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UMKC Begins WAC Title Run In Quarters Against UTPA
3/10/2015 6:05:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Date-Time: March 11, 2015 - 9 p.m. CT
Site: Las Vegas, Nev./Orleans Arena
TV: none
Radio: 1510 AM or 1140 AM/102.9 FM
Online Audio: 1510.com or KCXL.com
Talent: T.J. Jackson (p-b-p)
Webcast: WAC Digital Network
Live Stats: WACSports.com
Twitter: @UMKCWBB @TheUMKCRoos
Hashtags: #RooUp #WACHoops #WACVegas
Series: Series tied 3-3
Home: 1-1
Away: 1-2
Neutral: 1-0
Last Meeting: UTPA won 84-82 on Mar. 7, 2015 in Kansas City.
The Game
The No. 7 seed Missouri-Kansas City women's basketball team (6-23, 4-10) will open up its second WAC Championship on Wednesday against No. 3 seed Texas-Pan American (17-13, 9-5). The 'Roos and the Broncs are slated for a 9 p.m. CT tip on Mar. 11 at Orleans Arena.
The Opponent
Texas-Pan American (17-13, 9-5)
PPG: 64.5
PPG Allowed: 63.7
Leading Scorer: Shawnte' Goff - 15.2
Leading Rebounder: Brittany Bush - 6.5
Assists Leader: T'Ondria Nolen - 4.0
The Series
Texas - Pan American (3-3)
D1, 1989 (N) W, 50-35 Agler
J30, 1990 (A) W, 46-42 Agler
J16, 2014* (A) L, 50-65 Frese
F15, 2014* (H) W, 87-84 Frese
Feb. 15, 2015* (A) L, 51-69 Frese
Mar. 7, 2015* (H) L, 82-84 (2ot) Frese
Last Time Out
Texas-Pan American hit a go ahead three with .4 seconds left in double overtime to escape the Swinney Recreation Center with an 84-82 double overtime win over the Missouri-Kansas City women's basketball team on Saturday afternoon despite 24 points from Calli White and a double-double from Kiana Law.
White notched her 24 points shooting 7-of-15 from the field, including 4-of-8 from deep, and 6-of-6 from the line, while adding four assists. Law, meanwhile, scored a career-high tying 19 points and 12 rebounds for her fifth double-double this season.
Aries Washington and Samantha Waldron also reached double figures for the Kangaroos, scoring 11 and 10 points, respectively with Washington adding eight rebounds, three assists and three steals and Waldron chipping in four rebounds. As a team, the 'Roos out-rebounded UTPA 40-36, leading to 12 second chance points, while UMKC knocked down 26 of its 31 free throw attempts and hit 42.9 percent from outside leading to a season-high 82 points.
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.
In first season with the Broncs, Larry Tidwell tied program records for wins in a season (14) and conference wins in a season (eight), led the Broncs to a final RPI of 248, the lowest in program history and recorded a 9-3 record at home, tying for the second most home wins in program history.
Up Next...
With a victory, the 'Roos will take on the winner of No. 2 Bakersfield and No. 7 Chicago State at 4:30 p.m. CT in the semifinals of the WAC Championship.
A Win Would...
• Snap the 'Roos three game conference tournament losing streak
• Give the 'Roos a winning record against UTPA
• Give the 'Roos their 8th conference tournament win
• Give the 'Roos their seventh opening game conference tournament win
First Time Against The Broncs
Calli White, Grace Mitchell and Aries Washington all finished in double figures, as the Missouri Kansas City women's basketball team fell 69-51 on Thursday night to Texas-Pan American at the UTPA Fieldhouse.
For Mitchell, her ten points are the fifth time in her last six games that she has reached double figures, while Aries Washington scored 10 or more points for the fourth time in her last five games, finishing with 10 points and a career-high tying nine rebounds. White, meanwhile, led the 'Roos with 13 points, including knocking down all three of the Kangaroos' three-point field goals. Defensively, UMKC limited the Broncs to just 37.9 percent shooting from the field, but allowed an opponent season-high 11 three point baskets in the loss.
Last Season In The Tourney
The Kansas City women's basketball team trimmed a 19-point second half deficit to one late in the game on two separate occasions but could not complete the comeback, falling 81-76 to Seattle U in the quarterfinals of the WAC Tournament at the Orleans Arena.
Kim Nezianya led the 'Roos in the offense, closing out the season with her 18th double-double, scoring 25 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, while Eilise O'Connor finished her last game in the Blue & Gold with 22 points, five rebounds and three assists.
