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UMKC Welcomes In Redhawks For WAC Battle
2/18/2015 9:38:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Date-Time: February 19, 2015 - 7 p.m. CT
Site: Kansas City, Mo./SRC
TV: none
Radio: 102.9 FM/1140 AM
Online Audio: KCXL.com
Webcast: Roos TV
Talent: T.J. Jackson (p-b-p)
Live Stats: UMKCKangaroos.com
Twitter: @UMKCWBB @TheUMKCRoos
Hashtags: #RooUp #WACHoops
Series: Series tied at 2-2
Home: 1-0
Away: 101
Neutral: 0-1
Last Meeting: Seattle won 60-46 on Jan. 24, 2015 in Seattle.
The Game
The Missouri-Kansas City women's basketball team (5-19, 3-6) will look for its second straight win when it welcomes in Seattle U (7-18, 4-6) to the Swinney Recreation Center on Feb. 19. Tip between the 'Roos and the Redhawks is slated for 7 p.m. on Thursday.
The Opponent
Seattle U (7-18, 4-6)
PPG: 60.7
PPG Allowed: 67.7
Leading Scorer: Taelor Ross - 11.3
Leading Rebounder: Taelor Ross - 6.7
Assists Leader: Alexis Montgomery - 3.3
The Series
Seattle (2-2)
J4, 2014* (H) W, 77-65 Frese
M6, 2014* (A) W, 73-71 (OT) Frese
M12, 2014+(N) L, 76-81 Frese
J24, 2015* (A) L, 46-60 Frese
Last Time Out
Five 'Roos reached double figures as the Missouri-Kansas City women's basketball team completed the season sweep of Chicago State and scored a season-high in the 77-46 victory on Saturday afternoon at the Swinney Recreation Center.
Leading the UMKC attack was freshman Kiana Law who notched her fourth double-double of the season with 15 points and 12 rebounds, while tying her career-high with four assists and two steals in just 22 minutes of action. Matching Law for the team lead in double-doubles, Grace Mitchell finished with 12 points and career-high tying marks of 12 rebounds and three steals, marking the second time this season that duo each recorded double-doubles in the same game after accomplishing the feat earlier in the season against the Cougars. Sierra Bone, meanwhile, scored a career-high 12 points, including hitting two of her four three point attempts, and dished out a team and career-high five assists after entering the game with just two points and four assists total for the entire season.
Rounding out the double figure scorers for the Kangaroos were Aries Washington and Taylor Leathers. Washington reached double figures for the fourth time in her last five games, finishing with 13 points, six rebounds, three steals and two assists and Leathers added 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting with four rebounds, two assists and a steal. For the 'Roos, Calli White finished with six points, five assists, three steals and two rebounds, while Samantha Waldron notched seven points, four assists, two rebounds, a block and a steal.
As a team, the 'Roos out rebounded the Cougars 41-26 and dominated the secondary stats, outscoring them 38-20 in the paint, 22-5 off turnovers, 19-5 on second chances and 29-9 off the bench. Offensively, UMKC shot 41.7 percent from three-point range and 80.0 percent from the free throw stripe, while the 77 points are a new season-high, as are the 23 assists on the 30 field goals. On the defensive end, UMKC forced a season-high 19 turnovers, including a season-high 14 steals, and limited CSU to just 38.6 percent shooting, allowing only three made three-point baskets.
The Coaches
Nationally known for her top-notch recruiting classes, Marsha Frese enters her third season as head women's basketball coach at UMKC. Frese brings 16 seasons of experience as a Division-I player and coach to the UMKC campus. During her first two 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.
Joan Bonvicini completed her fifth season at Seattle University behind an all-time 682-379 (.643) record and is currently 11th on the NCAA Division I all-time wins list for women's college basketball. She became the 18th coach in NCAA Division I women's basketball history to reach the 600-win mark in February 2007. The Redhawk head coach also boasts 22 20-win seasons over her historic coaching career.
Up Next...
The 'Roos will welcome in Bakersfield to the SRC on Feb. 21 for their penultimate home game of the season on Saturday at 2 p.m.
A Win Would...
• Give the 'Roos their fourth WAC win
• Give the 'Roos back-to-back wins
• Give UMKC a winning record against SU
• Give the 'Roos their third straight WAC home win
• Give the 'Roos a winning WAC home record at 3-2
Last Time Against The Redhawks
Grace Mitchell finished with 16 points, her third straight game in double figures, on 8-of-11 shooting with six rebounds, a career-high three steals and two assists, but the effort was not enough as the Missouri-Kansas City women's basketball team fell 60-46 to Seattle U on Jan. 24 at the Connolly Center.
Samantha Waldron added 11 points, four assists, two rebounds a block and a steal in the effort, while Law grabbed a team-high nine rebounds, to go with five points and two blocks. Defensively, UMKC held the Redhawks to just 34.3 percent shooting, including 18.2 percent from long range.
