Kansas City
4-5,0-0WAC
Omaha
4-5,0-0Summit League
Women's Basketball Can't Overcome Omaha in Defensive Fight
12/4/2019 10:02:00 PM | Women's Basketball
OMAHA, Neb. - Kansas City women's basketball's defense harassed Omaha for 40-straight minutes on Wednesday afternoon, but in the end rebounding bit the Roos once again. Despite 25 forced turnovers, Omaha out-rebounded the Roos by 26, and Kansas City fell in heartbreaking fashion to the Mavericks 57-53.
"There is absolutely no reason we should ever be out-rebounded in that way," Head Coach Jacie Hoyt said. "As a team we have to be better at rebounding."
The Roos jumped on Omaha right away, forcing 16 turnovers in the first half. Six of those came by way of an Ericka Mattingly steal, as she finished with a season-high seven take aways. The Roos' biggest lead came in the first quarter, as a Mattingly triple capped off a 14-2 Kansas City run and gave them a 16-7 lead.
Kansas City still gave the Mavericks fits going into the second quarter, but Omaha's shooting prowess kept them in the game. They connected on 8-of-11 shots, and cut the Roos' lead to three going into the half.
The third quarter went entirely to Omaha. After an Awal Ajak jumper to open up scoring, the Mavericks rattled off a 12-0 run over the next 4:18. Kansas City continued forcing turnovers, but had trouble converting them into points, finishing the game with just four more points off of turnovers than the Mavericks despite forcing 14 more turnovers.
"Our defense was solid tonight and we forced a lot of turnovers," Hoyt said. "The problem is that we didn't convert on them the way that we needed to."
The Roos faced a five-point deficit going in to the final frame, and came out firing. Emily Ivory dropped a three-point bucket that tied the game up with 8:44 remaining, and the Roos' defense was shut down, holding Omaha to 19% shooting in the final 10 minutes. Unfortunately, the Mavericks pulled down nine offensive boards in the quarter and were able to remain in the game.
"Our team has to understand the value of the ball with every single rebound," Hoyt said. "They are taking that for granted right now and we aren't coming up with the ball the way that we need to."
With 1:11 remaining and the Roos leading by one, Omaha's Ella Ogier corralled in a rebound off of a Maverick miss, and converted on the put back, giving Omaha the final lead change of the game. The Mavericks were able to ice the game at the free throw line, taking eight shots from the charity stripe compared to the Roos' zero, as Omaha was not called for their first fourth quarter foul until just 42 seconds remained in the game.
Kansas City will return home for an important home stretch, hosting Missouri and Kansas State in the next 10 days.
"We will stick to our process and keep doing what we do every day," Hoyt said.
Game Notes
Tajah Foster-Walker had already logged stats in each major category (points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks) by the 6:02 mark in the first quarter … Ericka Mattingly finished with a season-high seven steals, six coming in the first half … A 26-rebound deficit was the worst for Kansas City since South Dakota State out-rebounded the Roos 44-17 on Jan. 3, 2013 … 25 forced turnovers ties the Roos' season-high, previously reached against Rockhurst … For the second game in a row, Kansas City was perfect from the free throw line, but took only 3 attempts compared to Omaha's 12
