Top-seeded KC Roos women blow out Chicago State and reach WAC semifinals
Now that Kansas City’s women’s basketball team has gone through a walk-through at the Western Athletic Conference Tournament — the top-seeded Roos dismantled Chicago State 86-52 on Wednesday — it can focus on Friday’s semifinal round, where it will face either Texas-Rio Grande Valley or New Mexico State.
The Roos swept their season series against the Vaqueros and Aggies, so confidence shouldn’t be a problem in the 2 p.m. Central time tip at Orleans Arena.
“We’re just focusing on going 1-0 every day,” said defensive stalwart Cristina Soriano, who claimed her ninth double-double of the year with her team-high 17 points and 10 boards on Wednesday. “I think we are so hungry. We talk a lot about bringing 100% every day, like whoever you’re playing against or in practice, and we always bring our 100%. I think that’s the key.”
It’s been the driving force for the Roos (21-10), whose current six-game win streak is the longest since the 2011-12 program rattled off seven consecutive wins. With Kansas City’s largest victory ever in the WAC Tournament, it advances to its second straight semifinal round, and third in the past four WAC tournaments, seeking its first NCAA Tournament berth.
Kansas City coach Jacie Hoyt said it goes beyond Soriano and WAC player of the year Ericka Mattingly, as depth has been a key component in keeping the Roos’ offense flowing.
“That is one of the best things that we have going for us now,” said Hoyt, who was chosen the league’s coach of the year. “Really everyone is playing their best basketball the last couple of weeks.”
During their win streak, the Roos are winning by an average margin of 14.5 points. The 86 points scored — their second highest this season — is the highest total for Kansas City in the WAC Tournament.
Mattingly, who has historically done well at the event, finished with 15 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals. She is now averaging 26.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 3.0 steals in the WAC tournament.
“She does so much for us outside of scoring,” Hoyt said. “She can score it without a doubt, but it’s everything else that she does. I actually challenged her to just get everyone involved early in the game, get after it on defense, distribute the ball. And I thought that she did that.”
Four players scored in double figures, but more importantly, Hoyt was able to spread out playing time once the Roos’ lead grew to 24 at halftime. Though she intermittently brought them into the game, Hoyt pulled four of her starters midway through the third quarter, with the game well in hand.
“I really challenged our team before the game to just make a statement that we’re not in any way shape or form satisfied with winning a regular season championship and that we’re here on business,” Hoyt said.
Meanwhile, per a conference spokesman, WAC school presidents and athletic directors have a prescheduled meeting set for Thursday morning. With the coronavirus pandemic affecting sporting events across the country, fan attendance has been added to the agenda. If a change to the tournament is made, the spokesman said, it will be during the meeting in the morning.
NCAA President Mark Emmert said Wednesday he decided to conduct both the men’s and women’s tournaments, which begin next week, with only essential staff and limited family in attendance. NCAA Tournament games will not be open to the general public.
Given the Roos have the day off Thursday, Hoyt said she will do nothing different than she’s done in the past with her team, which will practice at a local community center and stay focused on its semifinal game.
“We’re here on business, like I said,” Hoyt said. “We’re not gonna change anything that we’ve done all year long or the last couple years that we’ve been here. Just focused on what we can control. The rest is not anything that we’re worried about.”
This story was originally published March 11, 2020 at 5:22 PM.