Balanced Offensive Attack Helps Propel Jayhawks to Victory

Feb. 7, 2010

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

The season-ending injury to Danielle McCray extracted nearly 20 points a game from the Jayhawks offensive attack. In order to combat the McCray injury, Coach Bonnie Henrickson’s squad used a balanced scoring attack to avenge an early season loss to Kansas State Sunday afternoon in Allen Fieldhouse.

The offense leaned heavily on Seniors LaChelda Jacobs and Sade Morris and freshman Monica Engelman to facilitate the revamped offensive attack. Morris and Engelman each handed out five assists in the game, while Jacobs added 10 points.

“I thought as a group we showed great perseverance and great resolve. I am really proud of our kids,” said Henrickson.

Engelman, who took McCray’s spot in the starting lineup, seemed to elevate her game to a different level Sunday. Engelmen scored a career-high 14 points to go along with her five assists. The freshman was rewarded by Coach Henrickson for her steady play with a majority of the offense being run through the San Antonio, Texas native in the closing minutes of the game.

“It felt great to contribute to the team today, but at the same time it really didn’t feel any different,” Engelman said. “Offensively, Danielle has been a big contributor to my growth as a player. Like today she was on the bench giving me advice.”

Engelman was never removed from the game.

“I wasn’t necessarily expecting to play the entire game, but I was expecting to play a big chunk of minutes. I was attempting to fill some pretty big shoes today,” Engelman said.

Freshman Carolyn Davis continued to burst onto the scene with the second double-double of her young career. Davis also did a solid job of shutting off the paint to the Wildcats and helping hold the visitors from Manhattan to just 42 percent shooting from the field.

“I think we really came together as a team today and we showed that through the whole game,” said Morris.

Overcoming the McCray injury will be a stiff challenge for the Jayhawks throughout the remainder of the season, but for one day a balanced, team effort was enough for the Jayhawks to even their Big 12 record to 4-4 on the season.