UMKC Goes For Fifth Straight Win Overall, Second Straight On Road Against Power 5 School
12/21/2015 2:55:00 PM | Women's Basketball
UMKC Kangaroos (4-6) vs. Northwestern Wildcats (10-1)
Date-Time: December 22, 2015 - 1 p.m.
Site: Evanston, Ill./Welsh-Ryan Arena
TV: none
Online Audio:UMKCKangaroos.com
Talent: TJ Jackson (p-b-p)
Webcast:NUSports.com
Live Stats:NUSports.com
Twitter: @UMKCWBB @TheUMKCRoos
Hashtags: #RooUp #WACHoops
Series: First Meeting
Home: 0-0
Away: 0-0
Neutral: 0-0
Last Meeting: First Meeting
The Game
UMKC women's basketball will look for its second straight road win against a Power 5 school when it begins a five game roadtrip in Evanston, Ill., against Northwestern on Tuesday. Tip between the 'Roos and the Wildcats is slated for 1 p.m. on Dec. 22 in Welsh-Ryan Arena.
The Opponent
Northwestern (10-1)
PPG: 78.5
PPG Allowed: 59.6
Leading Scorer: Nia Coffey - 18.6
Leading Rebounder: Nia Coffey - 11.5
Assists Leader: Ashley Deary - 6.2
The Series
Northwestern (0-0)
First Meeting
Last Time Out
Aries Washington narrowly missed becoming just the second 'Roo ever to record a triple-double after tallying 16 points, a career-high 12 rebounds and a career-high tying seven assists as UMKC women's basketball won its fourth straight contest with a 64-51 win over Bethany on Saturday afternoon at Municipal Auditorium.
The Kansas City, Mo., missed joining Kaycee Kapels as the only 'Roos with triple-doubles, but Washington did register her second career double-double as UMKC improves to 4-6 on the season. Kiana Law, meanwhile, tied her career-high with 20 points, to go with eight rebounds, two assists and two steals.
The Coaches
Nationally known for her top-notch recruiting classes, Marsha Frese enters her fourth season as head women's basketball coach at UMKC. During her first three seasons in Kansas City, Frese began to establish her vision for a championship culture while guiding the 'Roos toward excellence, both on the court and in the classroom. Under Frese's guidance, the 'Roos have established a standard of excellence for classroom performance as UMKC earned top honors in back-to-back years with the highest team GPA in all of Division-I women's college basketball for both the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons.
During his time in Evanston, Joe McKeown has transformed the culture of the women's basketball program while cementing his name as one of the winningest coaches in NCAA Division I Women's Basketball. With another winning season in 2013-14, including a number of wins over top-25 opponents, McKeown now has 597 career victories, making him one of the leaders in career wins amongst active Division I head coaches. Additionally, McKeown has guided the Wildcats to three winning seasons, amassing more wins in six years with the program (88) than the previous 11 years before his arrival in Evanston (77 wins in 11 seasons; 1997-2008).
Up Next...
The 'Roos head east to Maryland for a two-game trip in the Old Line State beginning with Towson on Dec. 30 at 3 p.m. CT.
A Win Would...
• Give the 'Roos five straight wins for the first time since they won seven straight from 2/13-3/5/12.
• Give them back-to-back wins and road wins against Power 5 schools.
• Pull them to within one game of .500.
Law Named Player Of The Week
Kiana Law, a sophomore forward from Pittsburgh (Central Valley HS) had a career week for the Kangaroos as UMKC earned wins on the road at Kansas and at home against Denver. Against the Jayhawks, Law scored a career-high 20 points with a season-high 10 rebounds for her first double-double of the year as the 'Ross stunned KU for just the fourth win in program history against the Big 12 program. She followed that up with a career-high four steals to go with 16 points and nine rebounds in a 68-58 win over Denver. Law also was named WAC Player of the Week by College Sports Madness.
'Roos Upset Jayhawks!
- Fourth All-Time win vs. KU
- First win vs. KU since 11/21/03
- First win at KU since 1/10/89
- First win at Power 5 school since 1/12/92 at ISU
- 18th all-time win against Power 5 schools.
- Kiana Law scored career-high 20 points, grabbed a season-high 10 rebounds for first double-double of the season and 6th of career.
- Held KU to 2 points and 1-of-18 (5.6%) shooting in the first quarter.
- Tied for the fewest point UMKC ever allowed to KU.
Sharing The Rock
Last season, the 'Roos finished with 15 or more assists just six times all season, including four times with just 15 assists. This season, the 'Roos have already handed out 15 or more assists in five games, including three times above 15.
Balanced Attack
Through 10 games, the 'Roos have had five different leading scorers with only Aries Washington and Kiana Law leading the team multiple times. Ceidra Coleman, Daijane Dillard and Kristen Moore are the other three to pace the team.
Dominating On The Defensive End
In the past four games, all wins for the 'Roos, UMKC has turned up the defensive pressure, holding each team to under 60 points and two under 50. Combined, UMKC is allowing 49.8 ppg, 36.2 FG% and 27.1 3-pt. FG%.
'Roos On The Glass
Early in the season, the 'Roos have been impressive rebounding as they lead the WAC in both offensive (.416) and defensive (.703) rebound percent. Their 29.3 rebounds allowed per game, meanwhile, is tops in the WAC by nearly nine a game, while their +7.2 rebound margin is the best in the conference by over 6.5 per game.
Washington's Double-Doubles
Against Stephens College, Aries Washington notched the 'Roos first double-double of the season and the first of her career when she scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Three games later versus Bethany, the sophomore upped the ante when she carded her second career double-double with 16 points, a career-high 12 rebounds and a career-high tying seven assists to narrowly miss the second ever triple-double in UMKC history.
Towing The Line
Aries Washington has only missed two free throws this season, as the Kansas City native has connected on 25-of-27 from the charity stripe. Her 92.6% is first in the WAC and the fifth best mark in the NCAA
