BAKERSFIELD, Calif.--The Bakersfield women's basketball team hosts Kansas City and Chicago State this week.
The Roadrunners (14-9, 8-3 WAC) are one game ahead of Seattle U entering the weekend and trail league leader Idaho by two games in the loss column
Bakersfield defeated Kansas City (10-14, 6-5 WAC) 87-80 in the first ever meeting between the two schools Jan. 25. Kansas City's Eilise O'Connor broke her own school record for free throws in a season (180) against New Mexico State on Feb. 13. Then, with a pair of free throws made with 36 seconds left in the game against Texas-Pan American on Feb. 15, O'Connor tied and then broke the WAC record for free throws in a season when she passed Wyoming's Amy Burnett, who had 194 during the 1993-94 season. O'Connor, who made 15 of 17 free throws on the game, has now made 199 free throws this season.
In the 87-84 victory over Texas-Pan American last weekend, O'Connor finished with 31 points, while Kim Nezianya posted her 13th double-double of the season with 26 points and 14 rebounds. Nezianya became the all-time program leader in rebounds against New Mexico State last week and now has 887 on her career.
UMKC ranks 10th nationally in free throw percentage (77.2), 16th in three-point field goal percentage defense (27.2) and 48th in scoring (75.2). O'Connor ranks 23rd in the nation in points (510) and points per game (21.3), and 28th in free throw percentage (86.9), while Nezianya is 20th in double-doubles (13) and 22nd in rebounds per game (10.8)
The Roadrunners defeated the Cougars (3-21, 0-11 WAC) 90-59 Jan. 23 in Chicago to take a 4-1 all-time series lead. The Cougars fell 75-52 to Texas-Pan American last Thursday and 74-64 to New Mexico State on Saturday. Against the Broncs, Tierra Williams and Jessica Cerda scored 11 points apiece, while Tashuna Brown added 10 points and a game-high nine rebounds. Against the Aggies, Layne Murphy had 19 points and 13 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season. Konner Harris added 15 points, Jasmine Sanders had 12 and Brown tallied 10.
Chicago State ranks 30th nationally in personal fouls per game (16.2). The Cougars rank second in the WAC in steals (8.79), third in blocked shots (2.83) and fourth in three-point field goal percentage defense (30.0). Jasmine Sanders ranks third in the WAC in steals (1.95), while Chanel Wilson-Stewart is fifth in blocks (1.38) and Murphy is ninth in rebounding (7.1). Sanders has set career highs in points, rebounds, assists and steals this season.
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