Kansas City
7-16,3-9Summit League
Oral Roberts
11-12,8-4Summit League
Big Efforts by Mensah and Ugass Not Enough at ORU
2/4/2023 4:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Manna Mensah scored 32 points and Tamia Ugass posted her first-career double-double as KC fell to the Golden Eagles
TULSA, Okla. - A second quarter scoring outburst hurt Kansas City Women's Basketball (7-15, 3-9 Summit) against Oral Roberts (10-12, 8-4 Summit) this afternoon, falling in a 86-68 decision. An already depleted Kansas City roster was pushed to the limit by an early injury to E'Lease Stafford, as Manna Mensah and Tamia Ugass did everything they could to keep the Roos in the game.
The Roos were able to hold the Golden Eagles to just 17 points in the first quarter, entering the first break down by five points. However, ORU came out on fire in the second quarter, scoring on each of their first nine possessions. Kansas City dropped 16 points in the quarter, but it was no match for ORU's 30-point outburst. The Roos used a run in the fourth quarter to make things interesting, but it came too little, too late.
Mensah played all 40 minutes and doubled her previous career-high scoring mark, dropping 32 points on 11-of-26 shooting and pulling down 11 rebounds for her second double-double of the season. Ugass dominated on the boards, pulling down 20 rebounds and putting up 18 points, the first double-double of her career.
KEY MOMENTS
- 1Q - 5:15 / 6-5 | Manna Mensah got on the board with a jump shot for her first bucket of the afternoon, giving the Roos their final lead of the day.
- 1Q - 0:03 / 12-17 | Oral Roberts opened up a seven-point lead, but a layup by Zaire Harrell in the final moments of the quarter gave Kansas City some life going into the break.
- 2Q - 5:42 / 18-35 | The Golden Eagles began the second quarter on an 18-4 run before a layup by Tamia Ugass put an end to the spurt. Ugass scored each of the Roos' first six points to begin the quarter.
- 3Q - 6:00 / 39-58 | Mensah brought Kansas City back within 20 points with an and-one bucket, finishing through contact on an assist by Rain Green.
3Q | And one for Mensah ?? pic.twitter.com/EXRYqPUlmR
— Kansas City Women's Basketball (@KCRoosWBB) February 4, 2023Â
- 3Q - 1:01 / 48-66 | Mensah scored for the third-straight time down the court, surpassing the 20-point mark on the game and setting a new career-high.
- 4Q - 8:51 / 52-66 | The Roos scored the first four points of the fourth quarter, as Ugass sent a pass to Mensah and gave Kansas City some life in the fourth.
- 4Q - 3:55 / 66-76 | Mensah and Ugass combined for a 10-2 Kansas City run, bringing the Roos within 10 points for the first time since early in the second quarter. However, ORU closed the game on a 10-2 run of their own to take the victory.
STATS TO NOTE
- Mensah had scored 16 points three times previously in her career, two of which came in the past month. Today, she demolished that personal mark, giving the Roos their first 30-point performance since Mar. 6, 2022.
- Ugass had never surpassed the 10-rebound mark prior to today's game, but had no problem getting there today, reaching that mark by halftime. Her 20-rebound showing was the second time a Roo has gone over that mark this season.
- Kansas City committed 24 turnovers on the day, which translated into 30 points for Oral Roberts. In comparison, the Roos scored just two points off turnovers.
- Mensah, Ugass and Jocelyn Ewell all surpassed 30 minutes of playing time. Machia Mullens was not far behind, playing just over 29 minutes.
UP NEXT
The Roos return home this upcoming week, beginning with a game against Western Illinois on Thursday at 7 p.m.
