Stout Defense Guides Roos to Blowout of SIU

Sunday, November 14

Kansas City, Mo.

12:00 PM

Kansas City

1-1,0-0Summit League

Southern Illinois

0-2,0-0MVC

Southern Ill.

Kansas City

Photo by: Ryan Weaver Photography

Stout Defense Guides Roos to Blowout of SIU

11/14/2021 3:21:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score

Kansas City led wire-to-wire, holding the Salukis to just five field goals in the first half

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City Women's Basketball blitzed Southern Illinois this afternoon in the team's home opener, running past the Salukis, 67-46. Kansas City led from start to finish, pulling down 45 rebounds and holding SIU to 25% shooting on the day.

KEY MOMENTS

1Q / 3-0 | Naomie Alnatas found Mandy Willems for the first points of the day, giving the Roos a lead that they would never relinquish.
1Q / 9-3 | Kiara Bradley picked up a loose ball and got downhill quickly, scoring her first points of the day in the fast break.
1Q / 11-5 | On another fast break opportunity, Paige Bradford drove the lane, swinging a pass around the Salukis' defense and into the hands of Brooklyn McDavid for an easy layup.
2Q / 15-9 | Alnatas found a streaking Dani Winslow for an easy layup in the paint.
2Q / 22-11 | After gathering her own miss, Alnatas rose above a crowd to flip in a floater and give KC a double-digit lead.
2Q / 29-13 | At the end of the shot clock, Alnatas used a screen from Jocelyn Ewell to create space and knocked down a three-point bucket, capping an 18-4 run for the Roos.
3Q / 39-17 | Continuing the Roos' lock-down defense into the second half, Paige Bradford swatted back-to-back SIU shot attempts away for two of her three blocks on the day. Then, Alnatas found a rising McDavid in the fast break for an easy two points.
3Q / 45-24 | With time on the shot clock winding down, Bradford had no choice but to launch an off-balance three-pointer, finding nothing but the bottom of the net.
3Q / 47-31 | After Winslow pulled down an offensive rebound to give the Roos the last possession of the quarter, Alnatas euro-stepped past two SIU defenders and found a streaking McDavid for a simple bucket.
4Q / 56- 38 | With SIU attempting to make a run, they went into a full court press. Alnatas and RaVon Nero broke the press, finding a wide-open Willems for a triple.
4Q / 67- 46 | Machia Mullens dished a pass to Sanaa' St. Andre, who finished off the game for the Roos with a floater.

STATS TO NOTE

Kansas City held the Salukis to just 5-of-30 shooting from the field in the first half.
The Roos shot 40% from three-point range, knocking down 6-of-15 attempts.
Naomie Alnatas scored a team-high 16 points and dished out a career-high seven assists.
Kansas City held the lead throughout the entire game.
The Roos out-rebounded the Salukis 45-to-31, including 15 offensive rebounds, leading to 19 second-chance points.
Mandy Willems and Brooklyn McDavid were double-digit scorers, dropping 15 and 14 points, respectively.
Paige Bradford pulled down nine rebounds, while Dani Winslow came off the bench to give the Roos nine as well.

THE ROOS, QUOTED

Coach Jacie Hoyt
- "We have a really mature group that understands the process of a long season. The first game, I thought we battled but we were lacking in some things and I really challenged our team to step up in those areas. I am so proud of the way that they did that, and the results of this game was due to the last few practices. I can't say that I'm surprised, because that's who this team is."
- "I'm so thankful for such a loyal, passionate fanbase, they bring so much energy and we feed off of them. You could feel that in several different ways today."
- "Dani (Winslow) has been a lock down defender since she got here. Her and I met on Wednesday, and I said 'I'm going to move you to the four spot.' She was excited for that, and did a really good job of embracing that role today."
Naomie Alnatas
- "SIU has some great players and shooters, they're really strong inside of the paint. Our focus was to make sure we kept them in front and made them earn everything. The team was very mature and aggressive."
- "I'm very grateful for having fans here again. It was a good feeling to see the whole crowd back here like nothing had changed."

UP NEXT
The Roos will look to begin a win streak at home on Thursday, as they host Wyoming at 6 p.m. in the Swinney Center. It will be the teams' first matchup since the 1990-91 season.