Jayhawks Run Past Colorado, 70-59

Feb. 13, 2008

Final Stats

<?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>LAWRENCE, Kan. – Sophomore Danielle McCray finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds, leading the University of Kansas to a 70-59 win over Colorado on Wednesday night at Allen Fieldhouse.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>

The victory, which was the Jayhawks’ second in three games, improved KU to 14-9 (3-7) while the Buffaloes fell to 13-11 (2-9).

Both teams got off to blistering starts and continued to battle back and forth early in the first half. Neither squad led by more than four in the game’s first ten minutes, and midway through, the score was already 23-22 in favor of KU.

The Jayhawk defense, though, began to stiffen up, as it held CU scoreless for the next 5:37, allowing Kansas to build a 30-22 cushion with just over seven minutes in the half.

Still, Colorado shot 50-percent in the opening stanza, while KU countered by connecting on 57.7-percent of its shots – its second-best shooting half of the season – to take a 38-31 lead into the break.

The Buffaloes quickly narrowed the margin early in the second, however, as they closed to within one point less than two minutes in. But McCray, who recorded with her fifth-career double-double in the win, sparked a 13-5 Kansas run over the next seven minutes to push KU’s lead back to nine.

Then, after a pair of CU free-throws, McCray buried a three to make it 57-47 with 8:27 remaining, giving her team its largest lead up to that point.

But Colorado would answer again, scoring the game’s next seven points to cut the margin to 57-54 with 5:40 left.

That would prove to be the closest the Buffs would get, as McCray ignited a streak of six-straight points for Kansas over the next three minutes to ice the victory.

KU held Colorado scoreless for over three minutes during the decisive run, and while they were held without a field-goal for the last 2:16, the Jayhawks scored their final seven points of the game from the free-throw line.

After impressive offensive performances by both teams in the first half, play slipped in the second, as CU shot just 26.7-percent while the Jayhawks hit on only 30.4-percent. Turnovers also became an issue, with KU committing 20 and Colorado handing it over 19 times in the game.

Joining McCray in double-figures were freshman Krysten Boogaard, who finished with 16 points and eight rebounds, and junior Ivana Catic, who added ten points and four assists.

The Jayhawks will next be in action on Sunday when they face Nebraska a 2 p.m. in Lawrence. The game will be televised on Sunflower Channel 6.