Kansas City
6-7,0-0WAC
Liberty
7-6,0-0ASUN
Missed Shots Mar WBB's Chances Against Liberty
12/21/2019 4:23:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Mattingly Pulls Down 11 Rebounds, but Zero Roos Score in Double Digits
KANSAS CITY, Mo - Made baskets seemed to come at a premium for the Kansas City women's basketball team as it took on Liberty for the first time in program history. The Roos made just 15 field goals on the day, went 11-of-23 from the free throw line and shot 12.5% from three point range, and the Flames won going away, 68-44.
"Its hard to win basketball games if you're shooting 27% from the field," Head Coach Jacie Hoyt said. "The free throws really stand out. You make some of those and you're right there."
The Flames made their first shot of the day and never looked back, leading wire-to-wire. The Roos shot at a 45% clip in the first quarter, keeping the Liberty lead to seven points, but scored just eight in the second, and the deficit was 19 by the half. The Roos were able to cut the lead to 14 at one point in the fourth, but never gained enough traction to mount the comeback.
After giving up 41 points in the first half, Kansas City's defense limited the damage in the second, holding Liberty to just 27 points. The Roos forced 16 turnovers, but were only able to manage eight points in conversion.
"We weren't covering our assignments defensively in the zone in the first half," Hoyt said. "After that we decided to go man, and see who was willing to step up and make something happen. I thought our second half defense was better than the first half, but it all comes back to not making shots."
The Roos take a short break for the holidays, returning to action on Dec. 29 against the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma for a final tune-up before entering Western Athletic Conference play.
"We told the kids to go home and be present with their families and have a great break," Hoyt said. "We'll be ready to come back refreshed and ready to go looking forward to conference season."
Game Notes
44 points are the fewest scored by a Kansas City team in the Jacie Hoyt era and the fewest since a 58-39 loss at Utah Valley on Feb 9, 2017 … No Roo scored in double-digits, a first since Dec. 30, 2015 … By averaging 10.5 points and 10.5 rebounds over the last two games, Ericka Mattingly earned a spot on the Roo Holiday Classic All-Tournament team … The Roos blocked just two shots, tying a season-low … The Roos came away with 18 offensive rebounds, tying a season-high … Liberty shot 40% from three-point range, 14 percent above its season average
