Kangaroos Return Home For WAC Action Against Aggies
1/13/2016 9:26:00 AM | Women's Basketball
UMKC Kangaroos (6-9, 1-1) vs. New Mexico State Aggies (13-3, 2-0)
Date-Time: January 14, 2016 - 7 p.m. CT
Site: Kansas City, Mo./Swinney Recreation Center
TV: none
Online Audio: UMKCKangaroos.com
Talent: TJ Jackson (p-b-p)
Webcast: WAC Digital Network
Talent: TJ Jackson (p-b-p)
Live Stats: UMKCKangaroos.com
Twitter: @UMKCWBB @TheUMKCRoos
Hashtags: #RooUp #WACHoops
Series: NMSU leads 5-3
Home: 2-1
Away: 0-3
Neutral: 1-1
Last Meeting: NMSU won 78-59 on 2/7/15 in Las Cruces.
The Game
UMKC women's basketball opens WAC home play when it welcomes in New Mexico State to the Swinney Recreation Center on Thursday. Tip between the 'Roos and the Aggies is slated for 7 p.m. on Jan. 14.
The Opponent
New Mexico State (13-3, 2-0)
PPG: 69.4
PPG Allowed: 60.8
Leading Scorer: Sasha Weber - 12.7
Leading Rebounder: Brianna Freeman - 6.9
Assists Leader: Shanice Davis - 3.4
The Series
New Mexico State (3-5)
N26, 1988 (N) L, 58-61 Agler
N25, 2005 (N) W, 89-55 Overton
J4, 2012 (H) W, 68-57 Whitaker
D21, 2012 (A) L, 50-75 Frese
J18, 2014* (A) L, 77-106 Frese
F13, 2014* (H) W, 92-84 Frese
J10, 2015* (H) L, 48-60 Frese
F7, 2015* (A) L, 59-78 Frese
Last Time Out
UMKC women's basketball used stifling defense, limiting Bakersfield to 23.6 percent shooting, to take down the Roadrunners 56-40 on Saturday night at the Icardo Center in Bakersfield, Calif. The 40 points allowed are the fewest allowed by a 'Roo team since giving up 40 to Rockhurst on Nov. 16, 2010 and the fewest against a Division I team since allowing 36 to IUPUI on Jan. 23, 2010.
Aries Washington led the UMKC attack with 20 points, shooting 6-of-9 from the field and 8-of-9 from the free throw line, with nine rebounds and two steals, while Taylor Leathers finished with 15 points, on 7-of-8 shooting, and nine rebounds.
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.
Mark Trakh enters his fifth season at the helm of the NM State program after leading NM State to a 22-8 season in 2014-15 – including a 13-1 mark in Western Athletic Conference play. The 13-1 record was NM State's first winning record in conference play in seven years and the second-best conference record in program history. Trakh also guided the Aggies to their first WAC regular-season and tournament titles in 2014-15 en route to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 27 years, the Aggies' first conference regular-season championship in 20 years and the program's first-ever conference tournament title.
Up Next...
The Blue & Gold continue their WAC home slate when they welcome in UTRGV to the SRC on Sat., Jan. 16 at 2 p.m.
A Win Would...
• Give the 'Roos four straight home wins for the first time since winning seven straight during the 2011-12 season.
• Be the first WAC home opener win since 12/19/11 against Southern Utah.
• Give the 'Roos a winning record at home.