Doubling Up On Double-Doubles
Three times this season the 'Roos frontcourt duo of Kiana Law and Grace Mitchell have recorded double-doubles in the same game. In both games against Chicago State they accomplished the feat, while also doing so in the game against Grand Canyon. Overall, they each have four total double-doubles on the year.
Bone Shines Vs. Cougars
After entering the game with just two career points and four assists, Sierra Bone went off against Chicago State, scoring 12 points, including hitting 2-of-4 three-point attempts, and dishing out five assists.
Defensive 'Roos
When the 'Roos hold teams to 59 points or less this season, they have won five games, while dropping only one contest.
Washington Goes Off
On Jan. 31, freshman Aries Washington had her best game as a 'Roo, scoring a career-high 22 points, with seven rebounds and three assists, while knocking down all 10 of her free throws, including four in the final minute.
10+ Two Straight
In the games at Chicago State and Bakersfield, the 'Roos starting frontcourt of Kiana Law and Grace Mitchell each grabbed 10+ rebounds. Law finished with 13 against the Cougars and 10 versus the Roadrunners, while Mitchell grabbed 10 in each game.
Perfect At The Line
This season, Calli White has finished perfect from the line in 12 games, including one game each finishing 8-of-8, 7-of-7 and 6-of-6. Overall, White is tops in the WAC at 84.7 percent, while sitting 37th in the NCAA.
White Lights Up Bakersfield
At Bakersfield, Calli White scorched the nets, going for a career-high and UMKC season-high 27 points. In the game, the sophomore tied her career-high with six made threes on 10 attempts.
Mitchell's Hot Stretch
Grace Mitchell has turned up her game during WAC play, as the sophomore is averaging 12.4 points and 9.3 rebounds over her last eight games, while shooting 57.3% from the field, all team-high's, during the stretch. Over that time, she scored a career-high 20, recorded three double-doubles, scored 10+ in six games and grabbed 10 rebounds in five games.
Freshmen Contributions
This season, the 'Roos regular rotation has featured six freshmen, with the group averaging 30.6 points (54.5%), 19.3 rebounds (54.1%), 5.4 assists (47.6%), 2.5 steals (50.9%) and 1.5 blocks (66.1%). The players make up four of the top five scorers on the team.
Overall, the 'Roos third in the NCAA in minutes per game per player by freshmen at 50.3% of total minutes, trailing only Clemson and Miami (OH).
Defensive Improvement
This season, the 'Roos have stepped up on the defensive end, as UMKC is allowing 10.0 less points per game (65.4 to 75.4) compared to last season.
On The Glass
The 'Roos are currently limiting teams to just 34.0 rebounds per game, the fewest amount in the WAC.
Good From Three
At the arc the 'Roos are tops in the WAC in both 3-pt. FG% at 34.4% and first in 3-pt. FG% defense at 30.1%.
White From Deep
Calli White has continued to be a top threat from long range as the sophomore has knocked down 50 threes this season, giving her 123 in her career, the fifth most in UMKC history. Her 37.2 percent clip, meanwhile, is also seventh best.
Law's Debut Campaign
In her first season in the Blue & Gold, Kiana Law is sitting fifth in the WAC in rebounds at 7.1 per contest, while ranking ninth in field goal percentage (43.4%) and 25th in scoring (8.3).
White Against The WAC
Currently, Calli White ranks as the seventh best scorer in the WAC at 12.3 points, while sitting first in minutes (36.71) and free throw percentage (84.7), sixth in assists (3.13), fifth in three-point field goals made (2.08) and seventh in three-point field goal percentage (36.5%).
WA-WA WAC
In the WAC, Samantha Waldron is fourth in three-point field goal percentage (39.0%), 15th in blocks (0.42) and 26th in scoring (8.0) and Aries Washington is fifth in field goal percentage (47.4%), sixth in free throw percentage (78.3%), 15th in assists (1.95), 19th in rebounding (4.6) and 20th in scoring (9.2).
Iron Women
Calli White and Samantha Waldron have been staples in the UMKC lineup this season as the duo have each started every game and is each topping the 30 minutes per game mark. White leads the WAC at 36.71 mpg, while Waldron is at 32.2 mpg.
In the game against North Florida, meanwhile, Waldron (45), Lexis Hardiek (41) and Kiana Law (25) all played career-high in minutes, while White (42) and Taylor Leathers (37) all played season-high's.
40 Minute Beast
Kiana Law is averaging 8.3 points and 7.1 rebounds, but playing just 19.1 minutes, as the freshman is adjusting to collegiate defense. If her stats were pro-rated to 40 minutes, however, she would be on a pace to average 17.3 points and 14.9 rebounds per contest.
