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California State University at Bakersfield Athletics

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Malaysia McHenry
David Dennis
67
Winner CSU Bakersfield CSUB 7-11, 3-2
57
UMKC UMKC 8-8, 2-1
Winner
CSU Bakersfield CSUB
7-11, 3-2
67
Final
57
UMKC UMKC
8-8, 2-1
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 17 21 11 18 67
UMKC UMKC 17 22 13 5 57

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

`Runner Women Hand UMKC First Conference Loss



BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – CSU Bakersfield women's basketball used an impressive second half defensive effort to stun Kansas City and hand them their first conference loss. The Roadrunners remain perfect all-time at UMKC after the 67-57 win on Thursday night and improve 7-11, 3-2 WAC while the Kangaroos fell 8-8, 2-1 WAC.

"I'm very proud of our players on how they competed for 40 minutes with constant pressure on the ball," said head coach Greg McCall. "I was happy that we came out with the win. We're getting better each day from top to bottom, but tonight our bench did a really good job.  Their productivity when starters need a reliever is what's going to be key for us down the line. Good overall win."

When asked about the decision behind bringing Malayasia McHenry off the bench McCall replied, "We needed more fire power coming off the bench, specifically someone to come in and give Vanessa a breather without a drop off in the lower post. When Vanessa got in foul trouble or needed a sub, we would just slide Malayasia over to the five, but that was wearing her down and preventing her from being able to ply at a high level consistently. I asked her to come off the bench for that reason and it ended up working out really well."

Bakersfield played from behind majority of the first quarter, opening the period with a quick turnover that allowed Kansas City to put two points on the scoreboard. The Roadrunners would trade baskets with the Kangaroos until the last four minutes when the `Runners used a 7-2 run to tie the game 17-17 at the end of the period.
 
The second quarter was similar to the first with the score tied four times throughout the period. Bakersfield held the largest lead in the second with eight and a half minutes up 24-20 but it would remain a one possession game the remainder of the half. Bakersfield found themselves down 38-39 at the end of the second period.
 
It was all UMKC to start the third but the Roadrunners would use the last three minutes of the quarter to slowly chip away at the `Roos lead. Emily Ivory opened the quarter with her own 9-2 run off three consecutive triples before Bakersfield closed the quarter on a 9-4 run to bring the game within three points heading into the final period.
 
CSUB took over in the fourth quarter. Bakersfield retook the lead with under eight and a half minutes off a shot from senior guard Alexxus Gilbert and never looked back. The Roadrunners held Kansas City to just 18% shooting from the field in the second half and outscored the `Roos 18-5 in the final period of the contest.

"Knowing that your veterans can step in and continue to play, that's what you want. We changed a few things on our style of play – run, press, and trap that's our game," added MCCall. "Creating points off of turnovers is our game, keeping the game up tempo is our game. This is the culture we've built and our players thrive best when we're playing our style of basketball. Seeing them continue to bring it each and every game, especially now in conference, has been and will be huge for us."

All but three Roadrunners scored against Kansas City while three players finished in double-figures on the night. Malayasia McHenry had a team and season-high 18 points while Gilbert and JJ Johnson added 14 and 13, respectively. McHenry and Vanessa Austin each grabbed seven rebounds, a team-best.

"We've got to stay hungry," said McCall. "Chicago State is going to come out a little bit more hungry and with a little bit more fire power coming off a buzzer-beater win against Grand Canyon at home. We've got to make sure we stay aggressive and don't let up. Our bench needs to be ready to go. We can't take them for granted or play to their pace."
 
NEXT UP
The CSU Bakersfield women's basketball team will close its two-game road swing with Chicago State (1-15, 1-2) on Saturday.
 
~GoRunners.com~
 
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