January 25, 2006

Kansas Falls at Kansas State, 69-63

Jan. 25, 2006

MANHATTAN, Kan. – After a courageous second-half comeback that saw the Jayhawks cut a KSU 17-point lead to two in the final six minutes of the game, the University of Kansas (13-4, 2-4 Big 12) fell 69-63 to Kansas State University (14-4, 4-3 Big 12) Wednesday in Bramlage Coliseum.

Seniors Crystal Kemp and Erica Hallman hit big shot after big shot in the game’s final minutes. But missed free throws by Kansas, coupled with clutch free throw shooting by KSU, doomed the Jayhawks’ bid to end an eight-game losing skid to the Wildcats.

Kemp, who entered the game with 1,398 points, became the seventh player in KU history to reach both 1,400 career points and 700 rebounds when she hit a turnaround jumper with just under 15 minutes left in the first half. Kemp finished the game with 20 points to move her career total to 1418.

Hallman pumped in 18 points to move her career scoring total to 999. Kemp added a game-high 12 rebounds. Kansas State was led by freshman Marlies Gipson with 16 points before fouling out. Junior Claire Coggins added 12 points and freshman Shalee Lehning chipped in 10.

The first half was a close affair with four ties and six lead changes. Kemp led all scorers in the period with 11 points to go with six rebounds. Hallman hit two key 3-pointers in the first half on her way to 10 points. K-State freshman Marlies Gipson led the Wildcats with 10 points.

Kansas will stay on the road for its next game when the Jayhawks travel to Waco, Texas, to take on defending national champion Baylor on Saturday, Jan. 28. The game, broadcast live on CSTV, tips off at 3 p.m.