Press Conference: Western Illinois | Kansas City
The Basics
Score: No. 5 Western Illinois 60, No. 4 Kansas City 59
Records: Kansas City (10-11), Western Illinois (7-15)
Location: The Sanford Pentagon - Sioux Falls, S.D.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Elizabeth Lutz made two free throws with a second left to give fifth-seeded Western Illinois a 60-59 victory over fourth-seeded Kansas City in Sunday's first Summit League Women's Basketball Championship quarterfinal at the Sanford Pentagon.
Lutz played a big part in the Leathernecks' rally that saw them erase a 10-point halftime deficit to win a tournament game for the first time since 2018. Her 3-pointer with 2:34 to play squared the game at 53-53 and was the last field goal for WIU, who went 7-for-8 from the foul line in that closing stretch to secure the dramatic win.
Lutz, who had not attempted a free throw since a Jan. 29 contest vs. North Dakota, was just a 58-percent shooter from the foul stripe during the regular season, but made two when it mattered most. The Leathernecks had not led since early in the contest before Evan Zars knocked down a pair of freebies with 1:32 on the clock. The Roos would get the next four points and took the lead back after Naomie Alnatas made a steal and converted the fastbreak lay-up to make it a 59-57 contest with 29 seconds to play.
It was back to the line for WIU on its next possession, but this Dani Nichols converted just the first of her two attempts to leave the Leathernecks trailing by a point. A quick foul sent Jada Mickens to the line, but she would miss twice for Kansas City setting up the winning free throws for Lutz.
Grace Gilmore led all scorers with 22 points and Nichols added 11 to give the Leathernecks a pair of players in double figures. Gilmore had 16 in the first half to keep her team that had not played since winning at Denver on Feb. 13 within striking distance.
Alnatas, who finished with a team-high 17 points for the Roos, and company used a strong second quarter to take control of the first half. KC's Mandi Willems hit a 3-pointer in the closing minute to push the lead to 38-28 at halftime.
The Leathernecks began the comeback early in the third quarter, cutting their deficit in half in the opening four minutes as the Roos went scoreless until Alnatas made a layup. WIU kept chipping away thanks to back-to-back 3-pointers that put the Roos' lead at just 42-39.
WIU would eventually tie the game at 42-42 and by the end of the frame had outscored the Roos 14-6 to knock eight points of their halftime deficit.
Western Illinois will take on No. 8 Omaha in Monday's first semifinal at 11:45 a.m. CT.
Turning Point
Western Illinois took its first lead since the opening quarter on a pair of free throws by Evan Zars with 1:34 to play and the Leathernecks went 7-for-8 from the foul stripe in that closing stretch to complete their second-half rally after trailing by 10 at the break
Inside the Box Score
- Elizabeth Lutz' game-winning free throws with one second left were her first attempts since a Jan. 29 contest against North Dakota -- she came into the game shooting 58 percent from the foul stripe on the season (17-for-29)
- The Roos' Mandy Willems went 3-for-8 from 3-point range while the rest of the Roos managed just a 2-for-16 effort from distance
- WIU scored 10 of its 18 fourth-quarter points from the foul line, including its final seven points of the game
- KC held a 42-32 on the glass
News & Notes
- The win is the fourth straight for the Leathernecks, who had not played since sweeping a regular-season series at Denver (Feb. 12-13)
- The Leathernecks won a quarterfinal tilt for the first time since reaching the semifinals in 2018 and winning the tournament in 2017
- The Roos were the No. 7 seed in their last tournament appearance in 2013 before spending seven seasons in the WAC. At the 2012 Championship, third-seeded Kansas City made its second tournament title game appearance in program history (2005; No. 7 seed)
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