Kansas City
12-20,3-13Summit League
Omaha
8-22,3-13Summit League
Late Push Not Enough as Roos Fall to #9 Omaha
3/8/2024 8:21:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Emani Bennett led the Roos, scoring 18 points in the first round match up
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Despite being down by double digits late in the game, eighth-seeded Kansas City Women's Basketball (12-20, 3-13 Summit) did not give up, giving itself a chance before ultimately falling to ninth-seeded Omaha (8-22, 3-13 Summit), 61-55. The Roos used an eight point run within the game's final three minutes to cut the deficit down to two, but were unable to overcome the Mavericks in the first round of the Summit League Championships.
The Roos jumped out early, but fell into an offensive slump late in the first quarter that extended throughout the second quarter. KC was plagued by 38.7 percent shooting on the contest, including 0-of-6 three-point shooting in the fourth quarter.
Emani Bennett was Kansas City's spark off the bench, scoring a game-high 18 points on 8-off-10 shooting and pulling down a team-high five rebounds. Dominique Phillips and Nariyah Simmons both fought foul trouble but were able to reach double-digit scoring, notching 12 and 10 points, respectively.
KEY MOMENTS | HIGHLIGHTS
- 1Q - 9:07 / 5-0 | Kansas City got out to a quick start behind a jumper from Phillips and a three from Contreras, but Omaha scored the next five points to tie the game up.
- 1Q - 2:56 / 15-15 | Omaha went on a five-point run to take its first lead of the game, but Tamia Ugass forced a turnover and Simmons went for a layup the other way to tie it back up. The Mavericks ended the quarter on a six-point run, taking the lead for good.
- 2Q - 5:37 / 23-26 | Back-to-back buckets by Bennett got the Roos back into things, drawing within three. The Roos did not score for the rest of the half, but were able to limit Omaha to only one bucket and entered the half trailing by five.
- 3Q - 8:42 / 26-32 | The Mavericks opened the half by scoring the first four points, but Dayshawna Carter got to the hoop for an and-one to put the Roos back in the scoring column
- 3Q - 4:54 / 32-36 | Jocelyn Ewell pulled down an offensive rebound and Alayna Contreras found Bennett for a three-pointer, bringing the Roos as close as they had been since the start of the half.
- 4Q - 3:50 / 45-51 | Omaha extended its lead to double digits for the first time, but Bennett got a layup and Lisa Thomas picked up a steal-and-score to get the Roos back within six.
- 4Q - 0:29 / 53-55 | Kansas City fell behind by 10 once again with just under three minutes remaining, but Phillips and Bennett scored on back-to-back possessions to cut the deficit to six. With under a minute remaining, Phillips made a bucket, forced a turnover and found Simmons for a layup to draw within two. However, Omaha converted on its late-game free throws and put the game away.
STATS TO NOTE
- The Roos defense was able to hold Omaha without a field goal for a span of 7:13 in the second quarter, including a span of 6:39 that the Mavericks were held scoreless.
- Bennett reached double-digit scoring for the 13th time this season, and her 8-of-10 mark from the field was her best efficiency on 10-plus field goal attempts by more than 15 percent.
- Kansas City had been out-shot at the free throw line in five-straight games coming into today, and today's game proved no different. Omaha attempted 36 free throws compared to just nine for the Roos.
- The Roos were able to score 32 points in the paint, accounting for 58 percent off the team's points.
POSTGAME INTERVIEWS
Coach Dionnah Jackson-Durrett/Emani Bennett/Nariyah Simmons
SEASON IN REVIEW
Kansas City ends the year with a 12-20 record, including a 3-13 mark in Summit League play. The Roos earned the eighth seed at the Summit Championships, two seeds better than last season. Bennett was named to the league's All-Freshman team, while Phillips and Contreras were both named All-Newcomer. Kansas City will have 11 players eligible to return from the current roster.
