Kansas City
7-15,3-8Summit League
Denver
8-14,4-7Summit League
Kansas City Falls to Pioneers' Three-Point Barrage
1/28/2023 4:13:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Denver knocked down its first seven shots from the three, setting the tone early
DENVER, Colo. - Kansas City Women's Basketball (7-15, 3-8 Summit) fended off a hot start by Denver (8-14, 4-7 Summit), but were unable to hold on for a victory, falling 69-60 on the road. Three Roos finished in double-digits, led by Rain Green's 16-point, seven-assist effort.
Denver came out of the gates firing, knocking down its first seven shots from beyond the three-point line to build a 16-point lead within the first four minutes of the game. The Roos battled back and drew within one at half, temporarily taking the lead in the third quarter, but the Pioneers responded and pulled away late. Kansas City was held to just 25% shooting in the final frame after connecting at a 51.2% clip in the first three quarters.
E'Lease Stafford and Manna Mensah joined Green in double-digits, scoring 14 and 10 points, respectively. Jocelyn Ewell played 36 minutes, shooting 4-of-5 from the field and pulling down a team-high-tying six rebounds.
KEY MOMENTS
- 1Q - 5:47 / 8-21 | Denver hit its first seven shots from the field, all from beyond the three-point line. E'Lease Stafford knocked down her first triple of the day to give Kansas City some momentum and the Roos came up with a stop on the other end.
- 1Q - 0:21 / 17-23 | Stafford scored the final points of the first, dropping nine points in the quarter to keep Kansas City in the fight. The Roos ended the quarter on a 12-2 run to draw within six.
- 2Q - 8:59 / 23-23 | Kansas City scored the first six points of the second quarter, including a triple by Mensah, to tie the game up for the first time since the score was 0-0. However, the Pioneers would respond with a 12-2 run of their own to open up another double-digit lead.
- 2Q - 0:00 / 34-35 | The Roos ended the half on a nine-point spurt to close the gap to one at the intermission. After forcing a Denver shot clock violation, Rain Green hit a buzzer beater from near half court to cap the run.
2Q | @RainGreen23 at the BUZZEERRRRRR ?? pic.twitter.com/2OLEoAMXgp
— Kansas City Women's Basketball (@KCRoosWBB) January 28, 2023
- 3Q - 7:08 / 40-39 | Tamia Ugass nailed a floater in the lane, giving KC its first lead since it was 2-0 at the 9:43 mark of the first quarter.
- 3Q - 2:19 / 48-54 | Denver went on another run to open up an eight-point lead, but it was Ugass again that halted it, putting a jumper through.
- 4Q - 9:45 / 53-56 | Stafford scored her first points of the second half with a three-pointer to open the final frame, drawing Kansas City within three. Denver responded by scoring the next nine points, claiming a 12-point lead with under five minutes remaining.
- 4Q - 2:23 / 59-67 | Mensah knocked down another three-pointer, bringing the game back within single digits and keeping the Roos alive, but KC missed its final three shots from the field and Denver took the win.
STATS TO NOTE
- In a game of runs, Kansas City's largest one was a 10-point run that came near the end of the first quarter as the Roos battled back from a 16-point deficit.
- The Roos outshot the Pioneers from the field, connecting on 45.5% of their shots compared to Denver's 38.6% clip. However, Denver hit 11 threes while holding KC to just five.
- Denver's Emma Smith shoots threes at a 35.2% clip on the year, but the Roos were able to hold her to 1-of-7 shooting, good for a 14.3% clip.
- KC outscored the Pioneers by 10 in the paint, scoring half of its points down low.
- With seven assists today, Green has notched at least six in the past four games. She has logged at least four in each of the past eight contests.
UP NEXTÂ
Kansas City will have some time off before traveling to Oral Roberts next Saturday at 2 p.m. In the first meeting between the two teams, the Roos claimed a 65-54 victory.
