Roos Advance to Summit Semis Behind 14-Point Comeback

Sunday, March 6

Sioux Falls, S.D.

3:00 PM

Kansas City

23-7,12-6Summit League

North Dakota State

11-18,7-11Summit League

North Dakota St.

Kansas City

Photo by: Dave Eggen, Inertia

Roos Advance to Summit Semis Behind 14-Point Comeback

3/6/2022 5:36:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Final Box Final Box (PDF)

Naomie Alnatas poured in 32 points, including 18 in the fourth quarter, to lead the Roos to victory

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Kansas City Women's Basketball (23-6, 13-5) is advancing to the Summit League Semifinals following a 81-74 victory over North Dakota State (11-18, 7-12) on the back of a 32-point showing by Naomie Alnatas. All five of the Roos starters finished in double digits, combining for 80 points, with Kiara Bradley and Paige Bradford pitching in double-doubles.

KEY MOMENTS

1Q / 5-4 | Mandy Willems tallied Kansas City's first five points and opened up the three-point shooting by hitting nothing but nylon.
1Q / 10-9 | After sizing up her defender, Bradford pulled the trigger from beyond the arc, putting the Roos ahead by one.
1Q / 16-17 | The Roos got the last bucket of the first quarter with an inbounds play that led to an Alnatas' baseline jumper.
2Q / 21-28 | After a two-and-a-half minute scoring drought, Bradley sank a three-pointer.

2Q | Love the shooter's touch ??#ROOUP | @MidcoSports | #March2TheSummit pic.twitter.com/dKwh0bL4Q6
— Kansas City Women's Basketball (@KCRoos_WBB) March 6, 2022

2Q / 28-42 | The Bison ended the half on an 8-2 run, taking their largest lead of the game into the locker room.
3Q / 35-44 | A five-point run by Alnatas brought the deficit to single digits.
3Q / 48-54 | Willems converted four free-throws in a row on a combined personal/technical foul, followed by a Bradley three pointer that gave the Roos some momentum.
3Q / 54-57 | A 12-3 Kansas City run was capped off by Alnatas' second three of the game.
4Q / 65-66 | Alnatas kicked the ball out with a no-look pass to a wide-open Bradford for a three, to bring the game within one.

4Q | PAIGE!#ROOUP | @MidcoSports | #March2TheSummit pic.twitter.com/G5wMdoqaIt
— Kansas City Women's Basketball (@KCRoos_WBB) March 6, 2022

4Q / 70-68 | Alnatas used Bradford's screen to side-step beyond the arc and knock down the go ahead three.
4Q / 76-72 | The final momentum shift was taken by KC when Alnatas hit a three-pointer through contact for the potential four-point play.

Like, seriously.#ROOUP | @MidcoSports | #March2TheSummit https://t.co/jD4WfFAI9E pic.twitter.com/rGl75JsU3l
— Kansas City Women's Basketball (@KCRoos_WBB) March 6, 2022

STATS TO NOTE

The Roos move onto the semifinals for the eighth time in 20 appearances at The Summit League/Mid-Con Conference Tournament.
With 23 wins, Kansas City has the second-most wins in program history and are just one win behind the 1991-92 Roos for the most all-time.
Kansas City outscored North Dakota State 53-to-32 in the second half. The Roos' 53 second half points are their most in a half since a 60-point first half against Haskell on December 2.
KC capitalized at the free-throw line, shooting 85% to NDSU's 52%, with Willems going a perfect 8-for-8 at the charity stripe.
The full forty-minute battle came down to extra effort plays, which Kansas City won, earning 17 second-chance points to North Dakota State's seven.
Alnatas played all forty minutes and finished with 32 points, her third 30-plus point performance of the season, while dishing out six assists and five rebounds. She moved into fourth-most points in a single season in program history with 551 points and counting this season.
Bradley also played all forty minutes, recording 12 points and a season-high 12 rebounds for her third double-double this season.
In her fourth double-double performance this season, Bradford finished with 12 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks.
Brooklyn McDavid was the second-leading scoring with 13 points and nine boards.
Willems finished with 11 points and dished out 4 assists, while recording a team-best +/- of +18 in her 34 minutes.
Dani Winslow was a defensive spark off the bench, recording a career-high three blocks.

THE ROOS, QUOTED
Head Coach Jacie Hoyt

On Alnatas' performance
- "Mimie has a heart of gold and is so fun to watch. I've never coached such a selfless player, but we have been talking a lot about the month of March and what the best players do in the month of March."
On Willems driving the ball and drawing fouls
- "Mandy is a hungry senior; she does not want this season to end. The game changed when Mandy made those four free-throws."

Naomie Alnatas

"That's what made the difference, we got stops and focused on defense. We are a way better team when we play defense, our offense will come."
"We always have five threats on the court, that is why it is so fun to play with my teammates."

UP NEXT
Kansas City will take on No. 2 South Dakota at 3 p.m. tomorrow for the chance to advance to the tournament championship for just the third time in program history.