Davis' Strong Shooting Night Leads to Season-High
Jan. 25, 2012
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Junior Carolyn Davis scored a season-high 34 points, the most by a Big 12 player in any game this season, as the Kansas Jayhawks knocked off No. 21 Texas Tech 62-43 at Allen Fieldhouse Wednesday night. It marked the seventh time in Davis’ career that the junior recorded at least 30 points in a contest and first since March 19, 2011.
Davis started the night off strong, accounting for 20 of Kansas’ first 30 points, including 12 straight prior to halftime with the Jayhawks leading 30-23 going into the lockerroom. The Houston, Texas native got frustrated early when the Red Raiders tried to deny her any chance of scoring.
“Our coaches told us that they will try and get you frustrated,” Davis said. “They will try to get you out of your game, but a lot of teams do that. They are going to get the best player out. They got to me for a second but then I regrouped and I was good.”
In a game where only 28 fouls were called between both teams, all of Davis’ points came from the field, as she missed her only free-throw attempt in the contest.
“There was a lot of contact and I was just trying to play through that,” Davis said. “The refs were letting us play both ways so it was to be expected but I think I was 0-for-1 from the free throw line so I guess it didn’t really matter. I think it’s a credit to my teammates for passing me the ball; Angel got it to me when I was open and I was getting easy buckets.”
There may have been contact, but Davis wasn’t going to let up that easily. Known as a tough competitor, Davis knows she has to send a message to her opponents to let them know she’s not going anywhere.
“I’m a tough competitor and I’m going to come out and play hard no matter what,” Davis said. “I don’t think I’ve ever taken 24 shots, I was pretty surprised by that but I was getting good looks. I was getting good looks and I wasn’t trying to force anything.”
Scoring 30 points would be a great feat for anyone but this one is especially meaningful for Davis. The ability to score against a tough opponent, not to mention a conference foe, means a little more to Davis.
“It feels awesome,” Davis said. “In conference play and against a ranked opponent, that’s when it matters to me most and I think I did a good job for my team.”
