KANSAS CITY, Mo.— Utah Valley University made a late charge, but the comeback effort fell short in a 61-58 loss at Missouri-Kansas City on Saturday afternoon at the Swinney Recreation Center.
 
Rhaiah Spooner-Knight led the Wolverines (7-14, 1-5 WAC) with 19 points and shared a team-high four rebounds with Rebecca MaWhinney. Georgia Agnew finished with 11 points and MaWhinney also added 10. Aries Washington led the Kangaroos (4-17, 2-4 WAC) with a game-high 22 points and also pulled down seven rebounds. Grace Mitchell added 13 and Samantha Waldron finished with 10 for UMKC.
 
After trailing by as much as 19 in the conteset, UVU was down 54-44 with just over two minutes to go before an 8-0 run cut the deficit to two, capped by a MaWhinney three with 57 seconds left. UMKC's Washington was sent to the line where she made two free throws, extending their lead to 56-52 with 53 seconds left on the clock.

MaWhinney had her turn at the charity stripe making both free throws, to again cut the deficit to two with 42 seconds to play.  Waldron was sent to the line and made one-of-two free throws. Spooner Knight laid it in with 31 seconds left to be within one at 57-56. Waldron made another two free throws, and UVU's Agnew answered with a layup with 17 seconds left to play at 59-58.
 
Washington added two more free throws and UVU's Taylor Gordon tried for a last second three pointer that rimmed off, giving Kansas City the 61-58 victory.
 
"The thing I've learned about our team, that has happened the last two weeks in very dramatic fashion, is when we compete, when we fight, when we work, we will have a chance in any game. When we don't, we won't win," head coach Cathy Nixon said. "That's the lesson I hope the girls learn. I hope they come into the beginning of the game with the same urgency and intensity that we displayed when we were down by 19 points."
 
Kansas City methodically build up a 14-point lead by halftime, hitting 52.2 percent from the field and holding the Wolverines to 18 points on 34.6 percent shooting. Spooner-Knight had 10 of UVU's 18 first half points. Washington tallied 12 for the Kangaroos while teammate Mitchell also had 10.
 
In the second half, the Wolverines improved to 51.9 percent shooting, for an overall of 43.4 percent, while the Roos digressed to 35.0 percent in the second half and 44.2 percent overall.
 
Utah Valley returns home to host Bakersfield on Thursday, Feb. 5 at 7 p.m. MT in the UCCU Center and Seattle U on Saturday, Feb. 7 at 3 p.m. MT in the PE Building