Kansas City
Utah Valley
Four ?Roos Reach Double Figures In Loss At Utah Valley
1/21/2016 9:06:00 PM | Women's Basketball
(Kansas City, Mo.) – Four 'Roos reached double figures scoring, including three who scored 16, as UMKC women's basketball fell 79-71 to Utah Valley on Thursday night at the UCCU Center in Orem, Utah.
“Once again our team battled,” Head Coach Marsha Frese said. “Offensively we did a phenomenal job of finding the hot hands and really executing. Down the stretch fatigue caught up with us and we had a few defensive breakdowns that cost us, but I couldn't be more proud of their effort tonight. We need to have a short term memory and get prepared to play on Sunday.”
Aries Washington led the UMKC attack with 16 points on 8-of-11 shooting to go with eight rebounds and seven assists, while Kiana Law and Taylor Leathers also notched 16 points. Law tallied hers on 6-of-10 shooting from the field and 4-of-5 from the line with seven rebounds and Leathers finished with seven baskets, including two threes, and seven rebounds.
Waldron was the fourth Kangaroo to reach double figures, scoring 11 points, including hitting 3-of-6 from deep, and Kelsey Barrett matcher her career-high with eight points, knocking down 2-of-4 from three-point range.
The loss drops UMKC to 6-12 overall and 1-4 in the WAC, while Utah Valley improves to 8-11 on the season and 1-3 in the conference.
Utah Valley struck first in the contest, but the 'Roos answered with 12 of the next 14, including a pair of baskets from Law and a three from Leathers and Barrett.
The lead would stay at eight two possessions later when Barrett buried her second three of the quarter, but the Wolverines would fight back to cut the lead to 17-14 after one.
UMKC extended the lead back to five twice, including at the 7:18 mark when Washington buried a jumper to make it 21-16, before the Wolverines regained the lead at 28-27.
UMKC, however, answered with seven quick points, using a three from Leathers and baskets from Law and Washington to go ahead by six before a three by the Wolverines at the buzzer made it 34-31 heading into the break.
Coming out of half, UMKC quickly built the lead to eight when Daijane Dillard and Washington found Waldron for three on back-to-back possessions.
The lead would grow to nine after a pair of Law free throws midway through the half, but Utah Valley would whittle the lead down to one at 55-54 at the end of the third stanza.
To start the fourth, Utah Valley built the lead to five, but UMKC cut the lead to three on three separate occasions, including lastly at 68-65 with 2:21 left to play.
Kansas City, though, was unable to get any closer as the Wolverines held on for the eight point victory.
As a team, Kansas City shot 43.8 percent from long range, making 7-of-16, outrebounded UVU 33 to 27 and outscored the Wolverines 12 to 7 in both bench points and second chance points.
The Blue & Gold will be back in action again on Sunday when they face Grand Canyon at 4 p.m. CT in Phoenix.
