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UMKC Aims To Clinch Spot In 4-5 Matchup In WAC Tournament
2/25/2015 9:45:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Date-Time: February 26, 2015 - 8 p.m. CT
Site: Orem, Utah/UCCU Center
TV: none
Radio: 102.9 FM/11/40 AM
Online Audio: KCXL.com
Talent: T.J. Jackson (p-b-p)
Live Stats: WolverineGreen.com
Webcast: WolverineGreen.com
Twitter: @UMKCWBB @TheUMKCRoos
Hashtags: #RooUp #WACHoops
Series: UMKC leads 2-1.
Home: 2-0
Away: 0-1
Neutral: 0-0
Last Meeting: UMKC won 61-58 on Jan. 31, 2015 in Kansas City.
The Game
The Missouri-Kansas City women's basketball team (6-20, 4-7) will head out on its final regular season road trip of the year, starting in Orem, Utah, on Thursday against Utah Valley (9-17, 3-8). Tip between the 'Roos and the Wolverines is slated for 8 p.m. CT on Feb. 26.
The Opponent
Utah Valley (9-17, 3-8)
PPG: 61.7
PPG Allowed: 62.2
Leading Scorer: Rhaiah Spooner-Knight - 13.5
Leading Rebounder: Karlee Norris - 7.1
Assists Leader: Mariah Seals - 2.7
The Series
Utah Valley (2-1)
J23, 2014* (H) W, 83-66 Frese
F22, 2014* (A) L, 43-49 Frese
J31, 2015* (H) W, 61-58 Frese
Last Time Out
Taylor Leathers twice gave the 'Roos the lead with less than a minute left in the game and Aries Washington scored a career-high 26 points, but it was not enough as the Missouri-Kansas City women's basketball team had its three-game home winning streak snapped in a 78-76 loss to Bakersfield on Saturday afternoon at the Swinney Recreation Center.
For Washington, her 26 points came on 9-of-12 shooting from the field and 8-of-9 from the free throw line, while the first year 'Roo added six rebounds and two assists.
Samantha Waldron, meanwhile, finished with six rebounds, two assists and 16 points, including hitting 4-of-7 from long range, giving her nine in the last two games, while Grace Mitchell narrowly missed her fifth double-double of the season, notching 15 points and eight rebounds.
As a team, the 'Roos shot 54.3 percent from the field, including 60.0 percent from three-point range, and 76.9 percent from the stripe, while out-rebounding Bakersfield 35-25. Individually, Leathers finished with nine points, five rebounds and four assists.
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.
Cathy Nixon recently completed her 19th year as the head coach of Utah Valley women's basketball in 2013-14. During her tenure, Nixon's teams have consistently displayed hard work and character, on and off the court. Last season, Nixon led Utah Valley into its first season as members of the WAC. The Wolverines finished 7-23 overall and were eighth in the WAC behind a 4-12 conference mark.
Up Next...
The 'Roos will close out their road schedule when they head to Phoenix, Ariz., on Saturday to take on Grand Canyon at 3 p.m. CT on Feb. 28.
A Win Would...
• Give the 'Roos their fifth WAC win
• Give the 'Roos three wins in their last four games
• Give UMKC a season sweep of UVU
• Give the 'Roos their second WAC road win
Last Time Against The Wolverines
Utah Valley cut a 19 point deficit down to one with under a minute to play, but Aries Washington and Samantha Waldron combined to go 7-of-8 from the free throw in the final minute of play as the UMKC women's basketball team knocked off the Wolverines 61-58 on Jan. 31 at the Swinney Recreation Center in a game in which it never trailed.
As a team, UMKC connected on 22 of its 24 free throw attempts, led by Washington who knocked down all 10 of her attempts en route to a career-high 22 points, to go along with seven rebounds, three assists and a steal.
Grace Mitchell, meanwhile, narrowly missed her second straight double-double after finishing with 13 points and nine rebounds, while Waldron was the final 'Roos in double figure, as the freshman notched 10 points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals.
On the glass, the Kangaroos dominated UVU, outrebounding the Wolverines 34 to 21, while finishing with 13 assists on its 19 field goals.
Tournament Scenarios
With two weekends remaining in the regular season, the 'Roos currently sit sixth in the WAC standings and would be the fifth seed, as Grand Canyon is ineligible. If UMKC wins its three remaining games it will enter the tournament as No. 4 or No. 5 seed, while it can fall no lower than the No. 6 seed.
Top WAC Freshmen
In WAC play, Aries Washington and Samantha Waldron are the conference's second (12.6) and third (10.5) leading scorers among freshmen, with Washington trailing the leader by just .1. Kiana Law, meanwhile, is seventh in scoring but first in rebounding by nearly two rebounds a game with Washington ranking third and Waldron fifth. In assists, they rank first (Waldron - 2.5), second (Washington - 2.4) and fourth (Law - 1.3) and in field goal percentage first (Washington - 55.8), second (Law - 44.2) and third (42.5).
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.
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 12.0 points and 9.3 rebounds over her last eight games, while shooting 52.1% 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 seven games and grabbed 10 rebounds in five games.
Freshmen Contributions
This season, the 'Roos regular rotation has featured six freshmen, with the group averaging 32.0 points (56.0%), 18.9 rebounds (53.2%), 5.6 assists (48.3%), 2.5 steals (49.6%) and 1.5 blocks (63.3%). 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 9.7 less points per game (65.7 to 75.4) compared to last season.
On The Glass
The 'Roos are currently limiting teams to just 33.7 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 35.2% and first in 3-pt. FG% defense at 30.7%.
White From Deep
Calli White has continued to be a top threat from long range as the sophomore has knocked down 51 threes this season, giving her 124 in her career, the fifth most in UMKC history. Her 36.8 percent clip, meanwhile, is seventh best.
Law's Debut Campaign
In her first season in the Blue & Gold, Kiana Law is sitting seventh in the WAC in rebounds at 6.7 per contest, while ranking ninth in field goal percentage (44.1%) and 26th in scoring (8.2).
White Against The WAC
Currently, Calli White ranks as the ninth best scorer in the WAC at 11.6 points, while sitting first in minutes (36.46) and free throw percentage (84.7), sixth in assists (3.15), fifth in three-point field goals made (1.96), 15th in steals (1.23) and 10th in three-point field goal percentage (35.7%).
WA-WA WAC
In the WAC, Samantha Waldron is second in three-point field goal percentage (41.9%), sixth in minutes (32.77), 12th in field goal percentage (41.5%) and 24th in scoring (8.7) and Aries Washington is fourth in field goal percentage (50.6%), fifth in free throw percentage (80.0%), 13th in assists (2.17), 19th in rebounding (4.7) and 13th in scoring (10.3).
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 36.46 mpg, while Waldron is sixth at 32.77 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 8.2 points and 6.7 rebounds, but playing just 18.7 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 17.6 points and 14.4 rebounds per contest.
