Kansas City
10-12,7-8Summit League
Western Illinois University
8-15,6-8Summit League
Roos Fall to WIU in Summit Quarterfinals
3/7/2021 2:52:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Kansas City couldn't carry a hot start throughout the game, falling short by a point
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Kansas City (10-12) started off hot, but could not hold on to win in the Summit League Quarterfinals, falling to Western Illinois, 60-59.
"We had a great first half and felt like things were really rolling for us, but struggled to make baskets in the second half," Head Coach Jacie Hoyt said.
The Roos started well on the back of Paige Bradford. She scored six-straight points in the first quarter amidst a 10-0 Kansas City run that put the Roos in a good position for the rest of the half. Bradford was dominant across the board, finishing with 12 points, eight rebounds and a career-high-tying six assists.
"When they were focusing on me one-on-one, they gave me opportunities to kick out to my teammates to make open shots," Bradford said.
The Roos continued to put the pedal to the metal in the second quarter, extending the lead to 10 going into half. Taylor Larson, the Roos' senior leader, had nine points in the first half, five above her season average. Kansas City was also aided by a pair of threes from Mandy Willems, who finished with three of the Roos' five triples on the day.
"We had our foot on their necks, going 100% and connected as a team," Bradford said. "Our shots were just falling more in the first half than in the second."
The second half saw the Roos struggle from the field. After shooting 48% in the first two quarters, Kansas City could not get the shots to fall in the third. The Roos shot 3-of-15 from the field in the quarter and the Leathernecks crept back into the game using solid three-point shooting.
"It's tough to win games when you score six points in the third quarter," Hoyt said. "We still found ways to stay in it and I was proud of that."
With the three point shot not falling, the Roos were forced to go inside. They dominated in the paint, outscoring WIU, 36-12. Bradford and Naomie Alnatas led the charge in the fourth quarter, combining for eight of the Roos' 15 points. Alnatas finished with a team-high 17 points, adding five rebounds and six assists.
"I thought that our kids did a great job of finding ways to score in the paint," Hoyt said.
With under-two minutes remaining and the Roos trailing by two, Bradford and Alnatas stepped up in the clutch. Bradford made a bunny to tie the game up, and after a pair of WIU free throws, came down again to hit a jumper for the tie. On the ensuing Leatherneck possession with 40 seconds remaining, Alnatas jumped into the passing lane for a steal and an easy two point bucket to give the Roos the lead. However, it was Kansas City's final basket of the day and WIU would hit 3-of-4 free throws down the stretch to take the win.
"Today just didn't go our way," Hoyt said.
The Roos finish 10-12 in Hoyt's fourth year at the helm, having qualified for the conference tournament for the 20th season in-a-row. In a season of uncertainty, Hoyt was proud of the way that the team carried itself and fought through adversity.
"I saw a group of amazing, resilient, tough young women," she said. "We had everything thrown at us. Week after week it felt like we took a lot of different hits, but our players always found ways to step up and overcome those situations. I'm really proud of their toughness throughout."
