Kansas City
3-11,0-0Summit League
UTRGV
6-6,1-1Southland
Contreras and Em. Bennett Combine for 35 Points, Roos Fall Short at UTRGV
12/20/2024 9:29:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Alayna Contreras led all scorers with 20 points while Emani Bennett notched 15 points
EDINBURG, TEXAS - Kansas City Women's Basketball (3-11) couldn't overcome UTRGV (6-6) as the Roos fell by a score of 71-54 to the Vaqueros. Kansas City held a 22-21 lead at halftime thanks to a 13-point second quarter in which the Roos shot 40% from the field. Alayna Contreras was KC's star of the show, putting in 20 points in addition to two assists and two steals. Emani Bennett chipped in 15 points along with three rebounds and a trifecta of three point baskets.
KEY MOMENTS
- 1Q – 5:25 / 5-4 | The Roos got going early thanks to some pretty passing on offense. Lisa Thomas drove to the basket on the right side of the lane and kicked the ball out to Contreras who pump faked her defender and swung the rock one more time to Em. Bennett for the Roos first three pointer of the evening. The shot completed a sequence in which Kansas City saw 10-plus passes before a shot on the possession.
- 1Q – 1:20 / 9-7 | Coming out of a late first quarter timeout break, the Roos got a massive early bucket from Contreras. The junior guard came off a screen and caught the ball off the inbounds pass and rose up for an 18-foot jump shot to give Kansas City a slight first quarter advantage.
- 2Q – 7:02 / 13-12 | Kansas City kept the pace high early into the second frame as Alyssa Febres took her defender into the paint and feathered in a soft chest pass to the waiting Tamia Ugass who went up for the layup to elevate the Roos into a one point lead.
- 2Q – 1:19 / 22-21 | Em. Bennett kept her hot shooting night up late in the second quarter as the sophomore took the pass from Contreras, lined up the shot and converted on the triple try to put Kansas City back into the late half lead.
- 3Q – 6:54 / 28-26 | The Bennett twins combined for a sweet sequence midway through the third frame as Em. Bennett drove to the basket and dished the ball off to her sister inside the paint. Elauni Bennett shook off her defender with a vicious step through move and scored the open basket right at the hoop.
- 4Q – 0:55 / 54-62 | Contreras kept the Roos in the fight late as the junior guard nailed a corner three ball that turned the game back to a three possession contest in the game's final minute of play.
STATS TO NOTE
- Em. Bennett followed up her career high performance in scoring with another stellar outing, notching 15 points in this contest to give her an 11th double digit scoring outing this season. Em. Bennett has also scored in double figures in four of her last five games.
- Contreras notched yet another 20+ point game for the Roos Friday night, making it her third of the season. The junior guard has notched double figures in scoring 11 times this season and seven games in a row.
- El. Bennett registered the second highest rebounding mark of her season, finishing with nine for the night, three of them being offensive rebounds. El. Bennett has eight games of five or more rebounds, including three of her last four games.
UP NEXT
The Roos return to the comfy confines of the Swinney Center next Sunday where they play Westminster at 2 p.m.
