Kansas City
7-7,4-4Summit League
North Dakota State University
11-4,6-3Summit League
Mickens's Double-Double Guides Roos to Victory
1/29/2021 4:43:00 PM | Women's Basketball
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Jada Mickens posted 13 points and 11 rebounds for her first double-double of the year and the third of her Kansas City career, leading the Roos (7-7, 4-4) to a 53-45 win over North Dakota State (11-4, 6-3).
"(Jada)'s a senior leader," Head Coach Jacie Hoyt said. "It took her some time to understand what that looks like, but she has really taken ownership the past three weeks. Our team has gone through some adversity, but it has brought us closer together and I think Jada is a big reason for that. We really rely on her leadership."
Neither team could find the basket to begin the game, with the Bison taking an 18-16 lead into the half. The Roos' defense caused NDSU trouble, forcing 11 first-half turnovers and holding the Bison to 30% shooting.
"We talk all the time about why it's important to buy into our defense," Hoyt said. "I was really proud of our girls. North Dakota State is a highly efficient team and I was proud of the way that we were able to guard them."
Kansas City found a groove offensively in the third quarter, while maintaining its defensive pressure. The Roos outscored the Bison by eight points in the quarter, led by Jonaie Johnson. Johnson found the basket for eight third-quarter points, finishing the day with a team-leading 18 points to go with eight rebounds.
"We always want to push the tempo, and when Jonaie is rebounding the ball it's a lot easier," Hoyt said. "She really set the tone with her defensive intensity and rebounding."
The Bison began to battle back in the fourth quarter, led by Emily Dietz's presence on the inside. The lead was traded back-and-forth, leading to a 43-43 tie with 1:39 remaining.
After two overtime games last weekend, the Roos decided that they wanted to end this one in regulation. Naomie Alnatas drove the lane, drawing the attention of two NDSU defenders and leaving Mickens wide open beyond the three-point line. Alnatas kicked it out to Mickens, who calmly drained the triple.
"I knew the shot was going to go in before I even had the ball in my hand," Mickens said. "I saw that I was wide open, I just needed the ball. I was confident."
After a stop on the defensive end, Alnatas came down and drove the lane again, this time finishing through contact for an and-one. She made 5-of-5 free throws down the stretch to ice the game for the Roos, finishing with 16 points for the second game in a row.
"Our team is very bought-in right now, and our communication is elite," Hoyt said. "We know that when we're in close games, we don't back down. This is what we do."
While finishing scoreless for the first time all season, Paige Bradford made her impact felt on the defensive side of the ball. She pulled down five rebounds, all defensive, and collected six steals, the highest single-game steal count by a Roo this season.
The Roos and Bison will square off once again tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m. on the Roo Sports Network.
"We can't loosen up," Mickens said. "We've got to know that they're going to come out ten-times harder tomorrow, and we need to do the same thing."
