Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
0-3
UMKC
3-1
Rams drop hard-fought game at UMKC, 76-62
11/17/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 17, 2007
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The CSU women's basketball team clawed its way back from a first-half deficit but couldn't corral the momentum and lost, 76-62, on the road at Missouri-Kansas City (3-1). The Rams (0-3) suffered their second loss on the road this year.
UMKC junior Heather Wimberly and sophomore Chazny Morris got the Kangaroos going at the start of the game, scoring nine of UMKC's first 15 points to lead 15-11 with 11:43 left. They then went on a 6-2 run over the next 2:23 to lead 21-13 at the 9:20 mark.
But Rams sophomore Juanise Cornell put the game on her shoulders and helped CSU go ahead by two with 3:09 left following a 14-4 run in which Cornell had all eight of her points in the half. CSU and UMKC then traded baskets and the Kangaroos ended the half on top, 34-32.
The second half saw the Rams struggle to score as the Kangaroos took a four-point lead, 40-36, with 14:37 remaining. Then, with 14:14 left, Rams Head Coach Jen Warden received a double technical in arguing for a foul on a play involving Juanise Cornell. Assistant coach Dick Lien took over the coaching responsibilities.
Following the Kangaroos' four free throws by Sierra Radke, UMKC was able to extend its lead to 49-36 with a Morris three-pointer and a Taushelle Rushing jumper with 11:55 left. The Rams were never able to regain control and the Kangaroos, led by Morris' 10 points in the second half, won the game.
"They had a lot of gaps in the zones and that's where most of my points came from," said Cornell, who finished with 12 points and five rebounds.
"She continues to impress us as a scorer," Warden said of Cornell. "Her next call is to simply pound out the boards."
