Renee Dillard-Brown (Seattle, Wash.) would give the Redhawks their first, but only, lead of the first half on a layup just 12 seconds in. After the ‘Roos took the lead, Crystal Allen (Fort Worth, Texas) tied the game at five two minutes in.
Grace Mitchell would put UMKC up, 7-5, at 17:19 and the ‘Roos would lead for the remainder of the half. Wilma Afunugo (Plano, Texas), entering off the bench, put the Redhawks within one two different times, each within 30 seconds of the 13-minute mark of the first half.
Seattle U down by one, 12-11, at 12:49, Sierra Bone hit a three for Kansas City to start a 8-0 run after which they would lead by nine, 20-11, halfway through the first half.
Putting together a 6-2 run, the Redhawks trailed by five, 22-17, at the under-eight media timeout of the first half following a layup by Dillard-Brown.
After Kansas City scored on back-to-back baskets to lead by double digits, 27-17, with 5:14 remaining before half, Taelor Ross (Vancouver, Wash.) would cut SU’s deficit to six two different times under the four minute mark, 31-25 the second time with 2:46 until half.
Ross would add a jumper with just under a minute before half sandwiched between jumpers by Aries Washington as Kansas City led by eight, 35-27, at the half.
Claire Metoyer (Desoto, Texas) and Samantha Waldron traded baskets to start the second half with over two scoreless minutes by either team before Ross brought SU within six, 37-31, just under the 16-minute mark.
Masha Shtikel (Shoreline, Wash.) would bring Seattle U within five, 43-38, on a three adding another two minutes later to bring SU within four, 46-42, halfway through the second half.
Shtikel hit her third three-pointer 8:12 to bring the Redhawks within one, 48-47, but Washington and Kiana Law would put UMKC back up by five a minute later. Thirty seconds later, at the 6:55 mark, Allen hit a three to cut the SU deficit to two, 52-50.
The Redhawks trailing by four, 57-53, with 3:40 remaining, Best would score five straight but Washington would hit a jumper as SU trailed by two, 59-57, 30 seconds later.
Mitchell hit 1-of-2 at the line with 1:13 remaining to put UMKC up by three but back-to-back baskets from Best and Ross would give Seattle U the lead, 61-60, with 14 seconds remaining.
The ‘Roos passed the ball the entire length of the court in two seconds as the Redhawks were called for a foul. Mitchell hit both free throws and Waldron finished with a block on Shtikel’s three at the buzzer.
Ross led the Redhawks with 18 points and 12 rebounds for her third career double-double as the Redhawks outrebounded the ‘Roos, 37-31. Washington led UMKC with 19 points while Mitchell pulled down a team-high 11 rebounds.
Seattle U will face Chicago State in Chicago on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 2pm CT/12pm PT and will head to Bakersfield next weekend before hosting Grand Canyon in their regular season finale.