KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Interstat) — In a game defined by runs and resilience, the Missouri-Kansas City women’s basketball team secured a narrow 61-59 victory over Omaha in a Summit League contest on Wednesday night at Municipal Auditorium. The Kangaroos, who led for just over five minutes of game time, used a final defensive stand and a clutch basket in the closing seconds to escape.

The game’s decisive sequence unfolded in the final 20 seconds with the score tied at 59. After an Omaha miss, Missouri-Kansas City advanced the ball and called a timeout with 19 seconds remaining. Out of the huddle, guard Tierra Trotter of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, drove into the lane and connected on a floating jump shot with 19 seconds on the clock to put the Kangaroos ahead 61-59.

Omaha, with one final chance, called a timeout to advance the ball with 1.1 seconds left. The Mavericks’ inbounds play resulted in a foul, sending Sarai Estupiñan to the free-throw line for two shots with a chance to tie or win. The Cedar Park, Texas, native made the first free throw but missed the second, and a scramble for the rebound allowed the clock to expire, sealing the home victory before an announced crowd of 269.

The contest was a tale of contrasting offensive rhythms. Omaha built its largest lead in the second quarter, using a 13-2 run to go ahead 31-19. The surge was fueled by the backcourt duo of Regan Juenemann and Leekaya Burke-Perryman. Juenemann, a guard from Crosby, Minnesota, finished with a game-high 27 points, while Burke-Perryman of Colorado Springs, Colorado, added 14.

Missouri-Kansas City responded with a pivotal third quarter, outscoring Omaha 16-9 to erase the deficit and take a 44-40 lead into the final period. The Kangaroos’ defense tightened, forcing several Omaha turnovers that fueled their transition game. Elauni Bennett of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, was instrumental in the comeback and finished with 18 points and several key offensive rebounds. Trotter provided crucial all-around play with 12 points and six assists.

The fourth quarter featured five lead changes and two ties as neither team led by more than four points. Juenemann’s stepback jumper with 3:09 remaining gave Omaha a 55-53 edge, but Bennett answered with a layup on the next possession to knot the score. After a defensive stop, Zaire Harrell of St. Louis hit a jumper assisted by Trotter to put Missouri-Kansas City up 57-55 with 2:03 left.

Burke-Perryman drew a foul and made one of two free throws to pull Omaha within one, and after another defensive stop, Estupiñan drove for a layup to put the Mavericks back on top 58-57 with 2:21 remaining. Bennett again responded for the Kangaroos, scoring inside off an assist from Kelby Bannerman to reclaim a 59-58 lead with 1:16 to play. Estupiñan was then fouled and made one of two free throws to tie the game at 59, setting the stage for Trotter’s game-winner.

Estupiñan finished with 13 points and nine assists for Omaha. Emani Bennett, also of Lee’s Summit, added 11 points for Missouri-Kansas City, while Harrell contributed seven points.

With the win, Missouri-Kansas City improves to 4-10 overall. Omaha, which has lost 14 of its last 15 games after a season-opening victory, falls to 2-14. Both teams open the bulk of their Summit League schedules on Saturday, with the Kangaroos hosting South Dakota and the Mavericks welcoming South Dakota State. The two teams will meet again in Omaha on Jan. 31.