Kansas City
10-12,1-6Summit League
South Dakota
15-7,4-3Summit League
Kansas City Falls Just Short in Loss to South Dakota
1/27/2024 4:35:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Alayna Contreras scored 24 points, but it was not enough for the Roos to overcome the Coyotes
VERMILLION, S.D. - Kansas City Women's Basketball (10-12, 1-6 Summit) fought for the full night and took South Dakota (15-7, 4-3 Summit) into the final minutes, but could not get over the hump and fell to the Coyotes, 72-62. A career day for Alayna Contreras kept the Roos in the game, scoring a game-high 24 points and knocking down multiple big shots along the way.
South Dakota consistently held on to the lead, but the Roos would not go down easily, battling back time and time again. Kansas City never allowed the Coyotes' lead to surpass 10 points, tying the game or drawing within a point multiple times, but never coming up with the go-ahead bucket.
Contreras' career-high 24 point night was spurred by 8-of-16 shooting, including 5-of-12 shooting from three-point land, the most three-point makes by a Kansas City player this season. Dominique Phillips was the only other Roo to surpass the 10-point mark, scoring 13 points. Ifunanya Nwachukwu pitched in with a near double-double, contributing nine points and nine rebounds.
KEY MOMENTS | HIGHLIGHTS
- 1Q - 4:30 / 11-9 | With both teams trading buckets to begin the game, Kelby Bannerman knocked down a tough hook shot through contact to give Kansas City a lead heading into the break.
- 1Q - 0:06 / 16-21 | South Dakota used a 12-2 run to take the lad, but a Contreras triple put an end to the run and brought the Roos back within five at the end of the first quarter.
- 2Q - 4:52 / 29-29 | Tamia Ugass found Nwachukwu down low for her first points of the day, tying the game up. The Coyotes ended the half on a 10-3 run, taking a seven-point lead into the half.
- 3Q - 3:42 / 41-42 | South Dakota knocked down a three to open the half with a 10-point lead, but the Roos responded by scoring nine-straight. Bannerman scored a bucket with an assist by Contreras to close the run.
- 3Q - 0:05 / 48-51 | As time ran down in the third, Contreras swung a cross-court pass to Nwachukwu, securing the ball and hoisting a three that brought the Roos back within three going into the final frame.
- 4Q - 8:58 / 52-53 | Nariyah Simmons pulled down an offensive rebound to give the Roos a second chance, and Phillips converted on the bucket to draw back within a point.
- 4Q - 2:51 / 60-61 | The Coyotes extended their lead back out to seven, but back-to-back triples - one by Phillips and another by Contreras - brought the Roos within a point once again. USD closed the game on an 11-2 run to secure the win.
STATS TO NOTE
- Contreras' performance surpasses her previous career-high of 20 points, reached against Weber State on Jan. 6. It is also the second-highest single game scoring output by a Roo this season, trailing only Simmons' 34-point game against Kansas.
- Nwachukwu's three-pointer to end the third quarter was her second of the season and the second of her career. In two years at Missouri State, she attempted zero triples, but is 2-of-2 this season, with the other make coming at UTEP on Nov. 11.
- Contreras' five three-pointers contributed to seven total threes by the Roos, with the other two coming from Phillips and Nwachukwu. Seven threes is a season-high by KC, having previously knocked down six on three different occasions.
- The Roos secured 12 offensive rebounds on the day, leading to 14 second chance points. The Coyotes scored just six points on second chance opportunities.
UP NEXT
The Roos remain on the road for a pair of games next week, starting with a head-to-head at Denver at 7 p.m. on Thursday.
