The Basics
Score: No. 6 Kansas City 68, No. 3 North Dakota State 58
Records: Kansas City (11-21, 6-10 SL), North Dakota State (19-11, 11-5 SL)
Location: Denny Sanford PREMIER Center - Sioux Falls, S.D.



SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – No. 6 seed Kansas City secured a 68-58 victory over No. 3 seed North Dakota State in quarterfinal action at the 2025 Summit League Women's Basketball Championship, thanks to a fast start and dominant second quarter. The Roos controlled the game from the opening tip, reeling off the game's first 12 points. Elauni Bennett paced four Roos in double figures with a career-high 20 points and she pulled down a game-high 14 rebounds to post her third double-double of the season. 
 
Kansas City came out firing on all cylinders, piling up 27 first-quarter points to build a 12-point lead by the end of the first period. The Roos shot an impressive 59 percent from the field, knocking down 3-of-4 three-pointers during the opening 10 minutes.

Kelby Bannerman led the charge with nine points, including an opening three-pointer that set the tone. The Bison struggled to find their rhythm, shooting just 37 percent from the floor with Avery Koenen providing the bulk of their offense with six points inside the paint.
 
The second quarter was all about defense as Kansas City held North Dakota State to just three points, the lowest-scoring quarter of the game. The Bison could not find a bucket, shooting 1-of-11 from the field, while Kansas City added 12 points to extend their lead to 39-18 at halftime. Bennett was key in this stretch, scoring six points and grabbing multiple rebounds to control the boards. The Bison’s offensive drought, coupled with turnovers, put them in a deep hole heading into the break.
 
North Dakota State found some life in the third quarter, outscoring Kansas City 19-11. The Bison improved their shooting to 43 percent, with Marisa Frost and Molly Lenz leading the charge. Frost hit a crucial three-pointer, while Lenz added key buckets to cut the deficit to 13 by the end of the third quarter.
 
Despite a late push from North Dakota State, Kansas City maintained composure at the free-throw line, making 11-of-14 attempts to secure the double-digit victory.

Alayna Contreras added 14 points for the Roos and stepped up in crunch time, hitting a clutch three-pointer and sinking 6-of-6 free throws. Lenz scored a team-high 14 points for the Bison, while Frost added 12 off the bench. 

The Roos will meet No. 2 Oral Roberts in Saturday’s second semifinal game scheduled to start 25 minutes following the conclusion of the first women’s semifinal game.
 
Turning Point
The pivotal turning point in the game occurred during the second quarter when Kansas City's defense held North Dakota State to just three points, which helped them build in 21-point halftime lead.

Inside the Box Score

• Kansas City never trailed in the game after opening on a 12-0 run.
• Elauni Bennett scored a career-high 20 points and notched her third double-double of the season by adding 14 rebounds.
• NDSU owned a 43-40 advantage on the glass, pulling down 19 offensive boards but only equaled the Roos with 12 second-chance points.
• Alayna Contreras scored 14 points to post her 28th double-digit scoring game of the season

News & Notes

• This is the second time in three tournaments the Roos upset the Bison. In 2023, Kansas City was the No. 10 and won a first round game before knocking off second-seeded NDSU 71-64 in the quarterfinals.
• NDSU was trying to replicate its 2024 when the Bison appeared in the tournament title game for the first time in program history.
• The Roos will be making their third semifinal appearance in the past four seasons. The last time they made the title game was in 2012 when KC was the No. 3 seed. The Roos also made the title game as the No. 7 seed in 2007.