Roos Host Portland State, Travel to Weber State

Starting Five

The Roos will look to improve their record to .500 or better, hosting Portland State before traveling to Weber State on Saturday. Kansas City faces the two Big Sky foes as a part of the inaugural Big Sky-Summit Challenge. From Jan. 3 - Jan. 6, a total of 36 games will be played between Big Sky and Summit League Women's and Men's Basketball to determine a winner.
Kansas City will look to pick up its first road win of the season against Weber State on Thursday. This will be the first meeting in program history between the Wildcats and the Roos, but both teams enter the game 0-2 in their respective conference.
Ifunanya Nwachukwu has been an important defensive piece for the Roos. She leads the team in rebounds with 75 so far this season, and blocks with 13. In the conference opener, Nwachukwu documented her second double-double of the season, putting up 10 points and 16 rebounds.
Nariyah Simmons is the lone player to start all 15 games for the Roos, she averages 10 points per game. Along with Simmons, Emani Bennett earned her place on the starting lineup against Chicago St. on Nov. 22 and has not left the lineup, starting all 11 games since then.
Alayna Contreras put up her second consecutive double-digit game earning 10 points against St. Thomas. In the conference opener against Oral Roberts, Contreras was one of four Roos to reach double-digits. She knocked down six free throws, a three, and a couple of baskets to earn 13 points.

Portland State Notes

Portland State will look to break its four-game losing streak in Kansas City. The Vikings lost their last four home games and are 2-3 on the road.
Junior guard Esmeralda Morales leads the Vikings on the offensive end, averaging 19.4 points per game. She has six 20-point performances so far this season.

Weber State Notes

The Wildcats head into the matchup on a bit of a cold streak with losses in their last four games. The Roos are the lone Summit League team the Wildcats will face in the Big Sky- Summit Challenge.
Currently, Weber State boasts a perfect record at home going 2-0 with wins over Nevada and Westminster. The Roos will look to add a one in the win column for away games while the Wildcats try to maintain their perfect home record.
Senior forward Daryn Hickok leads the Wildcats in points, steals and rebounds. She averages 11.6 points per game, 1.3 steals and 4.8 rebounds.

University of Missouri Kansas City Athletics