Kansas City
6-13,3-3Summit League
St. Thomas
9-10,2-3Summit League
Harrell, Bennett Double-Doubles Propel Roos to Victory Over St. Thomas
1/17/2026 4:25:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Elauni Bennett tallied her second double-double in a row with 20 points and 10 boards while Zaire Harrell reached 12 points and 10 rebounds.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Coming off an extended three-game road stretch, Kansas City Women's Basketball (6-13, 3-3) defended home court Saturday afternoon, besting St. Thomas (9-10, 2-3) 75-60 inside the Swinney Center. The Roos took a punch early on from the Tommies but punched back later in the first half, grabbing a 27-24 lead halfway through the second quarter, one they would not relinquish for the rest of the game.
The dynamic duo of Elauni Bennett and Zaire Harrell sustained the Roos the whole way through, as both finished with double-doubles on the night. El. Bennett notched a team-best 20 points and 10 rebounds, finishing with her second consecutive double-double and sixth of the season. Meanwhile, Harrell recorded 12 points and 10 rebounds, giving the senior her first career double-double and third game in a row with reaching double figures in scoring.
After getting outscored by seven in the first quarter, the Roos fought back to the tune of a 7-0 scoring run that was capped off by Tierra Trotter's go-ahead three pointer at the 5:52 mark of the frame. El. Bennett chipped in multiple big baskets in this key stretch, going to her trademark spin move often to fight off Tommie defenders and score at-will in the paint. Jamyah Winter closed the scoring in the first half, knocking down a crucial corner three pointer that re-established Kansas City's lead.
The Roos went into the locker room at halftime up 35-33 and came out of the break intent on piling more onto their lead. Kansas City climbed out to a double figure lead thanks to a 9-1 run midway through the third that saw the Roos go 67% from the field and Emani Bennett score five points in that span. Kansas City's lead grew up to 13 points by the end of the third. The lead went up to 18, 61-43, at the 8:51 mark of the fourth, KC's largest advantage of the game.
St. Thomas didn't go quiet into the night as the Tommies pulled to within nine at one point in the fourth. However, Kansas City showed composure and determination late in the game by combining key shot-making and getting stops when they needed them to hold on and boast a 15-point victory over the Tommies.
In addition to El. Bennett and Harrell's double-doubles, Trotter posted 15 points along with four rebounds and four assists while hitting two three pointers and making five free throws. It's the UTRGV's second consecutive game of double figure scoring and eighth of the season. Kelby Bannerman also tallied a double figure scoring game, putting up 11 points on 80% shooting from the field and recording two assists and two rebounds.
Kansas City forced St. Thomas into 18 turnovers and converted those miscues into 23 points, outscoring UST by 21 in the points off turnovers category. The Roos also only committed eight turnovers of their own, making up a season-low in that metric. KC dished out 15 assists as a team, the most in conference play this season. The Roos had a plus-five edge on the glass at 37-32 and grabbed six more offensive rebounds than the Tommies.
Kansas City will take momentum into their next road trip as the Roos travel to take on Denver at 7 p.m. on Wednesday night.
