Courtesy: UMKC Athletics UMKC is currently ranked third in league standings with an 8-3 record.

Kansas City, Mo. -- The UMKC women’s basketball team closes out regular season play in the Dakotas at North Dakota State on Mon., Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. The Kangaroos are 11-11 overall this season and 8-3 in The Summit League.

The Kangaroos are coming off of a 76-47 loss at South Dakota State on Saturday night. Despite the loss, UMKC had two players record double-doubles. Kim Nezianya finished with 16 points and a career-high 13 rebounds and Chazny Morris finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds.

UMKC Ranked Third in The Summit League
It’s a tight race for the top spot in The Summit League standings and they are constantly changing. UMKC is currently ranked third in league standings with an 8-3 record. Oral Roberts is the league leader with a 10-2 Summit League record. South Dakota State moved up to second place and are now 9-3.

Around the league for Mon., Feb. 8, Centenary is at Oakland (6:30 p.m.), Southern Utah is at South Dakota State (7 p.m.) and Oral Roberts is at IPFW (7 p.m.).

Season of Firsts
The 2009-10 Kangaroos have been making headlines ever since the season began back on Nov. 13 with the program’s first win over Drake (70-68) to start the season off 1-0. Since then under head coach Candace Whitaker, UMKC has compiled a few other firsts. Earlier on in the season, the Kangaroos recorded another program first win over South Dakota State and just last weekend at Southern Utah the Kangaroos notched their first win in Centrum Arena since the 2006 season.

UMKC Records Good Night From the Line
The Kangaroos had their best night from the free throw line this season against the Thunderbirds. UMKC shot 88 percent, going 21-of-24, in the 74-64 road win. Kim Nezianya (six-of-six), Dayon Hall-Jones (four-of-four), Sam Sikkink (four-of-four) and Chazny Morris (one-of-one) all were perfect from the free throw line. Jade Tinner also did well, finishing six-of-seven.

Kangaroos Making History
Not only are the Kangaroos under their best league start under head coach Candace Whitaker, but UMKC is also off to the best start in conference play. The `Roos haven’t been this consistent in the opening half of league play since the 2003-04 season. Back then under head coach Dana Eikenberg, the Kangaroos got off to a 8-1 start in the then Mid-Continent Conference.

Opponent Preview
North Dakota State... The Bison are 12-10 overall and 7-5 in The Summit League and are coming off of a 73-44 win over Southern Utah. North Dakota State has three players averaging double figures this season. Inger Hodgson leads the Bison with 11.1 points per game and Katie Birkel is averaging 10.8, while Ashley Samuelson is averaging 10.1 points per contest.

Earlier on this season, UMKC recorded a 73-64 win over the Bison. Sam Sikkink finished with 17 points and Kim Nezianya recorded a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Chazny Morris also contributed 11 points.

All-time against North Dakota State, UMKC is 2-3.

Kangaroos in The Summit League
The UMKC women’s basketball team has been picked to finish seventh in The Summit League Preseason Poll after receiving a total of 196 points in a vote of the league’s coaches, SIDs and members of the media. South Dakota State was picked as the favorite to win the 2009-10 Summit League Women’s Basketball Championship for the second straight season.

Last Time Out...
UMKC Drops Road Contest At South Dakota State
The UMKC women’s basketball team dropped a 76-47 decision at South Dakota State on Saturday night at Frost Arena. The Kangaroos fall to 11-11 overall and 8-3 in The Summit League, while the Jackrabbits improve to 13-9 overall and 9-3 in league play. Despite the loss, Kim Nezianya had a big night a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Chazny Morris also had a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds.

The `Roos got off to a great start in the opening minutes as they grabbed a four point lead (8-4) following a Morris three and a free throw from Dayon Hall-Jones. But the Jackrabbits then tied things up for the third time with 11 minutes left in the half before taking their first lead of the night on the following possession, 11-8.

UMKC would briefly hold a one-point lead with four minutes left but South Dakota State went on an 11-4 run to close out the first half to stretch its advantage to 31-23 heading into the locker room.

The Jackrabbits then carried the momentum from the first half into the second as they quickly extended their lead over the Kangaroos. South Dakota State jumped out to a 19-point lead with 14 minutes left in the game, 46-27.

UMKC, however, would buckle down in the middle minutes of the second half to get within nine (47-38), following five points from Nezianya. That is the closest the `Roos would get as South Dakota State would get back up 19 and then some in the last five minutes.

The Jackrabbits had five players finish in double figures and shot 48 percent from the three-point line, compared to UMKC’s eight percent.