2008 Woodie Awards
Ladies split home openers 1-1
Greg Vandas
Issue date: 12/1/08 Section: Sports
Coming off a big loss at Iowa State in their first regular season game, the UMKC women's basketball team returned to Swinney Rec. for two home games, taking the first Nov. 19 against Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville (SIU-E) but dropping a close one Nov. 22 against the University of North Texas.
Junior guard Chazny Morris led the Kangaroos' scoring efforts in both contests with forward Kalei Nance and guard Heather Davis right behind her.
Roos vs. Cougars
Facing a confident 1-0 SIU-E Cougars squad, the Roos began their first home game of the season well-matched, with neither team able to score in the opening minutes.
Nance put up the first points with a lay-up and a jumper, but Cougar forward Jenny Wuest began her single-handed offensive streak seconds later.
UMKC freshman Simone Bridges then countered with a three-pointer, her first as a collegiate player, bringing the Roos to a 7-2 lead. Southern Illinois finally took advantage of a UMKC turnover and edged ahead 8-7, but time in the spotlight would be short-lived.
Morris put the Roos back on top with a three-pointer and helped keep control of the ball as their victory margin widened. Despite a few brief Cougar scoring runs, UMKC maintained its dominance for most of the first half, going into the locker room up by 13.
Morris and junior Kenya Howard together contributed 16 of the Roos' 33 points in the second half, as Wuest and SIU-E simultaneously worked hard to narrow the score. UMKC's biggest lead of the night, a solid 18-point gap, came with a Morris three at 8:10 remaining.
Again through the efforts of Wuest, the Cougars attempted to rebound, returning the Roos' lead to just eight points a few minutes later.
But UMKC held out to end the game in a 69-56 victory, where they kept SIU-E's perimeter attack to a measly seven percent accuracy and notched their first win of the season.
Roos vs. Mean Green
The North Texas game three days later did not go entirely the same. The Roos scored first from a Morris three, but the 0-1 Mean Green matched their game quickly, tying at eight with a Tamara Torru basket.
Junior guard Chazny Morris led the Kangaroos' scoring efforts in both contests with forward Kalei Nance and guard Heather Davis right behind her.
Roos vs. Cougars
Facing a confident 1-0 SIU-E Cougars squad, the Roos began their first home game of the season well-matched, with neither team able to score in the opening minutes.
Nance put up the first points with a lay-up and a jumper, but Cougar forward Jenny Wuest began her single-handed offensive streak seconds later.
UMKC freshman Simone Bridges then countered with a three-pointer, her first as a collegiate player, bringing the Roos to a 7-2 lead. Southern Illinois finally took advantage of a UMKC turnover and edged ahead 8-7, but time in the spotlight would be short-lived.
Morris put the Roos back on top with a three-pointer and helped keep control of the ball as their victory margin widened. Despite a few brief Cougar scoring runs, UMKC maintained its dominance for most of the first half, going into the locker room up by 13.
Morris and junior Kenya Howard together contributed 16 of the Roos' 33 points in the second half, as Wuest and SIU-E simultaneously worked hard to narrow the score. UMKC's biggest lead of the night, a solid 18-point gap, came with a Morris three at 8:10 remaining.
Again through the efforts of Wuest, the Cougars attempted to rebound, returning the Roos' lead to just eight points a few minutes later.
But UMKC held out to end the game in a 69-56 victory, where they kept SIU-E's perimeter attack to a measly seven percent accuracy and notched their first win of the season.
Roos vs. Mean Green
The North Texas game three days later did not go entirely the same. The Roos scored first from a Morris three, but the 0-1 Mean Green matched their game quickly, tying at eight with a Tamara Torru basket.
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