Kansas City’s 20-point Comeback Falls Just Short at UND

Saturday, March 1

Grand Forks, ND

1:00 PM

Kansas City

11-20,7-9Summit League

North Dakota

11-18,6-10Summit League

Kansas City

North Dakota

Photo by: Francie Wilson

Kansas City’s 20-point Comeback Falls Just Short at UND

3/1/2025 5:38:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Highlights

Roos lock down six seed at the Summit League Conference Tournament

GRAND FORKS, N.D. — Kansas City Women's Basketball (10-21, 6-10) showed its tenacity in a second-half nail-biter against North Dakota (11-18, 6-10), overcoming a 20-point deficit to reclaim the lead with just over two minutes left, but ultimately falling, 79-83, to the Fighting Hawks. Alayna Contreras stunned North Dakota, earning a career-high 35 points after the Fighting Hawks held her scoreless across the first 10 minutes of play.

The Roos faced shooting struggles throughout the first half, but a newfound energy in the third quarter kept them in the game. Contreras imposed her will on UND in the third frame, going 6-of-12 from the field and 5-of-6 from three for a 19-point quarter. Her hot hand brought KC within 10 of North Dakota going into the final ten minutes. The Roos stuck with it until the very end, but critical free throw makes down the stretch allowed North Dakota to walk away with the win.

KC brought down a conference-high 17 offensive rebounds in the loss. Kelby Bannerman had her third 15-plus point performance of conference play with 18 points. The Bennett sisters, Emani Bennett and Elauni Bennett went for three steals each, and El. Bennett brought down 11 rebounds and scored eight points. The Kansas City bench was led by Bannerman and combined for 26 points.

KEY MOMENTS | HIGHLIGHTS
1Q — 1:40/ 8-17 | El. Bennett picked up her second and one of the day. Her driving layup snapped a nearly four-minute scoring drought for KC.
2Q — 6:13/ 15-32 | Contreras found Ugass under the basket with a bounce pass. Ugass's first attempt did not fall, but she got the rebound and scored the putback, marking Kansas City's first field goal of the quarter.
2Q — 2:31 / 23-41 | Contreras scored her first basket of the day, with a jumper from the free throw line. She hit her second bucket on the following drive.
3Q — 9:43 / 31-48 | On Kansas City's first possession of the half, El. Bennett came down with an offensive rebound and picked up a foul. Following the inbound, Contreras took a step-back three earning KC's quickest bucket to open a quarter.
3Q — 3:38 / 46-60 | Ana Oliveira Dias got her hand on the ball, and stole it away from North Dakota's Kiera Pemberton, running it back for the easy layup. Em. Bennett then got her hand on the North Dakota inbound and found Contreras. Contreras was then fouled by UND and knocked down both free throws.
4Q — 6:31/ 64-73 | Bannerman drove the ball from the top of the key to the net. She scored a contested layup and picked up a foul to make it a three-point play. Her basket and free throw continued the Roos on what became a 15-0 Kansas City run.
4Q — 1:59 / 75-73 | Em. Bennett found Contreras on the fast break. She weaved around her defender and knocked down her layup to give KC its first lead since 5:32 in the first quarter. UND made their next bucket to stop the 15-0 run and drew back-to-back fouls, sinking all four free throws and ultimately securing the win.

STATS TO NOTE

The Roos finish the regular season in sixth earning their highest-seed of the Summit League Conference Tournament in the Jackson-Durrett era. In the 2024 tournament, the Roos were the No. 8 seed and in 2023, they were the No. 10 seed.
35 points marks a career-high for Contreras and the fourth 30-plus point performance of her career. She ties Katie Houlehan (35 vs. Oakland, 1/20/03) and Eilise O'Connor (35 vs. New Mexico State, 1/20/03) for tenth in program history for individual high points.
Contreras becomes the only Roo this season to make five three-pointers in a single game, all five of which were made in the third quarter.
El. Bennett now leads all players in the Summit in offensive rebounds. She brought down 48 offensive rebounds in conference play (3.0 per game) and 100 this season.

UP NEXT
The Roos travel to Sioux Falls, S.D. for the Summit League Conference Tournament. Kansas City takes on No. 3 North Dakota State (19-10, 11-5) on Friday at 2:30 p.m.