by OMAHA, Neb. – Kansas City got the second half of the Summit League schedule off to a positive start with a 64-55 victory over Omaha Thursday night in Baxter Arena. The Roos held the Mavericks to 10-of-30 shooting in the second half, including a three-minute scoreless stretch in the fourth quarter that allowed KC to maintain a five-point advantage.
The win was the second true road victory for Kansas City and improved the team to 3-7 in the league and 7-14 overall while avenging an earlier loss to Omaha on New Year’s Eve in Kansas City.
E’Lease Stafford led four Roos in double figures with 23 points on 8-for-13 shooting, 3-of-6 from three-point land. She added five rebounds and three steals as well. Manna Mensah had 15 points and six rebounds, Rain Green had 12 points on 6-of-9 shooting with six assists, and Machia Mullins had 10 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
Kansas City held a 35-28 lead at the half, but Omaha chipped away and took a brief 44-43 lead after a layup by Katie Keitges with 1:56 left in the period. But Stafford hit a three-pointer and added a layup in the final 1:24 to give the Roos a 48-46 lead entering the final period. Six-straight points early in the last quarter, capped by a Stafford jumper, extended the lead to 54-47 and after Omaha came to within 56-52, a Mensah layup gave the Roos breathing room.
