Kansas City
Bakersfield
?Roos Go To Bakersfield To Pick Up First Ever Win Over Roadrunners
1/9/2016 8:33:00 PM | Women's Basketball
(Kansas City, Mo.) – 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.
"I'm proud of our team's effort tonight on the road,” Head Coach Marsha Frese said. “Our bench really stepped up for us when legs can be an issue. We got phenomenal energy from Daijane Dillard, Paige Husa and Ceidra Coleman, showed why she is such an important part of our success. Taylor Leathers and Aries Washington were our anchors tonight and continue to show their toughness. I like the direction and the mindset of this team and hope they will build on tonight's lessons.”
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.
“Our team is focusing in on what matters most which is sticking with each other and playing for each other,” Aries Washington said. “We are better together and we have to keep focusing on staying together.”
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.
“We really showcased our depth tonight and had a lot of spark off of our bench,” Leathers said. “We will continue to work on taking better care of the ball but we are excited about the win.”
With the win, UMKC improves its record to 6-9 overall and 1-1 in the WAC, while Bakersfield falls to 4-13 on the season and 1-1 in the conference.
The 'Roos started off hot in the contest, jumping out to a 5-0 lead off a Samantha Waldron three and a jumper by Washington.
Bakersfield scored the game's next two points, but UMKC answered with the next six on baskets by Ceidra Coleman, Leathers and Kristen Moore to take a nine point lead before closing the opening period with an 11-7 advantage.
The 'Roos continued their strong play in the second quarter with Leathers scoring the 'Roos first four points to push the lead to eight and, after a CSUB bucket, stretched the lead to a first half-high of 12 at 21-9 after Leathers added two more field goals and Washington chipped in a third.
The Roadrunners would close the half with the final six points to cut the lead to 21-15 at the break, but the 15 points by the home team tied for the fewest allowed by the 'Roos in a half this season.
Coming out of the break, the 'Roos extended the lead to 14 after a 10-2 run, capped by a free throw from Kiana Law.
Bakersfield would bring the margin back to nine at 31-22, but a 9-2 rally to close the quarter sent Kansas City to the fourth quarter with a 40-24 lead.
Both teams came out cold to start the fourth, but the Kangaroos eventually extended the lead to a game-high 20 at 44-24 midway through the stanza.
Bakersfield would get no closer than 10 the rest of the way, as the 'Roos evened their conference mark with a 56-40 victory.
Law added six points and eight rebounds to the effort, while off the bench, Coleman notched six points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals.
As a team, UMKC once again dominated the glass with a 42 to 26 edge in rebounding, while limiting Bakersfield to just 3-of-15 shooting from beyond the arc.
The Blue & Gold return to Kansas City on Thursday when they welcome in New Mexico State to the Swinney Recreation Center for a 7 p.m. showdown.
