SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - No.
3 seed UMKC (22-10) won the rebounding battle 42-31 and used 21
points-off-turnovers to end the No. 7 seeded Western Illinois women's
basketball (12-19) season with a 71-56 defeat. Valencia Kelly scored 22 points to lead the Leathernecks and finishes the tournament with a combined 48 points in the two games.
UMKC led by as many as 21 and never relinquished control of
the semifinal matchup. Western was able to get the deficit down to five but a
turnover gave momentum back to the 'Roos and Western was unable to overcome a
physical and multifaceted Kangaroo attack.
UMKC opened the game with a 5-0 lead after a three-point
play from Ashli Hill at the 19-minute mark. Kim Nezianya drained a
three-pointer to stretch UMKC's early lead to 10-2 and force head coach JD
Gravina to call a timeout.
Michele Salvatori knocked down a three to keep the
Leathernecks in the game at 17-9 but UMKC was quick to answer on the other end
to take a 19-9 advantage with 12 minutes until the break. UMKC stifled Western's momentum and got the lead back to ten
at 25-15 with 7:42 on the clock.
Jackie Rieger got four quick points to keep Western close at
29-19 and Kelly followed with a steal and a fastbreak layup to cut UMKC's lead
to just eight at 29-21 with just under six minutes left to play in first half
to cap a 6-0 run.
The Kangaroos were able to again answer and get the lead
back to double-digits at 36-26 at the 2:34 mark. Dayon Hall-Jones knocked down
a baseline triple to give the 'Roos a 43-28 lead with under a minute to play.
At halftime, UMKC held onto a 43-28 lead powered by 10
points from Hall-Jones and 50 percent shooting and a perfect 7-for-7 from the
free throw line. Kelly led Western with eight points at the break.
The cold-shooting Leathernecks trailed 48-32 at the 14-minute
mark, as UMKC's defense was able to force several Western turnovers. UMKC
continued to give Western's offense fits and extended its lead to 58-37 at the
8:30 mark.
A Kelly floater in the lane at the 6:58 mark cut into UMKC's
lead at 58-41. Kelly nailed a three-pointer at the 5:15 mark bringing Western
within 14 at 59-45.
The 'Roos again had an answer and would secure a berth in
The Summit League Championship game with the 71-56 victory. UMKC will play
top-seeded South Dakota State on Tuesday afternoon.
UMKC was paced by four double-figure scorers as Eilise O'Connor and Hall-Jones both poured in 15 points while Nezianya had 12 and Ashlie Hill chipped in 11 to go with her game-high eight boards.
The Leathernecks finish with a record of 12-19 with
the 12 wins marking the most since 2007-08.
#WIUAthletics
