Kansas City
7-7,0-0WAC
University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma
0-1
Soriano Dominates as Women's Basketball Runs Past USAO
12/29/2019 5:54:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Cristina Soriano Finished with Career-Highs in Three Categories
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Kansas City women's basketball team closed out the 2019 calendar year on the right note, drubbing the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, 74-43. Cristina Soriano led the way for the Roos, finishing with 18 points (a season-high), 13 rebounds, five assists and two steals (all career-highs).
The Roos needed a bounce back from their worst offensive performance of the year against Liberty, and it came immediately as Kansas City exploded for 28 first quarter points. Soriano was well on her way to a double-double by the end of the quarter, posting 13 points and five boards in the first ten minutes.
"It was a good game for me," Soriano said. "I think my teammates helped me a lot by getting me the ball, moving for me to get assists and making shots."
Jonaie Johnson continued her hot streak, scoring ten points for her third double-digit scoring performance in the last five games. Along with her scoring, Johnson pulled down a career-high nine rebounds, besting her previous career mark of eight reached in the win over Missouri on Dec. 8.
All in all, Kansas City had one of its best rebounding performances of the year, pulling down a season-high 54 rebounds and out-rebounding the Drovers by 20.
"Rebounding is so much about heart and passion just taking pride in it," Head Coach Jacie Hoyt said. "That's been a huge emphasis for us for all of non-conference, and we know that we're a better team when we do that."
Since sustaining an injury early in December, Taylor Larson has slowly but surely worked her way back into the rotation for the Roos. She earned her keep tonight, dropping eight points on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting and pulling down three rebounds.
"Taylor's always so consistent," Hoyt said. "She's really good at her job and doing what we ask of her."
With the win, the Roos move to 7-7 on the year, ending non-conference play with an even .500 mark. Seven wins is the most in non-conference play in the Jacie Hoyt era, and the most for the program since the 2011-12 season. The Roos will open up Western Athletic Conference play in Seattle on Thursday.
"Conference is a totally different type of beast," Hoyt said. "But we're prepared for it."
Game Notes
The Roos set season-high marks in field goal attempts (72) and rebounds (54) … Cristina Soriano notched her second career double-double, the Roos are 2-0 in those games … For the first time in her career, Soriano led the Roos in assists, dishing out a career-high five dimes … Taylor Larson's eight points set a season-high, and her six rebounds tied a career-high … Kansas City scored 44 points in the paint, out-scoring USAO 44-22 in that category … Ericka Mattingly played a season-low 21 minutes, scoring 15 points and taking away three steals in that time
