Women's Basketball Heads to North Dakota for Final Road Trip

at NDSU (WATCH | STATS)
at North Dakota (WATCH | STATS)

Starting Five

Kansas City takes to North Dakota for its final road trip of the season, looking to snap a four-game losing streak, tied for its longest of the year. Since rejoining the Summit League in 2020-21, Kansas City is 0-4 in its final two road games of the regular season.
The Roos are one of the better rebounding teams in the Summit League, averaging 38.84 rebounds per game, which ranks third in the league. KC out-rebounds opponents by an average of 2.5 boards per game, ranking second in the Summit. Each of the Roos' seven wins have come when winning the battle of the boards.
Jocelyn Ewell has maintained a consistent offensive approach throughout the year. The junior averages 7.2 points per game on 60.4% shooting, and is shooting at an 83.3% rate across the past four games.
Playing with a limited roster, Kansas City has looked to reserves Ava Murphy and Zaire Harrell for expanded playing time in recent games. Murphy has played 19.3 minutes per game in the past three games after averaging just 6.0 minutes in the first 22. In the same span, Harrell has seen her playing time jump from 9.4 minutes per game to 19.7 minutes per game.
Kansas City will look to find its stride again offensively, shooting 32.8% clip in the past two games after shooting above the 41% mark in six-straight games.

NDSU Notes

North Dakota State currently sits in a three-way tie for second place in the Summit League with an 8-6 record. The Bison have lost three-straight and four-of-five.
NDSU took the first meeting on Jan. 21, 75-66. The Roos limited Heaven Hamling to five points and were led by a 26-point effort from Tamia Ugass.
The Roos hold an 11-9 advantage in the all-time series, but trail 3-5 in games played at Fargo.
North Dakota State ranks second in the Summit in offensive boards per game, trailing only KC.
Hamling's 15.7 point per game average leads the Bison and ranks sixth in the league.

North Dakota Notes

The Fighting Hawks also find themselves in a three-way tie for second in the Summit, but are trending differently from the Bison, winning three-straight and four-of-five.
Kansas City took the first meeting between the two teams this season, 87-78. Five Roos scored in double digits, with Machia Mullens posting a 16-point, 18-rebound double-double.
The Roos lead the all-time series 3-1, with UND's only win coming in Grand Forks last season.
UND has the best three-point defense in the conference, holding opponents to 30.3% shooting from long range.
Kacie Borowicz ranks second in the conference and 20th in the nation with a 19.9 points per game average.

University of Missouri Kansas City Athletics