Spring Break
Jaguars pounce on Kangaroos and spoil upset bid
Nick Wells
Issue date: 3/17/08 Section: Sports
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The Kangaroos battled against the third seeded IUPUI Jaguars, and looked to prolong their Cinderella run through the Summit League Conference Tournament, but fell short 54-42.
UMKC played with reckless abandon, throwing everything but the kitchen sink at the Jags, but a five-minute and 37-second scoring drought was enough to end the Roos' season.
UMKC finished 11-20, 3-15 Summit, but came out and played its best basketball when it mattered.
"After playing poorly the last two games [of the regular season], and not quite having it, and to completely forget about that and come down here and play at a much better level of basketball speaks to just how strong they are and how much courage they have," said UMKC head coach Candace White-Whitaker.
It was the first time after 19 meetings all-time between the schools they faced off in tournament play. IUPUI (18-15,11-7 Summit), fielded a squad that included two first team all-Summit players, including sophomore center Julia Whitted, and two-time Summit League Defensive Player of the Year Jernisha Cann. Cann, a junior guard, attended Center high school in Kansas City.
UMKC lost by 12, but the contest was much closer and featured seven ties and six lead changes. The Jags 6'5'' center Whitted abused the Kangaroos inside, as IUPUI outscored UMKC 32-10 in the paint.
Whitted swatted seven first-half shots, and eight in the game, which set a new conference tournament record. It peaked many in the crowd's curiosity that the Jaguar center was never whistled for a foul against the Roos. It seemed to be of equal interest that no insurrections were called in the Jags' first-round victory over Southern Utah University either.
"I am amazed by that, especially in 38 minutes of play," White-Whitaker said.
Senior point guard Sierra Radke added to the head coach's disbelief.
"It is kind of hard to drive to the basket when they do not call fouls on [Whitted]," Radke said.
The Jaguars jumped out to a 19-12 lead, before second team all-conference sophomore guard Chazny Morris, split a triple team to take the ball to the rack. The following Roo possession Morris drained a three to get UMKC within two points.
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