Thursday-Saturday turnaround is challenging, but it's something we are preparing for in conference play. It was great for them to get a test to see what that will feel like before January.”
Washington finished the day 7-of-13 shooting from the field and 7-of-8 from the line, while adding a season-high six assists and three rebounds. Bone knocked down a career-high 4-of-6 from beyond the arc to go along with three rebounds and an assist.
“My teammates set me up perfectly today and my coaches have shown a lot more trust in me lately,” Sierra Bone said. “Winning these games means a lot to us. After the Thanksgiving tournament we had a meeting and said we were tired of going out and not having fun, so we decided to turn the season around and start having fun. We have a little joke, saying 'it's lit going on right now' and we light a fire in us. It's worked for us lately and we are going to keep rolling with it.”
Kiana Law, meanwhile, narrowly missed her second consecutive double-double, posting 16 points, nine rebounds a block and an assist.
With the win, UMKC improves to 3-6 on the year, while Denver falls to 1-8.
In the contest, Kelsey Barrett found Samantha Waldron open for a three to start the game for the 'Roos and Aries Washington followed with the next six points, putting UMKC on a 9-0 run to open the game.
Denver battled back to tie the game at 13-13, but back-to-back threes by Bone to close the quarter gave UMKC a 19-15 lead after one.
The Pioneers cut the lead to two at 21-19 to begin the second quarter, but Kansas City answered right back with the game's next seven points, getting four from Washington and a third three from Bone to stretch the margin back to nine.
Denver ended the rally with a layup, but Kiana beat the buzzer to close out the half and send the 'Roos to the break up 30-21.
Bone opened the third quarter with her fourth three to push the lead to 12 and later in the quarter, Ceidra Coleman drove the baseline and found Daijane Dillard open for a three to put the 'Roos in front by a game-high 14 at 48-34.
DU, though, scored the final five points of the quarter to bring the deficit down to nine entering the final stanza.
In the fourth period, Law opened with the Kangaroos' first six points as the lead built back up to 12.
Denver would continue to chip away, cutting the lead down to six with 30 seconds left, but five Washington free throws down the stretch sealed the win for the 'Roos.
As a team, the 'Roos out-rebounded the Pioneers 40-28, while limiting them to just 38.2 percent shooting. Off the bench, UMKC outscored Denver 32 to 6, while the Kangaroos hit 6-of-14 from three-point range, good for 42.9 percent.
The Blue & Gold will look to make it four straight victories when they return to Municipal Auditorium for doubleheader with the men on Sat., Dec. 19 at 1 p.m. against Bethany.
