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Kansas City
6-13,2-6Summit League
North Dakota
11-7,4-4Summit League
Kansas City Dominates Third Quarter in Win over North Dakota
1/19/2023 10:24:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Five Roos scored in double-digits, led by E'Lease Stafford's 17-point night
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City Women's Basketball (6-13, 2-6 Summit) used a dominant second half performance to beat North Dakota (11-7, 4-4 Summit), 78-67. E'Lease Stafford led the Roos in scoring with 17 points on 3-of-6Â shooting from three. Machia Mullens was ferocious on the glass, grabbing 18 rebounds, including four offensive boards.
It was a back-and-forth battle throughout the first half, with North Dakota taking a one-point lead into the locker room, however, the Roos came out firing in the third quarter, outscoring North Dakota 24-14. The Roos would shoot 50% from the field and 66.7% from downtown to propel them to a nine-point advantage entering the final quarter.
Like the third quarter, the Roos lit it up shooting wise in the fourth quarter, shooting 50% from the field and 11-of-12 from the free throw line. Kansas City would go on to outscore UND by 13 in the second half to earn their second conference win of the year.
KEY MOMENTS
- 1Q – 9:42 / 3-0 | Manna Mensah hit a three pointer off an assist from Rain Green to get the Roos on the board early.
- 1Q - 2:49 / 11-10 | Green dropped off a pass to Stafford who pulled up and hit a jumper to give the Roos the lead back.
- 1Q – 1:10 / 16-15 | Mensah dished out a pass to the corner and Stafford buried a triple.
- 2Q – 6:00 / 26-26 |  Mullens got physical down low and laid it up to tie things up.
- 2Q – 1:25 / 32-33 | Green kicked it to Tamia Ugass for a pull up jumper right outside the paint to draw the Roos within one at the half.
- 3Q – 5:31 / 41-38 | Mensah assisted Stafford on another three-point jumper to give the Roos a three-point cushion.
- 3Q - 1:20 / 54-42 | Green picked up another assist to Mensah for a big three pointer to give the Roos their largest lead of the night.
3Q | Things we like to see?? pic.twitter.com/1to7wZH8Nu
— Kansas City Women's Basketball (@KCRoosWBB) January 20, 2023
- 4Q – 7:26 / 60-50 | Ugass hit Mullens on a pass and she finished a hook shot to put the Roos lead back at double digits.
- 4Q – 2:17 / 76-59 | Green picked up her ninth assist of the night to Ugass who finished the layup as the Roos would cruise the rest of the way, 78-67.
STATS TO NOTE
- The Roos had five different players hit double digits in scoring for the first time since last season's Summit League Quarterfinal game against North Dakota State.
- Machia Mullens grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds on the night and eclipsed 100 on the season. It was her fourth time this season reaching double-digit rebounds, and her second double-double of the year.
- Kansas City shot 21-of-22 from the free throw line tonight, improving their season percentage to 71.8%
- Ugass came off the bench to score a career-high 15 points, her fourth time in double-digits this year. She added five rebounds, all on the offensive end.
THE ROOS, QUOTED
Head Coach Dionnah Jackson-Durrett
"Don't you love it when a plan comes together? This team followed the game plan ... We're really good when we can follow a game plan."
"We have to get comfortable (playing physical), because there are a lot of tough teams in the Summit League ... We have to be tough as well."
Machia Mullens
"(An increased role) has definitely been great, it's been something I've wanted for a really long time. Now that it's finally here, I'm just maximizing on the opportunity."
UP NEXT
The Roos will take on North Dakota State at home on Saturday at 2 p.m.
