Roos Wrap Up First Round of Conference Play, Host South Dakota

THE STARTERS

Alayna Contreras knocked down a career-high 32 points to help the Roos to their fourth conference win of the season. She went 13-of-25 from the field and 4-of-7 beyond the arc, adding four assists, four steals and a block. Contreras bested her previous career high by one which she earned on Jan. 15 in overtime against Denver.
Kansas City snagged 12 steals in the win over Omaha, matching their conference high, which they earned against St. Thomas on Jan. 2. The Roos lead the Summit in steals per game during conference (8.71). Overall, the Roos rank first in the league in steals per game (10.2) and 59th in the nation.
The Roos have a chance to snap a ten-game South Dakota win streak in the overall series. Kansas City's most recent win over the Coyotes came on Jan. 7, 2011, when the Roos defeated South Dakota 60-56 in the Swinney Center.
South Dakota marks KC's final opponent in the first round of conference play. On Wednesday, the Roos face the Pioneers in Denver for their second meeting of the regular season. Kansas City currently ranks fourth in the Summit. The Roos were selected to finish eighth in the preseason poll while South Dakota was picked to finish fourth.
Tamia Ugass earned her second double-double of the season scoring 12 points and bringing down 12 rebounds. The Roos are 2-0 this season when Ugass earns a double-double. She earned her first in the season opener against Utah State (10 pts/12 reb).

SCOUTING SOUTH DAKOTA

The Coyotes are a strong three-point shooting team averaging a league-leading 7.8 threes per game. Alexi Hempe leads the Coyotes and the Summit League in threes per game averaging 2.48.
South Dakota enters the game on a three-game losing stretch. The Coyotes are 1-2 on the road in conference play, defeating the Pios,77-71, in Denver during the conference opener on Jan 2.
Senior guard, Grace Larkins leads South Dakota in points per game, rebounds, assists and steals. She scored a career-high 45 points in the win over Omaha on Jan. 11. playing for 38 minutes. She went 19-of-32 from the field and added 13 rebounds and six assists in the win.
South Dakota currently ranks fifth in the Summit, just one spot behind the Roos. The Coyotes picked up wins over Denver, St. Thomas and Omaha in the first round of conference play. They host North Dakota on Saturday in their second meeting of the season.

University of Missouri Kansas City Athletics