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'Roos To Honor Seniors, Host Broncs In Regular Season Finale
3/6/2015 9:11:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Missouri-Kansas City Kangaroos (6-22, 4-9) vs. Texas-Pan American (16-13, 8-5)
Date-Time: March 7, 2015 - 1 p.m. CT
Site: Kansas City, Mo./SRC
TV: none
Radio: 1510 AM
Online Audio: 1510.com
Webcast: WAC Digital Network
Talent: T.J. Jackson (p-b-p)
Live Stats: UMKCKangaroos.com
Twitter: @UMKCWBB @TheUMKCRoos
Hashtags: #RooUp #WACHoops
Series: UMKC Leads 3-2
Home: 1-0
Away: 1-2
Neutral: 1-0
Last Meeting: UTPA won 69-51 on Feb. 15, 2015 in Edinburg.
The Game
The Missouri-Kansas City women's basketball team (6-22, 4-9) will close out the regular season on Saturday when they welcome in Texas-Pan American (16-13, 8-5) to Kansas City. Tip between the 'Roos and the Broncs is slated for 1 p.m. on Mar. 7 at the Swinney Recreation Center.
The Opponent
Texas-Pan American (16-13, 8-5)
PPG: 63.9
PPG Allowed: 63.1
Leading Scorer: Shawnte' Goff - 15.1
Leading Rebounder: Brittany Bush - 6.6
Assists Leader: T'Ondria Nolen - 4.0
The Series
Texas - Pan American (3-2)
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
Last Time Out
Grace Mitchell notched her second straight double-double and sixth of the year with 12 points and 10 rebounds, as the Missouri-Kansas City women's basketball team (6-22, 4-9) fell 57-42 to Grand Canyon (13-13, 7-6) on Saturday afternoon at GCU Arena.
Aries Washington led the 'Roos in scoring in the game with 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the field with five rebounds and three assists, while as a team, UMKC out-rebounded GCU 38-29 and limited them to just 34.5 percent shooting, including 26.9 percent from three-point range.
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...
The 'Roos will await the outcomes of Saturday's finales to see what seed they will enter the WAC Championship as during Wednesday's first round.
A Win Would...
• Give the 'Roos their fifth WAC win
• Give the 'Roos four wins in their last five games at home
• Maintain a winning record against UTPA
• Give the 'Roos their fourth WAC road win
Last 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.
Departing 'Roos
UMKC will honor a pair of 'Roos in their final home game in Lexis Hardiek and Lauren Dudding. Hardiek has appeared in 81 games with 19 starts and was a member of the first UMKC team to ever appear in the WNIT. During her four years, she has served as a long range sharp shooter, as she has knocked down nearly 70 threes at a 34.5 percent clip that ranks just outside the top-10 all-time at UMKC. Her 40.2 percent mark as a sophomore, meanwhile, stands as the 10th best mark in school history. During the 2012-13 season, Hardiek scored a career-high 18 points with a career-high six made threes in the 'Roos comeback win over Oakland and notched 16 points in a come-from-behind win over LIU-Brooklyn where she finished with a perfect shooting day that included shooting 5-of-5 from the field, 4-of-4 from three-point range and 2-of-2 from the free throw line. Academically she is a two-time honoree as a Distinguished Scholar on the Summit League Winter/Spring Academic Honor Roll and was named to the 2012-13 Summit League Commissioner's List of Academic Excellence.
Dudding has appeared in 48 games for UMKC with 10 starts. During her career, she has scored over 100 points, including hitting 21 threes, grabbed nearly 100 rebounds, handed out 37 assists and notched 18 steals. She saw her first collegiate action and scored her first points against Missouri Western during her freshman campaign and later that season, scored a career-high 12 points in the contest against Colorado, sinking all three of her three-point attempts. Academically, Dudding was named to the 2012-13 Summit League Winter/Spring Academic Honor Roll and to the 2013-14 Academic All-WAC Team.
Freshmen Records
This season's freshmen have included their names in the UMKC freshmen annals with Kiana Law ranking fifth in rebounds (185) and tied for eighth in free throws (60), Paige Husa 10th in blocks (15), Aries Washington tied for fourth in field goal percentage (51.0), fourth in free throw percentage (80.0), 10th in free throws (56) and 10th in scoring average (10.2) and Samantha Waldron third in three-point field goals made (42), tied for second in games started (28) and second in three-point percentage (39.6).
All-WAC Nominees
Several 'Roos have had solid seasons this year leading to All-WAC nominations, including:
• Aries Washington: All-WAC, All-Newcomer, Freshman of the Year
• Samantha Waldron: All-WAC, All-Newcomer, All-Defense
• Calli White: All-WAC
• Grace Mitchell: All-WAC
Top WAC Freshmen
In WAC play, Aries Washington and Samantha Waldron are the conference's first (12.6) and third (11.0) 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 first (Washington - 2.5), second (Waldron - 2.5) and sixth (Law - 1.1) and in field goal percentage first (Washington - 55.9), second (Waldron - 42.2) and third (Law - 42.2).
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 four.
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 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 play since the second game of WAC play, as the sophomore is averaging 12.1 points and 9.8 rebounds over her last 12 games, while shooting 50.8% 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.
Freshmen Contributions
This season, the 'Roos regular rotation has featured six freshmen, with the group averaging 31.9 points (56.5%), 19.1 rebounds (53.1%), 5.6 assists (48.6%), 2.5 steals (51.1%) and 1.4 blocks (62.3%). 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 10.2 less points per game (65.2 to 75.4) compared to last season.
On The Glass
The 'Roos are currently limiting teams to just 33.5 rebounds per game, the fewest amount in the WAC.
Good From Three
At the arc the 'Roos are third in the WAC in 3-pt. FG% at 34.1% and first in 3-pt. FG% defense at 30.6%.
White From Deep
Calli White has continued to be a top threat from long range as the sophomore has knocked down 52 threes this season, giving her 125 in her career, the fifth most in UMKC history. Her 36.3 percent clip, meanwhile, is tied for eighth best.
Law's Debut Campaign
In her first season in the Blue & Gold, Kiana Law is sitting seventh in the WAC in rebounds at 6.6 per contest, while ranking ninth in field goal percentage (44.1%) and 27th in scoring (7.9).
White Against The WAC
Currently, Calli White ranks as the 10th best scorer in the WAC at 11.0 points, while sitting first in minutes (36.46) and free throw percentage (84.7), sixth in assists (3.21), seventh in three-point field goals made (1.86), 15th in steals (1.23) and 13th in three-point field goal percentage (34.7%).
WA-WA WAC
In the WAC, Samantha Waldron is fourth in three-point field goal percentage (39.6%), fifth in minutes (33.2), 12th in field goal percentage (41.5%) and 22nd in scoring (9.0) and Aries Washington is third in field goal percentage (51.0%), fifth in free throw percentage (80.0%), 13th in assists (2.24), 18th in rebounding (4.9) and 14th in scoring (10.2).
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 36.3 mpg, while Waldron is fifth at 33.2 mpg.
In the game against North Florida, meanwhile, Waldron (45) and Lexis Hardiek (41) 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 7.9 points and 6.6 rebounds, but playing just 18.5 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 17.0 points and 14.3 rebounds per contest.
