Women's Basketball Travels To Nebraska In Search Of First Big 12 Road Win
Jan. 19, 2009
LAWRENCE, Kan. –
Game Notes in PDF Format
OPENING TIP
The University of Kansas travels to Nebraska on Wednesday, Jan. 21 in search of its first Big 12 Conference road win. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m., in the Devaney Center. KU (12-4, 1-2) is also looking to collect its second conference win of the season after defeating Missouri at home last Wednesday. Nebraska (9-7, 0-3) is looking to pick up its first conference win of the season after being edged in the final seconds at Missouri on Saturday.
FAST BREAKS
-Kansas is looking to get back in the win column and even up its conference mark with a win at Nebraska. The Jayhawks are one of four teams in the conference with a 1-2 mark entering Wednesday’s action.
-The Jayhawks are looking to improve to 2-2 in Big 12 Conference play for the first time since the 1999-00 season.
-Junior guard-forward Danielle McCray has posted 20 or more points in six games this season and leads the Jayhawks with 17.9 points per game. McCray currently ranks second in the Big 12 Conference in scoring behind only Andrea Riley of Oklahoma State.
-Kansas is making 45.9 percent of its shots from the field, which ranks fourth in the Big 12 Conference. The Jayhawks have made better than 50 percent of their shots in five games on the season, all of which resulted in Kansas wins.
-KU has made 90 three-point baskets on the season, while holding its opponents to just 48. The Jayhawks have connected on 90-of-225 shots from beyond the arc, good for 40.0 percent, which ranks second in the Big 12 Conference. KU currently ranks second in the NCAA in three-point field goal percentage, led by sophomore Nicollette Smith who shoots a Big 12 best 42.9 percent.
-Kansas junior Sade Morris is listed as day-to-day after suffering an injury in the first half of the Jayhawks last game versus Texas Tech. Morris has started 49-straight games heading into the game at Nebraska. Kansas is already without the services of senior Katie Smith and freshman Angel Goodrich, who are out with knee injuries.
A LOOK AT NEBRASKA
The Huskers are coming off a narrow 67-66 defeat at Missouri on Saturday. The loss snapped Nebraska’s five game winning streak against the Tigers in Columbia. Despite the loss, the young Huskers continued to show improvement. Sophomore forward Catheryn Redmon posted her third double-double in the last nine games with 12 points, 11 rebounds and a career-high five blocked shots. In nine games in the starting lineup, Redmon is averaging 9.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game. Fellow sophomore Kaitlyn Burke pitched in a team-high 13 points for the Huskers off the bench. Over the last five games, Burke is averaging 8.0 points per contest. Burke, who started the first eight games this season, has her numbers on the rise after struggling midway through the year with a broken finger on her shooting hand. Junior Yvonne Turner will join sophomore guard Dominique Kelley in making their 50th consecutive starts in Nebraska’s backcourt on Wednesday night. Kelley, who ranks third among the Huskers with 10 points per game while leading NU with 3.1 assists per contest, will also be honored as part of Nebraska’s “Hometown Husker” promotion. Head coach Connie Yori is 115-88 in her eighth season at the helm of the NU program. Yori’s overall coaching mark is 310-228 in her 19th season in the business.
KANSAS-NEBRASKA SERIES HISTORY
The Jayhawks lead the all-time series 46-27, including an 13-16 mark in games played on Lincoln. Kansas took two out of three games versus Nebraska last season, with each team winning on its home court and the Jayhawks taking the rubber match in the Big 12 Tournament. KU head coach Bonnie Henrickson is 3-6 versus NU, picking up two of her victories last season.
A LOOK AT KANSAS
Kansas is off to a 12-3 start to the 2008-09 season, the best start for the Jayhawks since the 2005-06 season. Led by a trio of double figures scorers in Danielle McCray, Sade Morris and Krysten Boogaard, the Jayhawks are outscoring their opponents by 16.7 points per game. McCray tops the Jayhawk scorers with 17.7 points per game, while Morris adds 12.8 and Boogaard turns in 10.8. In addition, LaChelda Jacobs and Nicollette Smith are adding 8.1 and 7.7 points per game, respectively. KU is shooting 47.1 percent from the field, while holding its opponents to just 34.9 percent field goal shooting. Four different Jayhawks are making better than 50.0 percent of their shots, led by Rebecca Feickert at 60 percent. The Jayhawks have recorded 122 steals compared to just 97 for their opponents, led by McCray with 26 pilfers. Jacobs is the leader in assists with 65 dimes in 15 games, while Ivana Catic has dished 50 assists and Morris 37. McCray is pulling down a team-leading 8.3 rebounds and Boogaard is grabbing 6.2 per game. Kansas is also shooting well from the three-point line as it has connected on 89-of-212 shots from beyond the arc, good for 42.0 percent, tops in the Big 12 Conference. Smith is leading the way from beyond the arc as she has knocked 26-of-57 shots. Ivana Catic leads the Jayhawks from the foul line as she has connected on 17-of-18 attempts, good for 94.4 percent. McCray has connected on 85.7 percent of her foul shots.
SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION
-Kansas has one player from the state of Nebraska in senior guard Katie Smith (Omaha). Nebraska does not have any native Kansans on its roster.
-KU sophomore center Krysten Boogaard and NU sophomore guard Kaitlyn Burke both hail from Canada and arrived at their respective college campuses after being two of 12 players selected to attend the Canadian National Elite Development Academy. Of the 12 players selected for the academy, six are currently playing in the United States at Division I schools.
-Jayhawk junior guard LaChelda Jacobs and Nebraska sophomore Catheryn Redmond both attended high school in Mansfield, Texas. Jacobs prepped at Mansfield Summit High, while Redmond played at Mansfield Timberview. KU freshman forward Aishah Sutherland and `Husker senior guard Tay Hester each prepped at Perris High School in Perris, Calif.
A KANSAS WIN WOULD…
Make Kansas 13-4 for the first time since the 1999-00 season … Mark Kansas’ first Big 12 Conference road win since winning at Texas on Feb. 10, 2007 … Give the Jayhawks a 47-27 mark versus Nebraska, including a 14-16 mark in games played in Lincoln … Make KU 77-119 all-time in Big 12 Conference action and a 276-258 all-time mark versus Big 12 Conference schools … Improve Kansas head coach Bonnie Henrickson to 4-6 versus Nebraska … Give Henrickson a 70-69 mark at Kansas and a 228-131 overall record … Make Kansas 666-467 all time.
A KANSAS LOSS WOULD…
Drop KU to 12-5 for the second-straight season … Make the series versus NU 46-28, including an 3-7 mark for KU head coach Bonnie Henrickson … Give the Jayhawks a 13-17 mark versus the Cornhuskers in games played in Lincoln … Make KU 76-120 overall versus the Big 12 Conference … Drop Kansas head coach Bonnie Henrickson’s record at KU to 69-70 and her overall mark to 227-132 … Make Kansas 665-468 all time.
