Kansas City
Western Illinois
Barrett?s Late Spark Not Enough as Roos Fall to WIU
11/22/2016 3:46:00 PM | Women's Basketball
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – UMKC women's basketball senior Kelsey Barrett (Kansas City, Mo.) provided the Kangaroos a late spark off the bench in Tuesday's game against Western Illinois, knocking down four three-pointers in the final 14 minutes of play. Barrett's late game heroics provided a huge momentum swing for UMKC, but the Roos were unable to hold off the Leathernecks, falling 78-65 at Swinney Recreation Center.
UMKC (1-2) junior Samantha Waldron (Omaha, Neb.) scored the first basket of the game for the Roos, hitting a three to end Western Illinois (4-1) 5-0 run to start the game. UMKC erased the Leathernecks' lead quickly, and went up by as much as six at 13-7, following a three-pointer from graduate transfer Lyndsay Leikem (Tucson, Ariz.) and two made free throws from redshirt sophomore Kristen Moore (Chicago, Ill.).
After a timeout from WIU, the Leathernecks went on a 12-2 run to finish the first quarter with a four-point lead, 19-15. Waldron and Leikem led the Roos with five points each at the break.
UMKC trailed by six at the half, despite Waldron, Moore, and junior Aries Washington (Kansas City, Mo.) scoring all 12 of the Roos' points in the second quarter, each tallying four apiece.
The Roos were knocking at the door the entirety of the third quarter, cutting the WIU lead down to two-or-less multiple times, until Barrett's three-point montage gave UMKC the spark they needed to take the lead.
Down 45-37, India Johnson (Overland Park, Kan.) knocked down a jumper to cut the lead to six, and after an empty trip for the Leathernecks, Johnson found Barrett open in the corner. Barrett knocked down the trey to cut the lead to three. A couple of stops by the UMKC defense and two free throws from Moore cut the lead to one, 45-44, and after a layup from WIU, Ceidra Coleman (Bryan, Texas) made a free throw and a jumper to tie the ballgame up at 47.
Now with the momentum fully on UMKC's side after a 5-2 run, the Roos took the lead with 34 seconds remaining in the third, thanks to Barrett's second three-pointer from the same spot, this time coming off an assist from Leikem. The Roos ended the third with the three-point lead.
Barrett wasn't done with just two threes, and she knocked down another with 8:38 left in the fourth to give UMKC the lead back at 53-51, and sunk another with 8:04 to stretch the lead to five, 56-51.
The Roos held a five-point lead with 7:37 remaining in the game, but WIU ended the fourth on a 23-7 run, topping UMKC 78-65.
UMKC is back in action on Friday, Nov. 25, as they host Eastern Kentucky, Western Michigan, and Morgan State for the 2016 Plaza Lights Classic. The Roos will open the tournament with a 1 p.m. CT tip against WMU, and will play the final game of the tournament on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. CT against Morgan State.
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