Jayhawks Host Cornhuskers In 2008 Think Pink Game
Feb. 15, 2008
LAWRENCE, Kan. –
Game Notes
OPENING TIP
The Kansas women’s basketball team will attempt to pick up its second-straight Big 12 Conference victory when it plays host to Nebraska on Sunday, Feb. 17 in Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks (14-9, 3-7) enter the game having won two out of their last three games, while the Cornhuskers (17-7, 6-4) took the previous meeting between the two teams this year, 71-51, in Lincoln. Both teams will don specially designed uniforms in honor of the WBCA’s Think Pink initiative promoting breast cancer awareness. The game is slated for a 2 p.m. tip-off and will be aired on Sunflower Cable.
FAST BREAKS
-Kansas freshman Krysten Boogaard has scored in double figures in four-straight games and five out of the last seven outings. She is averaging 16.8 points and 10.5 rebounds per game over the last four contests, including two double-doubles. Boogaard will celebrate her 20th Birthday on Monday, Feb. 18.
-KU”s game versus Nebraska will close out its two-game homestand. The Jayhawks have two remaining home games on the season, Texas (Feb. 27) and Kansas State (March 5).
-Junior guard Ivana Catic tied a season-high with 10 points in KU’s 70-59 win over Colorado. Catic knocked down 4-of-6 shots from the field and also made 2-of-3 shots from the foul line.
-Kansas is ranked No. 35 in the latest RPI rankings on collegerpi.com. The Jayhawks’ strength of schedule is listed as the 16th toughest in the country.
A LOOK AT NEBRASKA
The Cornhuskers are 17-7 overall and 6-4 in Big 12 Conference play. NU is 5-3 in road games this season, including a 3-2 mark in conference play. The `Huskers had won back-to-back games on the road at Missouri and Colorado prior to a home loss to Oklahoma State in their last outing. Nebraska is led by junior forward Kelsey Griffin with 14.1 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Senior forward Danielle Page is also dominant in the paint as she adds 12.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game. Sophomore forward Cory Montgomery is also in double figures with 10.7 points, while sophomore guard Yvonne Turner leads the NU defense with 2.9 steals per game. Freshman guard Kaitlyn Burke is the leading assister with 2.7 dimes per game. The `Huskers are one of the deeper teams in the league as nine players average 12.8 minutes or more per game. Nebraska head coach Connie Yori is 97-72 in her sixth season in Lincoln. Yori owns an overall mark of 292-212 in her 18th season in the business.
KANSAS-NEBRASKA SERIES HISTORY
The Jayhawks lead the all-time series 44-27, including a 23-7 mark in games played in Lawrence. Nebraska has won five-straight in the series, sweeping the Jayhawks in each of the last two seasons, as well as winning the first meeting this season. KU head coach Bonnie Henrickson is 1-6 versus NU, picking up her lone victory in Lawrence.
A LOOK AT KANSAS
Kansas enters Sunday’s contest with a 14-9 overall mark, including a 3-7 Big 12 Conference record after knocking off Colorado, 70-59, in its last outing. Sophomore guard/forward Danielle McCray is the top Jayhawk in scoring (14.7) and rebounding (7.3). McCray ranks in the top 10 in the Big 12 in both categories. Fellow sophomore guard Sade Morris is also in double figures in points per game with 10.6 tallies an outing. Morris also gives KU 3.9 boards and 2.3 assists per game. Freshman center Krysten Boogaard was inserted into the starting line-up after the team returned from its holiday break and ranks third on the team in scoring with 9.7 points a game to go along with 5.6 caroms per contest. Boogaard also leads the Jayhawks in blocks with 27 on the season, as well as field goal percentage at 53.5 percent. Senior forward Taylor McIntosh is second on the team in rebounding with 6.5 boards per game, while also dropping in 6.6 points. Junior point guard Ivana Catic is the team-leader in assists with 3.6 dishes per game, while also collecting 38 pilfers on the year. Freshman forward Nicollette Smith comes off the bench to provide 5.9 points per game and leads KU with 32 triples on the season. The Jayhawks are coached by Bonnie Henrickson who owns a 54-58 mark in her fourth season at the helm of the Kansas program. Henrickson owns an overall coaching mark of 212-120 in 11 seasons on the sideline.
SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION
– Kansas has one player from the state of Nebraska in junior guard Katie Smith (Omaha). Nebraska does not have any native Kansans on its roster.
– KU freshman center Krysten Boogaard and NU freshman 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 last year. Of the 12 players selected for the academy, six are currently playing in the United States at Division I schools.
– Jayhawk sophomore guard LaChelda Jacobs and Nebraska freshman Catheryn Redmond both attended high school in Mansfield, Texas. Jacobs prepped at Mansfield Summit High, while Redmond played at Mansfield Timberview.
