Kansas City
7-14,3-3Summit League
Oral Roberts
15-5,5-2Summit League
Women's Basketball Drops Contest to Press-Heavy Golden Eagles
1/22/2025 9:39:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Alayna Contreras went for 20 points and Elauni Bennett scored a career-high in the loss
KANSAS CITY - Kansas City Women's Basketball (7-14, 3-3 Summit) held tight with Oral Roberts (15-5, 5-2 Summit) through three quarters of play this evening, but allowed the Golden Eagles to pull away in the fourth quarter, 74-61. The Roos forced ORU into 20 turnovers on the night, but were hurt by 27 turnovers of their own.
Kansas City jumped out to an early lead, which it was able to hold for much of the first half. Oral Roberts did not take its first lead until midway through the second quarter, but then did not trail again for the rest of the evening.
The Roos were led offensively by reigning Summit League Peak Performer of the Week Alayna Contreras, who went 9-of-22 from the field for 20 points. Elauni Bennett had a career night, shooting 8-of-10 and finishing with a career-high 17 points to go along with six rebounds. Emani Bennett chipped in 15 points of her own and was tied for the team lead with three assists.
KEY MOMENTS | HIGHLIGHTS
- 1Q - 7:39 / 6-2 | El. Bennett pulled down her second offensive rebound of the game and earned her second put-back bucket, helping Kansas City build an early lead.
- 1Q - 3:13 / 13-10 | Em. Bennett dished the ball to Contreras at the top of the key, nailing the Roos' first three-point attempt of the night to regain the lead.
- 2Q - 9:16 / 20-15 | Zaire Harrell found Em. Bennett to open up the second quarter with a three-point bucket, her lone triple of the night.
- 2Q - 2:27 / 31-31 | Em. Bennett pulled down a defensive board and quickly progressed the ball in transition, finding Contreras for a step-back three that tied the game up late in the second quarter.
- 3Q - 9:24 / 37-37 | Contreras opened the second half by stepping past a Golden Eagle defender and knocking down a floater to draw the score even.
- 3Q - 3:26 / 45-48 | Oral Roberts opened up a seven-point lead, but after another Contreras floater, Ana Oliveira Dias came up with a steal and went the other direction for a layup to bring Kansas City within three.
- 4Q - 6:48 / 56-60 | Kansas City called a timeout and drew up a play for Em. Bennett, who promptly drove the lane and got a layup to go. Oral Roberts ended the game on a 14-5 run, securing the win.
STATS TO NOTE
- Tonight marked Contreras' fifth 20-point game of the year and was her third in the past four contests.
- El. Bennett's 17-point night surpassed her previous best of 15, which she reached twice last season. This year, she had not scored more than 11 points in a game.
- Tamia Ugass finished with a game-high 10 rebounds, her second double-digit rebounding performance of the year and her first since the season opener on Nov. 4.
- Kansas City forced Oral Roberts into 20 turnovers, their second-most of Summit League play. The Roos were able to convert those turnovers into 17 points.
POSTGAME INTERVIEW
Head Coach Dionnah Jackson-Durrett
UP NEXT
The Roos are on the road this weekend, traveling to Omaha on Saturday for a 1 p.m. tip-off against the Mavericks.
