OMAHA, Neb. (Interstat) — In a game defined by dramatic momentum swings and a frantic final sequence, the Missouri-Kansas City women’s basketball team edged Omaha 60-59 in a Summit League contest Saturday at Baxter Arena.

The Kangaroos, who led by as many as 18 points in the first half, survived a furious Mavericks comeback and a potential game-winning three-point attempt at the buzzer to secure the narrow victory before a crowd of 1,221.

Missouri-Kansas City (7-15, 2-5 Summit) appeared poised for a comfortable win after a dominant start. The Kangaroos raced to a 22-17 lead after the first quarter and then held Omaha to a mere four points in the second period. A stifling defensive effort, which forced 10 first-half turnovers and limited the Mavericks to 2-of-15 shooting in the quarter, propelled UMKC to a 39-21 halftime advantage.

The script flipped entirely after intermission. Omaha (2-22, 1-7), ignited by the scoring of guard Regan Juenemann, erupted for 22 points in the third quarter. Juenemann, who finished with a game-high 27 points, hit three three-pointers during the period as part of a 22-11 run that brought the Mavericks back to within seven points heading to the fourth.

The comeback was completed early in the final quarter, with Omaha tying the game at 45 on a layup by Avril Smith with 7:36 remaining. The teams then traded blows in a tense, back-and-forth final stretch that featured five lead changes.

With the Kangaroos clinging to a 56-55 lead in the final minute, Omaha’s Juenemann struck again, draining a deep three-pointer with just eight seconds left to put the Mavericks ahead 59-56. Missouri-Kansas City immediately called timeout.

On the ensuing inbounds play, UMKC’s top performer, guard Tierra Trotter, was fouled on a drive with 4.4 seconds remaining. The sophomore from Pine Bluff, Arkansas, who led the Kangaroos with 19 points, calmly sank both free throws to cut the deficit to one.

Omaha’s attempt to inbound the ball and secure the win turned disastrous. The Kangaroos applied pressure, and the pass found its way to UMKC forward Emani Bennett near the basket. Bennett converted the layup with four seconds left, giving the Kangaroos a 60-59 lead.

The Mavericks had one final chance. After a timeout, they advanced the ball and got a clean look for guard Leekaya Burke-Perryman from beyond the arc, but her shot at the horn missed, sealing the heartbreaking loss for Omaha.

Beyond Trotter’s clutch free throws and 19 points, Bennett provided crucial support for UMKC with 17 points and five rebounds. Kelby Bannerman added eight points and a team-high nine rebounds.

For Omaha, Juenemann’s 27-point outburst was supplemented by a monstrous performance from center Avril Smith. The Omaha native recorded a double-double with 11 points and 17 rebounds, adding four blocked shots. Burke-Perryman dished out eight assists.

Statistically, the game was a battle of inefficiency, with both teams struggling from the field. Missouri-Kansas City shot 38.8% but were bolstered by a 7-for-15 effort from three-point range and 15-of-21 shooting from the foul line. Omaha shot just 36.5% overall and was hampered by a 9-for-34 performance from deep. Each team committed 15 turnovers.

The victory completed a regular-season sweep for the Kangaroos, who also defeated Omaha 61-59 on Dec. 31. Missouri-Kansas City will host North Dakota State on Thursday. Omaha continues its search for a third win when it hosts North Dakota on Thursday.