Senior forward Challis Pascucci scored a game-high 24 points and led the Thunderbirds (11-12, 5-6 Summit League) with eight rebounds while senior guard Caitlyn Sears added 18 points. SUU shot 38 percent while UMKC (10-13, 5-7 Summit League) owned a 45-49 rebound advantage and received 42 points from its bench to notch its second win in as many meetings with the Thunderbirds this season.

"Really a tough loss for us tonight after a very good week of practice," commented SUU head coach JR Payne. "We were unable to keep them off the offensive glass and couldn't hit some shots when we needed to."

The opening minutes saw both teams playing a fast up and down tempo with the Thunderbirds using an 8-3 spurt to take a 14-11 lead. Pascucci capped the run with a layup, receiving a nice no-look pass from freshman guard Desiree Jackson to give the Thunderbirds just over six minutes in.

Both teams would go on to trade baskets for much of the half before a couple threes from freshman guard Andrea Jones and Sears gave the Thunderbirds an eight-point, 33-25 advantage with 2:40 remaining.

The Kangaroos would quickly answer however, erasing the eight-point SUU lead by closing the half with an 8-0 run, sending the teams in the half tied at 33-33. Pascucci led all scorers with 14 points after hitting her first five shot attempts while Sears finished the half with 11 points. Through the first 20 minutes, Southern Utah shot 39 percent while UMKC shot at a 38 percent while receiving 21 points from its bench.

UMKC opened the second half with consecutive baskets but Sears answered with a pair of jumpers from the top of the key for the Thunderbirds. Senior point guard Kaila Goff then added a three to give SUU a 40-39 lead.

Again the Kangaroos would answer, using a 12-4 run to open up a 51-44 advantage but the Thunderbirds came right back with a 12-3 run to take a 57-56 lead. The three seniors were in the middle of the run, as Pascucci, Sears and Goff each recorded points with Pascucci scoring six during the stretch that gave SUU a one-point lead with 6:56 remaining.

UMKC didn't go away, answering with six straight points and never surrendering the lead the rest of the way. The Thunderbirds did cut it to one, 62-61 with 4:28 remaining after freshman forward Carli Moreland ran the floor and took a pass from Goff and layed one in.

Both teams exchanged free throws in the final minute, with Pascucci knocking down four straight to make it a two-point game with 23 seconds to go. UMKC then took a three-point lead after hitting one of two free throws with 22 seconds left.

The Thunderbirds made one last push at a comeback but UMKC forced a couple misses in the final seconds to preserve the three-point win.

Goff finished with 13 points and dished out eight assists while also grabbing five boards.

The Thunderbirds continue their three-game homestand next weekend, hosting first place Oral Roberts University on Saturday at 5 p.m. in the Centrum Arena.