Kansas City
3-2,0-0Summit League
Kansas State University
5-2,0-0Big 12
Women's Basketball Can't Match Wildcats' Size in Loss
12/14/2020 8:59:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MANHATTAN, Kan. - Kansas City Women's Basketball's (3-2) hot three-point shooting from Saturday afternoon at SIUE carried over into the first half of Monday evening's game against Kansas State (5-2), but in the end the Wildcats' inside presence was too much for the Roos as they prevailed, 74-57.
"We've been shooting the ball really well, and our team understands that it's a part of our identity," Head Coach Jacie Hoyt said. "We couldn't get them to fall in the second half, which hurt us."
The Wildcats jumped out to an 11-4 lead early in the first quarter, using their size inside to get easy baskets. Then, the threes started raining for the Roos. Each of the first three Kansas City field goals came from beyond the arc and each of the Roos' first seven attempts from the field were from range.
With just over three minutes remaining, Naomie Alnatas got the Roos' first two of the night to draw within three of the Cats. After a defensive stop, Taylor Larson cleaned up two offensive rebounds to give Kansas City an extended possession that ended with a RaVon Nero three and knotted the game at 15-15.
The Roos ended the first quarter on a 10-0 run, entering the second frame with a 20-15 lead. They came out hot in the second quarter as well, expanding the lead to 27-20. Then, K-State began finding Ayoka Lee inside. The 2020 All-Big 12 First Teamer hit 7-of-8 free throws in the second quarter, keeping the Wildcats in the game. Lee finished with 31 points and 14 rebounds.
"Lee is one of the best post players in the country and we didn't have an answer for her," Hoyt said.
Alnatas ended the second quarter with a triple to give the Roos a 39-37 advantage entering the half.
"I loved the team that we were in the first half," Hoyt said. "We'll take that half and carry it with us as we go on the road to play another tough game at SIU."
In the second half, foul trouble hurt the Roos, and the Wildcats made them pay. Paige Bradford was given her fourth foul on the first possession of the third quarter and K-State took advantage. The Cats outscored the Roos 25-9 in the third frame on 8-of-15 shooting. The fourth quarter was more of the same, with the Roos being outscored 16-to-8 in the paint in the second half.
"Their size as a whole really wore us down," Hoyt said.
The Roos were led by Alnatas and Emily Ivory, scoring 15 and 11 points, respectively. Alnatas also pulled down a team-high five rebounds, two coming on the offensive end. Ivory made three shots from range, extending her streak of at least three triples to six games in a row. Sanaa' St. Andre continued to impress for the Roos as well. The freshman ended with 10 points, giving her two-straight games in double digits.
The Roos will next travel to Southern Illinois for a 6 p.m. tip-off on Thursday.
