One-Seeded Roos Ready for Chicago State

Wednesday, March 11

Las Vegas, NV

2:00 PM CST

Kansas City

Chicago State University

One-Seeded Roos Ready for Chicago State

3/10/2020 11:44:00 AM | Women's Basketball

Tournament Bracket Game Notes

Kansas City takes a five-game winning streak into the WAC Tournament

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Winners of the WAC Regular-Season Championship, Kansas City Women's Basketball (20-10, 13-3 WAC) has earned its first-ever one-seed in the upcoming Hercules Tires Western Athletic Conference Basketball Tournament presented by TicketSmarter. The Roos will be tasked with facing Chicago State (1-26, 1-13) in the quarterfinal round, with an opportunity to qualify for the semifinals for the second-straight year on the line.

The Roos come into the week looking to improve upon their all-time record in the WAC Tournament, entering with a pair of victories. For the second time in the school's WAC history, they will be facing a lower-seeded team. Last year, the fourth-seeded Roos took down fifth-seeded Utah Valley, 78-75 in the quarterfinals.
All-WAC awards were announced at the beginning of the week, and the Roos were honored appropriately. Jacie Hoyt, who took the program from 10 wins the year prior to her arrival to 20 wins in just her third year, was named Coach of the Year. Ericka Mattingly was named Player of the Year after averaging 15.7 points, 4.2 assists and 2.4 steals per game, all of which ranked top-five in the conference. Cristina Soriano was pegged with All-Defensive team honors thanks to her 1.3 block, 7.6 rebound per game clips.
Naomie Alnatas has stepped up in a huge way for the Roos in the past two weeks, averaging 12.3 points over the last four games. Prior to this stretch, she was averaging 2.1 points per game in 15 appearances.
When Jonaie Johnson scores, the Roos do well. The sophomore from Chicago averages 6.5 points per game, and when she has scored in double digits this season, Kansas City boasts a perfect 9-0 record. Johnson's career-high came on Feb. 8, when she dropped 17 points at New Mexico State.
Six Roos enter Wednesday's game with previous WAC Tournament experience, led by Ericka Mattingly. In Kansas City's two postseason games last year, Mattingly averaged 32.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 3.0 steals.

Last Time Out: Kansas City def. Seattle U, 68-65 (3/7/20)

The Roos opened up a 15-point lead in the second quarter, and held on to the end, leading wire-to-wire in the Senior Day victory.
Seniors Ericka Mattingly, Cristina Soriano and Awal Ajak combined for 36 points and 19 rebounds in the win.
Naomie Alnatas caught fire in the first half, connecting on four-of-five three-point attempts. She added six rebounds to round out a solid all-around game.
The Roos won by dominating on the glass. Kansas City pulled down 51 rebounds, compared to just 29 for the Redhawks.

Last Time vs. Chicago State: Kansas City won, 85-50 (2/29/20)

Emily Ivory knocked down a three-point shot 13 seconds into the game, and the Roos never looked back, leading wire-to-wire. In 80 minutes played against the Cougars this year, Kansas City led for 79:25.
Ericka Mattingly was next level, dropping a team-high 16 points for her ninth straight game of 15-plus. Additionally, she led the team in rebounds (7), assists (8) and steals (4).
The Roos took hold in the second quarter, limiting the Cougars to just one field goal. Chicago State's four second-quarter points was the lowest in a single quarter by a Kansas City opponent this season.
Every Chicago State player that saw the floor was forced into at least one turnover. In total, the Cougars finished with 21 giveaways, resulting in 25 points for Kansas City.

All-Time Series vs. Chicago State

Chicago State is the Roos' most-played and most-beaten opponent of all-time. With 51 games played between the two programs, the Roos hold a 42-9 advantage all time.
The Roos are on a current nine-game win streak against the Cougars, with the average margin of victory coming in at 29.8 points.
Head Coach Jacie Hoyt is perfect against the Cougars, posting a 6-0 record thus far.
In last year's Jan. 5 matchup in Chicago, the Roos outpaced the Cougars, 111-58. This was the third-largest margin of victory in the series, as well as the most-ever points scored by a single team.