Spring Break
Jaguars pounce on Kangaroos and spoil upset bid
Nick Wells
Issue date: 3/17/08 Section: Sports
Whitted sank a jumper near the free-throw line as the buzzard sounded to send her squad into the locker room at the half on top 25-20.
Whitted was a menace on both ends of the floor, as she hit a jumper to start the second period. "It was a get-out-of-my-house kind of thing," Whitted said.
When asked what it was like guarding Whitted, second team all-conference senior center Alysa Klein offered her sentiments.
"It is tough anytime to play someone that … big," Klein said.
The Jags seemed to be in control until Radke seemed to jolt new life into the Roos as she nailed a three-pointer to give UMKC its first lead of the second stanza, 31-30.
"I really thought momentum was kicking in for us," Radke said.
IUPUI took a 36-33 lead with 9:45 remaining, before Radke rolled down and pumped in another three-pointer as the shot clock expired, tying the contest at 36-36. The Roos would once again knot the score at 38 with 6:52 left, on senior forward Marta Waalen's jump shot, but would not score another point until the clock read 1:15.
UMKC unraveled down the stretch. They were outscored 16-4 in that final six-minute-plus period that ended the game.
The Kangaroos shot just 24 percent from the floor and committed 15 turnovers to only six assists. Klein led the club with 14 points, 11 boards and five rejections.
IUPUI shot 36 percent with Whitted led the field, as she scored 24 points, snatched 16 rebounds, and blocked eight UMKC shot attempts. IUPUI freshman guard Nicole James chipped in 12 points.
When asked about what it has been like playing together for four years, or what the team has meant to them, a couple of the seniors offered their thoughts.
"After playing basketball our whole lives, then to see it is over with, it is real hard," Klein said.
"I only played here two years, and after coming in and trying to turn the UMKC program around and getting to know these girls, we have become like a family," Radke said. "…Not being together anymore, it is going to be difficult."
nwells@unews.com
Whitted was a menace on both ends of the floor, as she hit a jumper to start the second period. "It was a get-out-of-my-house kind of thing," Whitted said.
When asked what it was like guarding Whitted, second team all-conference senior center Alysa Klein offered her sentiments.
"It is tough anytime to play someone that … big," Klein said.
The Jags seemed to be in control until Radke seemed to jolt new life into the Roos as she nailed a three-pointer to give UMKC its first lead of the second stanza, 31-30.
"I really thought momentum was kicking in for us," Radke said.
IUPUI took a 36-33 lead with 9:45 remaining, before Radke rolled down and pumped in another three-pointer as the shot clock expired, tying the contest at 36-36. The Roos would once again knot the score at 38 with 6:52 left, on senior forward Marta Waalen's jump shot, but would not score another point until the clock read 1:15.
UMKC unraveled down the stretch. They were outscored 16-4 in that final six-minute-plus period that ended the game.
The Kangaroos shot just 24 percent from the floor and committed 15 turnovers to only six assists. Klein led the club with 14 points, 11 boards and five rejections.
IUPUI shot 36 percent with Whitted led the field, as she scored 24 points, snatched 16 rebounds, and blocked eight UMKC shot attempts. IUPUI freshman guard Nicole James chipped in 12 points.
When asked about what it has been like playing together for four years, or what the team has meant to them, a couple of the seniors offered their thoughts.
"After playing basketball our whole lives, then to see it is over with, it is real hard," Klein said.
"I only played here two years, and after coming in and trying to turn the UMKC program around and getting to know these girls, we have become like a family," Radke said. "…Not being together anymore, it is going to be difficult."
nwells@unews.com
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