Team stands no matter what

Team unites to win in Summit League

The UMKC women’s basketball team concluded its season with a first-round loss in the Summit League Championships in Sioux Falls, S.D. on Saturday. Indiana-Purdue Ft. Wayne (IPFW) defeated the Roos 68-53. UMKC entered the tournament as the seventh seed; IPFW was the second seed.

UMKC took the lead midway through the first half but the Mastadons went on a 14-2 run and took a 33-26 lead into halftime. IPFW led by as many as 17 before closing out the victory.

Freshman Elise O’Conner led the Roos with 16 points. No other UMKC player finished in double-digits. O’Conner and fellow freshman Hailey Houser set or matched career-high in rebounds with eight apiece. Junior Dayon Hall-Jones led UMKC with four assists.

The Roos only shot 32.8 percent from the field and were only 3-for-16 from three-point range. IPFW had three players score in double-digits. UMKC had defeated IPFW 80-71 just a week earlier.

Previously in the week, UMKC closed out its regular season with a 63-61 loss to Oakland on Monday, Feb. 28 at Swinney Recreation Center. Junior LeAndrea Thomas led the Roos with 15 points and four assists while sophomore Kim Nezianya recorded a double-double, registering 10 points and 11 rebounds.

The game was close throughout with neither team ever going up by more than nine. UMKC out-shot (40 percent to 38 percent) and out-rebounded (38 to 35) Oakland but commited five more turnovers (17 to 12) and allowed the Golden Grizzlies to make half of their three-point attempts (7-of-14).

O’Conner struggled early but stepped up in the clutch, hitting a pair of free throws and a three-pointer in the final two minutes to give UMKC a 61-60 lead with 58 seconds remaining. O’Conner had been held scoreless until then and the points were the last UMKC would score on the night.

The end was decided by free throws. A questionable call sent Oakland to the line for two made shots. The Roos then had two chances as well, but missed both despite making 10-of-12 up until that point.

The Roos concluded the season with a 14-16 record. Only two seniors, Sam Sikkink and Janee Williams, will be graduating from the squad.

eringler@unews.com