Roos Travel to Brookings for Matchup with SDSU

THE STARTERS

Lisa Thomas has been a playmaker for the Roos since rejoining the starting lineup on Dec. 19. In the past five games she has averaged 5.2 assists and over 25 minutes per game. Thomas played 29 minutes in the loss to North Dakota and was the only Roo who played ten or more minutes to go without a turnover. She currently ranks sixth in the conference for assist-to-turnover ratio and 219th in the nation.
Defense has been a focus for Kansas City with the Roos leading the Summit in offensive rebounds per game (14.5) and steals per game (10.6). KC ranks in the top 50 nationally in both categories.
Kansas City's loss to North Dakota marked the first time in five games that the Roos were held without a 20-point performance. Three Roos reached double-digits and Alayna Contreras led the team with 16 points. KC's last game without a 20-point performer was against Kansas on Dec. 11.
The Roos have found consistency in their starting lineup with Lisa Thomas, Alayna Contreras, Emani Bennett, Elauni Bennett and Kelby Bannerman making starts in the past four games. Five Roos have appeared in all 17 games this season and Contreras and Em. Bennett are the only two Roos to make starts in each game.
Following the game in Brookings, the Roos return home for a three-game stretch. From Jan. 15 to Jan. 22 KC hosts, Denver, North Dakota State and Oral Roberts for their longest home stand of conference play.

SCOUTING SOUTH DAKOTA STATE

The Jackrabbits enter the game on a three-game winning streak that began at the start of conference play with an 81-76 win over Oral Roberts. South Dakota State picked up its third win of league play against Omaha on Thursday with a 93-55 win.
Saturday's game marks the 21st conference meeting between the Roos and the Jackrabbits. KC will look for its second conference road win of the season and its second league win over SDSU. KC's lone win over SDSU came on Jan. 11, 2010, with a 67-64 win over the Jackrabbits.
This season marks SDSU's sixth consecutive season with a 3-0 start to conference play. The Jackrabbits streak goes back to Jan. 6, 2019 when SDSU lost to South Dakota, 98-105 in double overtime, dropping them to a 2-1 record in the Summit. The Jackrabbits' loss to South Dakota was their only conference loss of the 2018-19 season.
Brooklyn Meyer and Haleigh Timmer are averaging in double-digits, scoring 16.5 and 13.1 points per game.

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