Women's Basketball Upsets No. 21 Iowa State in Pink Zone Game, 58-47
Feb. 22, 2009
LAWRENCE, Kan. –
Behind Danielle McCray’s career-high 16 rebounds and fifth double-double of the season, the Kansas women’s basketball team upset No. 21 Iowa State, 58-47, in the Pink Zone game in Allen Fieldhouse Sunday afternoon.
McCray finished with 24 points, three assists and three steals to help the Jayhawks snap a four-game losing streak in front of a crowd of 7,069. It was KU’s first victory over a ranked opponent since defeating the No. 23 Texas Longhorns on Jan. 3, 2006.
Kansas improved to 14-11 and 3-9 in the Big 12, while the Cyclones – led by Nicky Wieben’s 19 points – fell to 19-7 and 7-5 in conference play.
Tenacious defense was the theme of the day for KU as the Jayhawks held ISU to just 17 percent from the field (five-of-30) in the second half. It marked the lowest field goal percentage in a half by any KU opponent this season. The Cyclones finished the game with 27 percent shooting (15-of-55) – the third lowest number forced by the Jayhawks during the 2008-09 season.
Both teams came out fired up in the second half, but a block by sophomore Krysten Boogaard and subsequent three-point play by McCray gave KU a six-point edge (33-27). Iowa State tied the game at 35 midway through the second half, but Kansas never relinquished the lead.
Boogaard and McCray scored 22 of the Jayhawks’ 32 second-half points and KU made eight straight free-throws in the final five minutes of the contest to preserve the 11-point victory. Overall, Kansas shot a season-high 95 percent from the line, cashing 18-of-19 charity shots.
The Jayhawks jumped out to the early lead (6-2) and led by as many as six points several times in the first half. Iowa State tied the game at 17 with six minutes remaining in the half and took its first lead of the game, 20-17, on a three-pointer by Alison Lacey soon after. Kansas took back the lead for good on a jumper by LaChelda Jacobs and went to the locker room up, 26-24. McCray and Sade Morris led KU with eight points a piece in the first period.
Kansas takes the court again when it travels to Stillwater, Okla., to face the Oklahoma State Cowgirls in Gallagher-Iba Arena on Wednesday, Feb. 25. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
