Wednesday, February 5
Denver, CO
7:00 PM
Kansas City
10-14,6-3Summit League
73
at
65
Denver
8-15,1-9Summit League
1
2
3
4
F
Kansas City
15
11
21
26
73
Denver
12
16
22
15
65
Photo by: Ryan Weaver Photography
Roos Take Down Pios for Third Consecutive Conference Win
2/5/2025 10:52:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Em. Bennett and Bannerman put up career-high night combining for 51 points
DENVER, Colo. — Kansas City Women's Basketball (9-15, 5-4) once again showcased its second-half heroics, this time at Denver (8-15,1-9), taking down the Pioneers, 73-65. The Roos and Pios traded the lead 11 times, but Kansas City came up clutch in the fourth quarter, outscoring Denver 26-to-15, and earning its third consecutive win in Summit League play.
Emani Bennett and Kelby Bannerman were offensive sparks for the Roos, earning career-highs and combining for over 50 points. Em. Bennett reached the 30-point mark on 11-of-22 shooting from the field, and 5-of-6 shooting from the charity stripe. Bannerman shot 60% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc, playing a season-high 29 minutes.
Tonight's win improves the Blue and Gold to 5-4 in conference play. It also marks the first regular season sweep of the Pioneers since the 2021-22 season.
KEY MOMENTS | HIGHLIGHTS
1Q — 1:23 / 13-10 | Alayna Contreras clocked the Denver pass, coming up with a steal, and running the ball back for the layup. Her basket put the Roos up by three and marked Denver's sixth turnover of the quarter.
2Q — 3:46 / 20-19 | Em. Bennett brought down an offensive rebound and put up a quick shot. Her shot missed its mark, and she once again gathered the rebound this time going for a tip-in. The basket marked Kansas City's first field goal of the quarter.
3Q — 7:52 / 31-31 | Bannerman fired off a three that went wide., but Zaire Harrell to grab the rebound. She kicked the ball to Em. Bennett who knocked down a corner three to retie the game.
3Q — 0:00 / 47-50 | Kansas City inbounded the ball with just over a second on the clock. Elauni Bennett quickly found Bannerman who pulled up with the buzzer-beating logo three to keep KC within three of the Pios.
4Q — 3:28 / 61-59 | Following a Kansas City timeout, Ana Oliveira Dias found an open Em. Bennett in front of the Kansas City bench. Em. Bennett drained the three and the Roos on a 7-0 run. KC then knocked down eight free throws to secure the win.
STATS TO NOTE
Kansas City returns home, hosting Omaha (9-14, 1-9) on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Emani Bennett and Kelby Bannerman were offensive sparks for the Roos, earning career-highs and combining for over 50 points. Em. Bennett reached the 30-point mark on 11-of-22 shooting from the field, and 5-of-6 shooting from the charity stripe. Bannerman shot 60% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc, playing a season-high 29 minutes.
Tonight's win improves the Blue and Gold to 5-4 in conference play. It also marks the first regular season sweep of the Pioneers since the 2021-22 season.
KEY MOMENTS | HIGHLIGHTS
1Q — 1:23 / 13-10 | Alayna Contreras clocked the Denver pass, coming up with a steal, and running the ball back for the layup. Her basket put the Roos up by three and marked Denver's sixth turnover of the quarter.
2Q — 3:46 / 20-19 | Em. Bennett brought down an offensive rebound and put up a quick shot. Her shot missed its mark, and she once again gathered the rebound this time going for a tip-in. The basket marked Kansas City's first field goal of the quarter.
3Q — 7:52 / 31-31 | Bannerman fired off a three that went wide., but Zaire Harrell to grab the rebound. She kicked the ball to Em. Bennett who knocked down a corner three to retie the game.
3Q — 0:00 / 47-50 | Kansas City inbounded the ball with just over a second on the clock. Elauni Bennett quickly found Bannerman who pulled up with the buzzer-beating logo three to keep KC within three of the Pios.
4Q — 3:28 / 61-59 | Following a Kansas City timeout, Ana Oliveira Dias found an open Em. Bennett in front of the Kansas City bench. Em. Bennett drained the three and the Roos on a 7-0 run. KC then knocked down eight free throws to secure the win.
STATS TO NOTE
- Em. Bennett improved her previous career-high (27) by three which she earned against A&M Corpus Christi on Dec. 19. She becomes the third Roo in two years to reach the 30-point mark, joining Contreras and Nariyah Simmons.
- Kansas City forced 18 Denver turnovers and earned 11 points off of them. The Roos have forced DU into more turnovers than any other league opponent, combining for 41 turnovers in their two meetings.
- Hot off a career-high 17 points against South Dakota, Bannerman kept the energy rolling, tacking on another four points to her personal best. Tonight marked her third game this season making two threes and her first 20-point performance.
- This marks the second win over Denver when two Roos score 20-plus points. Contreras (31) and Em. Bennett (21) combined for 52 points in the first meeting on Jan. 15.
Kansas City returns home, hosting Omaha (9-14, 1-9) on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Team Stats
KC
Denver
FG%
.429
.367
3FG%
.313
.273
FT%
.714
.920
RB
32
35
TO
10
18
STL
9
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
30
FGM
11
3FGM
3
FTM
5
Pts
21
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
7
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
6
FGM
1
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
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