KANSAS CITY, Mo.—Tyonna Outland's (R-Sr., Compton, Calif., Lynwood HS) layup with 1.6 seconds remaining gave CSU Bakersfield (20-7, 9-3 WAC) a 78-76 victory over Missouri-Kansas City Saturday afternoon.

“What a gutsy performance by our team,” said CSUB head coach Greg McCall.

The lead changed hands four times in the final 49 seconds of the game. Taylor Leathers made a pair of free throws to put UMKC up 74-72 to begin the sequence. Outland hit a short jumper at the 34 second mark. 21 seconds later, Leathers returned the lead to the Kangaroos with a three-pointer. Batabe Zempare (Jr., Accra, Ghana, Scottsdale Chapparal HS) tied the score at 76 with six seconds to play with a layup.

Upon Zempare tying the score, CSUB called timeout to set the defense. UMKC was to inbound the ball from underneath their basket. Using a full-court press, the Roadrunners forced a Chandler Roof turnover at half court. The ball ended up in Erika Williams' (R-So., Fresno, Calif., Diamond Ranch HS) hands. Williams passed up an open three-point field goal attempt and threw the ball down low to Outland for what turned out to be the game winning basket.

“Erika made a great play,” McCall said. “She passed up the open shot and found Ty who made a tough layup. We called a play for Erika on the previous possession which ended up leading to Alyssa (Shannon) driving the lane and getting the ball to Batabe that tied the game.”

UMKC (6-20, 4-8 WAC) called timeout. The Kangaroos again had the ball under their basket. UMKC attempted to throw a long pass to half court where the Roadrunners knocked the ball down to secure the victory.

After shooting only 31.3% in the first half, CSUB made 15-of-30 from the field in the second stanza. The Kangaroos made 64% of their shots from the floor in the first half (16-25), were only 9-of-21 from the field in the second. Despite the second half performance, UMKC still shot 54.3% for the game.  The Kangaroos out rebounded the Roadrunners 35-25, but turned the ball over 24 times which led to 22 CSUB points.

Outland led the Roadrunners with 22 points. Williams scored a career high 21 points. She sank four three-pointers and went 5-of-6 from the free throw line. Williams also posted four rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Zempare recorded her 12th double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

“We never panicked,” McCall said. “We showed great character as a team. Erika proved to be a threat on both the offensive and defensive end throughout the game.”

Aries Washington led all scorers for UMKC with 26 points. Washington was 9-of-12 from the floor and 8-of-9 from the free throw line. Samantha Waldron scored 16 points as both Washington and Waldron played all 40 minutes. Grace Mitchell scored 15 points and led the 'Roos with eight rebounds.

The 'Runners return home next Saturday when CSUB hosts Seattle U at 1 p.m. The game is National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) on the CSUB campus. Tickets are available at vallitix.com.

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