Washington Named WAC All-Newcomer
UMKC freshman Aries Washington was named to the Western Athletic Conference's All-Newcomer team in a vote by the conference's eight head coaches. During WAC play, the Kansas City native led the 'Roos in scoring at 11.9 points, to go along with 5.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists. At the line, Washington led the entire conference in free throw percentage in WAC contest, hitting at 89.5 percent, while she finished first among the conference's freshmen in scoring and third in rebounds. Nine times she reached double figures in scoring during WAC play, including scoring a career-high 26 against Bakersfield.
Young Guns' Contributions
This season, the 'Roos regular rotation has featured six freshmen and nine underclassmen, with underclassmen accounting for 167.9 minutes (86.2%), 52.1 points (90.1%), 29.1 rebounds (83.8%), 9.6 assists (86.4%), 4.3 steals (93.3%) and 1.8 blocks (83.6%). Among the group, freshman makeup 104.5 minutes (51.4%), 32.3 points (56.4%), 19.3 rebounds (53.6%), 5.7 assists (48.7%), 2.5 steals (51.4%) and 1.3 blocks (62.3%)
Overall, the 'Roos third in the NCAA in minutes played by freshmen at 51.4% of total minutes, trailing only Clemson and Miami (OH).
Compared to the WAC, both the 'Roo freshman and underclassmen are accounting for more minutes, points and rebounds than any other WAC school.
Against the NCAA, the 56.4% of points that the 'Roos freshmen score is the highest percentage and the 90.1 percent of points from underclassmen is second in the NCAA.
Freshmen Records
This season's freshmen have included their names in the UMKC freshmen annals with Kiana Law ranking fifth in rebounds (197) and fourth in free throws (69), Paige Husa 10th in blocks (15), Aries Washington tied for seventh in field goal percentage (50.0), fifth in free throw percentage (78.7), 10th in free throws (59), 10th in field goals (104) and 10th in scoring average (10.2) and Samantha Waldron third in three-point field goals made (43), second in games started (29) and third in three-point percentage (38.7).
Top WAC Freshmen
In WAC play, Aries Washington and Samantha Waldron are the conference's first (11.9) and fourth (10.9) leading scorers among freshmen. Kiana Law, meanwhile, is seventh in scoring but first in rebounding by over a rebound a game with Washington ranking third and Waldron sixth. In assists, they rank second (Washington - 2.5), third (Waldron - 2.2) and fifth (Law - 1.1) and in field goal percentage first (Washington - 53.7), second (Law - 44.0) and third (Waldron - 41.1).
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, Mitchell leads the team with six double-doubles, while Law is second on the team with five.
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 two 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 13 games, including one game each finishing 8-of-8, and 7-of-7 and two games of 6-of-6. Overall, White is tops in the WAC at 85.9 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 play since the second game of WAC play, as the sophomore is averaging 11.5 points and 9.5 rebounds over her last 13 games, while shooting 50.0% from the field during the stretch. Over that time, she scored a career-high 20, recorded five double-doubles, scored 10+ in nine games and grabbed 10 rebounds in seven games.
Defensive Improvement
This season, the 'Roos have stepped up on the defensive end, as UMKC is allowing 9.5 less points per game (65.9 to 75.4) compared to last season.
On The Glass
The 'Roos are currently limiting teams to just 33.6 rebounds per game, the fewest amount in the WAC.
Good From Three
At the arc the 'Roos are second in the WAC in 3-pt. FG% at 34.5%, just .1% off the lead and second in 3-pt. FG% defense at 30.5%, just .3% off the lead.
White From Deep
Calli White has continued to be a top threat from long range as the sophomore has knocked down 56 threes this season, giving her 129 in her career, the fourth most in UMKC history. Her 36.6 percent clip, meanwhile, is seventh best.
White Against The WAC
Currently, Calli White ranks as the 10th best scorer in the WAC at 11.5 points, while sitting first in minutes (36.72) and free throw percentage (85.9), fifth in assists (3.24), fourth in three-point field goals made (1.93), 15th in steals (1.23) and 10th in three-point field goal percentage (35.4%).
WA-WA WAC
In the WAC, Samantha Waldron is fifth in three-point field goal percentage (38.7%), fourth in minutes (33.7), 12th in field goal percentage (40.9%) and 21st in scoring (9.1) and Aries Washington is third in field goal percentage (50.0%), fifth in free throw percentage (78.7%), 13th in assists (2.27), 17th in rebounding (5.0) 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 36.3 mpg, while Waldron is fifth at 33.2 mpg.
In the game against North Florida, meanwhile, Waldron (45) and Lexis Hardiek (41) each played career-high in minutes, while against UTPA, Waldron matched her career-high of 45 and White (49) and Kiana Law (32) also recorded new career-high's.
40 Minute Beast
Kiana Law is averaging 8.2 points and 6.8 rebounds, but playing just 19.0 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 17.4 points and 14.3 rebounds per contest.
