University of Missouri-Kansas City women’s senior basketball center Alysa Klein has never had much of a problem getting noticed. Klein is 6-3 with long blonde hair that is often braided, so she is nearly always a head and shoulders above other students at UMKC. On the basketball court, Klein faces some players that equal her size, but not many that equal her body of work. Klein has become a force in the paint for the Kangaroos, especially over the past two seasons. A season ago, Klein set the single-season record for blocks at UMKC with 73 and earned first-team All-Mid-Continent Conference honors. This season Klein is averaging 12.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game. Klein said other teams have become aware of her inside presence and done their best to get her into foul trouble. “I have definitely seen a few different things, which is one of the reasons I have been so prone to fouls on offense or defense,” said Klein, a native of Okoboji, Iowa. “They are looking to draw the foul to get me out of the game.” Klein said she has worked on playing defense and believes her post defense has come along further each year at UMKC. “I used to get by with standing behind and playing behind, because that’s what you can do in high school,” Klein said. “But I have worked on my post defense and am trying to stay low.” This season Klein said teams also have recognized her offense and thrown a number of defenses her way. “It’s definitely frustrating,” Klein said. “It makes me have to work harder.” UMKC coach Candace White-Whitaker said Klein has worked on her passing. “She has worked on that a lot,” Whitaker said. “When teams double on her she can kick it out and then she can repost.” Klein may be better equipped to deal with frustration as a psychology major. Klein said she would like to work as a counselor to troubled children after graduation. Klein said she sometimes can lend a kind ear to teammates. “I have always been the kind of friend to advise others with their problems,” Klein said. “That’s what got me into this line of work.” Klein believes this UMKC team is beginning to play together and learn the system in White-Whitaker’s first full season as head coach. “We’re trying to keep positive and keep working,” Klein said. “The coaches are great and on our side. They keep us going though everything, tough as it may be. “We’re all starting to get the hang of it. We went through a lot of ups and downs. Overall it has brought us closer together and we are all learning together. So I think that has brought us together.” White-Whitaker said she has seen Klein’s maturation process throughout her career at UMKC, since White-Whitaker worked with Klein as an assistant coach before taking the reins as head coach. “I think when you are in a program for four years, you can see how someone grows as a player and a person,” White-Whitaker said. “This year she has understood how important she is from a leadership role.” Klein helped take the Kangaroos to the Mid-Continent Conference Women’s Tournament final as a freshman. She calls that a career highlight and said she wants nothing short of a shot to play to earn a ticket to the NCAA Tournament. “I fully see us in the championship game of the tournament,” Klein said. “I think we will be right at the top of the conference. I think we can be a top-three seed.”

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