UMKC women steadily improving on defense amid losing streak

The women of UMKC basketball have yet to deliver Jacie Hoyt the first win of her head coaching career, but are moving closer to doing so in each attempt.

After a season-opening loss at defending Summit League champion Western Illinois in which the UMKC women allowed 90 points, it was apparent that the Roos would have to improve defensively if they were going to challenge for a WAC title this season.

That seems to be exactly what’s going on as UMKC is still looking for the first win of the season after three more road games. The Roos (0-4) played at Nebraska on Nov. 14, then traveled to Tulsa on Nov. 18 and made the trip to Iowa State on Nov. 20, giving up fewer points in each outing.

Against the Cornhuskers, UMKC fell by a score of 80-60. Four days later against the Golden Hurricanes, the Roos lost 76-52. In Ames, UMKC was bested 61-45 by the Cyclones. The improvement for the Roos is visible in other stats, however.

In their first three games, UMKC allowed its opponents to shoot at least 47 percent from the field. Against Iowa State, that number was reduced to just under 37 percent. The biggest gains have been seen in the period that hurt the Roos most against Western Illinois, the fourth quarter.

The Leathernecks shot almost 59 percent in the fourth quarter of their game against UMKC, pulling away with 33 points in the frame. The Roos allowed about half as many points against Nebraska in the fourth quarter, then a mere eight points in the fourth quarter at Tulsa and a paltry nine at Iowa State.

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The Huskers did shoot almost 56 percent in the fourth quarter of that contest, but since then, UMKC has held the Golden Hurricanes and Cyclones to just 15.4 and 25 percent shooting in the fourth quarters respectively.

If the Roos can keep their opponents’ scores in the 60-point neighborhood by continuing to stymie offenses when it matters most, they stand a good chance to turn the season around. Defending will be pivotal as the offense continues to develop.

The implementation of new head coach Jacie Hoyt’s offense seems to still be something that the Roos are working out. While the defense has been improving, the offensive numbers show regression instead of progression.

With credit to the opposing defenses, UMKC has shot under 39 percent in each of the three games since the Roos shot over 42 percent in Macomb, Ill., to start the season. Against Western Illinois, UMKC assisted on 21 of its made baskets. Since that game, the high for that stat has been nine.

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The Roos will play their fifth of six season-opening road games on Sunday, Nov. 26, at Illinois State. If they can replicate their offensive performance to start the season and continue their defensive improvement, they should add a tally in the win column.