O'Connor Free Throws Lift UMKC Past Bison

KANSAS CITY, Mo.--Eilise O'Connor hit eight of eight from the foul line in game's final two minutes to lift UMKC to a 68-64 win over North Dakota State University in a Summit League women's basketball game played Monday, Feb. 13, before 507 at the Swinney Recreation Center.

North Dakota State (6-9 Summit League, 9-18) is scheduled to play at South Dakota State (13-2 Summit League, 18-8) at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, in Frost Arena. The Jackrabbits lost at South Dakota on Monday night.

O'Connor hit the eventual game-winning free throws with 17 seconds left and another pair with 5 seconds remaining to ice the win. She made 10 of 10 from the foul line overall.

Both teams shot well from the free throw line. North Dakota State made 19 of 22 and the Kangaroos hit 17 of 20.

O'Connor finished with 15 points, five steals and four assists. LeAndrea Thomas led UMKC with a game-high 17 points.

UMKC rallied from a 13-point deficit with nine minutes left. A pair of Janae Burich free throws had put NDSU ahead 56-43 and capped off a 14-0 run.

Abby Plucker, Hannah Linz and Burich all scored during the North Dakota State surge. Plucker had a team-high 16 points and 12 rebounds, while Linz knocked in 12 points and Burich had 14 points and 11 rebounds.

Both teams struggled from the field, hitting 33.3 and 32.8 percent. The Bison held a 49-36 rebound advantage, but UMKC was able to score 20 points off 19 NDSU miscues.