Wednesday, February 12
Vermillion, SD
7:00 PM
Kansas City
10-16,6-5Summit League
56
at
63
South Dakota
11-15,5-7Summit League
1
2
3
4
F
Kansas City
18
11
12
15
56
South Dakota
17
15
15
16
63
Photo by: Bailey Zubke, USD Athletics
Contreras Scores 22, Roos Fall to Coyotes
2/12/2025 10:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Alayna Contreras and Emani Bennett each surpass 400-points on the season
VERMILLION, S.D. — Kansas City Women's Basketball (9-17, 5-6) stayed within striking distance of South Dakota (11-15, 5-7) but couldn't make a comeback happen, falling 63-56. Alayna Contreras led KC on the offensive end with her fifth 20-plus point performance of conference play. She played a full 40 minutes and scored a game-high 22 points. Contreras shot 50% from the field (7-of-14), 50% beyond the arc (3-of-6), and went 5-of-6 from the free throw line. Elauni Bennett drove Kansas City's defensive efforts earning 10 rebounds and a game-high three offensive boards.
The Roos and Coyotes traded the lead four times across the first half of play with South Dakota entering the break leading 32-29. KC went up by one with just over a minute remaining in the third quarter but could not hold on in the final frame. Kansas City and USD split the series for the first time since the 2012-13 season, with each program earning wins on its home court.
KEY MOMENTS | HIGHLIGHTS
1Q — 6:36 / 8-6 | Contreras drove to the net putting up a highly contested jumper that rattled around the rim before falling. Her back-to-back makes gave KC its first lead of the game.
1Q — 4:10 / 11-9 | Tamia Ugass brought down the offensive board, immediately kicking the ball out to Thomas. Thomas found Em. Bennett who knocked down her lone three of the night and gave way to a two-point lead for the Blue and Gold.
2Q — 4:08 / 23-25 | The Roos struggled to get the ball to fall, going on a nearly four-minute scoring drought. Ana Oliveira Dias snapped the drought with a jumper for her first points of the night.
3Q — 7:07 / 32-34 | The Coyotes were the first to find the scoreboard in the third quarter thanks to a layup that ended an almost three-minute scoreless skid following the break. Contreras immediately responded to the USD basket, with a corner three. Her bucket marked Kansas City's first of the quarter and kept them within two of South Dakota.
4Q — 7:43 / 43-47 | Em. Bennett fired off a three that didn't fall; her sister, El. Bennett brought down the board and hit the putback to keep KC within four.
4Q — 0:53 / 54-58 | Em. Bennett and El. Bennett worked together to force a South Dakota turnover at midcourt. Contreras handled the ball and knocked down a three to keep KC in the game. A handful of critical free throw makes all but secured the win for South Dakota in the final minutes.
STATS TO NOTE
The Roos travel to Tulsa, Okla., facing Oral Roberts (18-6,8-3) on Saturday at 2 p.m.
The Roos and Coyotes traded the lead four times across the first half of play with South Dakota entering the break leading 32-29. KC went up by one with just over a minute remaining in the third quarter but could not hold on in the final frame. Kansas City and USD split the series for the first time since the 2012-13 season, with each program earning wins on its home court.
KEY MOMENTS | HIGHLIGHTS
1Q — 6:36 / 8-6 | Contreras drove to the net putting up a highly contested jumper that rattled around the rim before falling. Her back-to-back makes gave KC its first lead of the game.
1Q — 4:10 / 11-9 | Tamia Ugass brought down the offensive board, immediately kicking the ball out to Thomas. Thomas found Em. Bennett who knocked down her lone three of the night and gave way to a two-point lead for the Blue and Gold.
2Q — 4:08 / 23-25 | The Roos struggled to get the ball to fall, going on a nearly four-minute scoring drought. Ana Oliveira Dias snapped the drought with a jumper for her first points of the night.
3Q — 7:07 / 32-34 | The Coyotes were the first to find the scoreboard in the third quarter thanks to a layup that ended an almost three-minute scoreless skid following the break. Contreras immediately responded to the USD basket, with a corner three. Her bucket marked Kansas City's first of the quarter and kept them within two of South Dakota.
4Q — 7:43 / 43-47 | Em. Bennett fired off a three that didn't fall; her sister, El. Bennett brought down the board and hit the putback to keep KC within four.
4Q — 0:53 / 54-58 | Em. Bennett and El. Bennett worked together to force a South Dakota turnover at midcourt. Contreras handled the ball and knocked down a three to keep KC in the game. A handful of critical free throw makes all but secured the win for South Dakota in the final minutes.
STATS TO NOTE
- Contreras (22) and Em. Bennett (11) both surpassed the 400-point mark tonight. Contreras has scored 408 points this season while Em. Bennett is just behind her with 407. This marks the first time two Roos have surpassed 400 points in the same season since 2021-22 when Naomie Alnatas (596) and Brooklyn McDavid (505) both reached the 500-point mark.
- The Roos outrebounded South Dakota 34-to-31 bringing down eight offensive rebounds. KC drops to 6-7 when outrebounding their opponents this season.
- Oliveira Dias snagged two steals tonight marking her third consecutive game with two steals. She leads the Summit with 50 steals on the season.
The Roos travel to Tulsa, Okla., facing Oral Roberts (18-6,8-3) on Saturday at 2 p.m.
Team Stats
KC
SD
FG%
.370
.383
3FG%
.286
.333
FT%
.706
.769
RB
34
31
TO
15
13
STL
6
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
22
FGM
7
3FGM
3
FTM
5
Pts
11
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
6
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
F
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