Kangaroos fall flat in loss to Westerwinds

By: Nick Wells

Posted: 2/11/08

The UMKC women's basketball team, despite a terrific start shooting 52 percent from the floor, and a one-point halftime lead, could not hold on in the second half as they fell to Western Illinois University (WIU) 56-46.

The squad was on the road last Monday night in Macomb, Ill. for the Summit League matchup. The Roos (9-13, 2-9 Summit) stood tall against the Westerwinds (11-11, 9-2 Summit) through the majority of the game but were unable to pull out a league win at the end.

Sophomore guard Chazny Morris gave the Roos an early 11-8 advantage, by draining three treys during a four-minute run. UMKC expanded its lead to six with 11:20 remaining in the opening half, when senior point guard Sierra Radke sank yet another three-point basket.

The Kangaroos' lead would be short-lived as WIU responded with a 14-6 run of its own, paced by Katy Davenport's nine first-half points.

The Westerwinds took back control of the game when team-leading scorer, Gina Hugelier (19 points), knocked down a three-pointer in the opening minutes of the second half. UMKC would stay close down the stretch, but it was a lead Western Illinois would not relinquish.

The Roos stayed within striking distance the entire game, but second-chance points and points off turnovers were the difference in this one. The Westerwinds had 15 second-chance points compared to UMKC's four, and WIU converted 23 points off turnovers versus the Roos' 10 points. During the contest there were four lead changes and the score was knotted up five additional times.

UMKC senior center Alysa Klein, the university's all-time leading shot blocker, climbed into the third spot in all-time rebounding tallies, surpassing Darci Haas's mark of 654. Klein is now in the top seven all-time in scoring, rebounding, rejections and made field goals.

Morris scored 17 points, with six boards, four assists and three steals while shooting five of nine from behind the arc. Radke added five points and four assists, while Kalei Nance grabbed four offensive rebounds in only 10 minutes off the bench.

Following the close defeat, the UMKC women will look to rebound next Saturday in Cedar City, Utah when they take on the Southern Utah University Thunderbirds.

nwells@unews.com