Kansas City
Utah Valley
UMKC Falls To Wolverines On Senior Day
2/20/2016 4:31:00 PM | Women's Basketball
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Paige Husa notched career-high's of 11 points and three blocks to go with a team-high six rebounds in UMKC women's basketball's 58-44 loss to Utah Valley on Saturday afternoon at the Swinney Recreation Center on Senior Day.
“I knew coming into tonight Sam Loggins would be a big matchup for me,” Husa said. “I was fueled by my defense and my teammates trusted me and got me the ball inside. Unfortunately, we didn't execute as well as we could have, but hopefully we will get a chance to get them in the WAC Tournament.”
Kristen Moore added nine points, five rebounds and two assists, while Kiana Law added eight points and three rebounds. As a team, UMKC outscored the Wolverines 19 to five off the bench.
“I'm disappointed in the outcome,” Head Coach Marsha Frese said. “The early foul trouble threw off our rhythm with rotations and substitutions. I'm proud of our team getting to within striking distance, but Utah Valley does a tremendous job of running their offense and continuing to execute. This is something we can learn and build on for the future.”
With the loss, UMKC falls to 9-16 overall and 4-8 in the WAC, while Utah Valley improves to 14-13 on the season and 7-5 in the conference.
Utah Valley opened with the game's first four points, but Husa got the 'Roos on the board with a rebound put back, cutting the lead in half.
Daijane Dillard would add a free throw and Moore added a rebound put back of her own, but the Wolverines stretched the lead to a first quarter-high at 13-5 heading into the second stanza.
Aries Washington struck first for the 'Roos to start the second, bringing the lead down to six before UVU answered back and twice built a first half-high advantage of 11, including lastly at 20-9.
UMKC, however, struck last in the half, scoring the final four points with Moore finding Husa and Samantha Waldron returning the favor by finding Moore to make it a 24-18 score at the half.
Coming out of the break, Husa brought the Kangaroos to within four with another rebound put back, but the next four went UVU's way.
A three-point play from Kiana Law and a steal and layup from Ceidra Coleman, though, closed the gap to three midway through the period.
Utah Valley, however, pushed the lead back to as many as 12 before entering the fourth with a 43-32 lead.
In the fourth, the Wolverines went on to go ahead by as many as 18, before a late run by the 'Roos cut the final margin to 58-44.
The Blue & Gold will be back in action again next Saturday when they head to Las Cruces, N.M., for their final road game of the year against New Mexico State at 3 p.m.
