BALTIMORE, Md. (Jan. 2, 2016)-Taylor Leathers scored 12 of her game-high 18 points in the fourth quarter to lead visiting University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) to a 59-50 non-conference win over Morgan State on Saturday afternoon at Hill Field House.
 
Kristen Moore added 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting and Kiana Law came off the bench to score 10 points and pulled down nine rebounds for UMKC. Aries Washington also fell short of a double-double, finishing with eight points and a game-high 14 rebounds to help the Kangaroos to a 50-22 rebounding advantage over Morgan State. Sierra Bone dished out a game-high 10 assists.
 
The win ended a two-game losing skid for the Kangaroos, who improved to 5-8 on the season. Morgan State (3-11) concluded its non-conference slate with a 2-10 record.
 
Morgan State, which was searching for its first two-game winning streak this season, was led by Braennan Farrar, who scored a team-high 16 points in the loss. Lexus Spears finished with 13 points, a team-high six rebounds and had a game-high three steals. Benedicta Makakala recorded seven points and had a team-high five assists.
 
The Kangaroos held a 21-19 advantage at the intermission and used a 10-0 spurt in the third quarter to increase its cushion to its largest lead of the game (14 points) at 39-25, following a layup by Samantha Waldron with 2:38 to play in the period. The Lady Bears countered with an 8-2 spurt, including the final six points of the period to pull within 41-33 after three.
 
Morgan State would get within three points (45-42) when Farrar hit a free throw with 6:16 remaining to complete a three-point and cap off a 9-4 run to start the fourth quarter. The lead would quickly grow to seven points with Leathers scoring back-to-back baskets to up the UMKC lead to 49-42.
 
The Lady Bears would try to make one last run, as Makakala knocked down a three-pointer from the top of the key and Spears connected on the second of two free throws to make it a 49-46 game with 1:23 left in the game, but would get no closer. UMKC would close out the contest with a 10-4 run, including six straight free throws for the win.    
 
Morgan State returns to Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference action on Saturday, Jan. 9, when it hosts the Hornets of Delaware State at 2 p.m.