Jayhawks Welcome Longhorns To Allen Fieldhouse Wednesday

Feb. 25, 2008

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

Game Notes

OPENING TIP

The Kansas women’s basketball team plays host to Texas on Wednesday, Feb. 27. KU (15-11, 4-9) enters the game with a 12-2 record at home. The Longhorns (16-11, 4-9) will be looking for their first Big 12 Conference road win when they travel to Lawrence. The Longhorns lead the all-time series 10-7, however, KU has won the last two games in the series and lead 4-3 in games played in Lawrence. Game time is slated for 7 p.m. in Allen Fieldhouse.

FAST BREAKS

-Sophomore guard-forward Danielle McCray scored four two-point baskets, three three-point baskets and two free throws versus Missouri on her way to a team-high 19 points.

-Freshman forward Nicollette Smith averages 6.6 points per game on the season, but has reached double figures in each of the last three games, averaging 12.0 points per game during that span. Smith posted 15 points versus Missouri, her highest output since scoring 19 versus Hartford.

-Sophomore guard Sade Morris has dropped in 11 points for KU in each of the last two outings. In both games, Morris was especially productive in the second half, scoring 16 of her 22 points in the final period.

-Kansas is ranked No. 42 in the latest RPI rankings on collegerpi.com. The Jayhawks’ strength of schedule is listed as the 18th toughest in the country.

A LOOK AT TEXAS

The Longhorns are 16-11 overall and 4-9 in Big 12 Conference play entering Wednesday’s game at Kansas. UT is 3-7 in road games this season, including an 0-6 mark in conference play. The `Horns, have lost three-straight games since knocking off Big 12 leader Baylor on Feb. 13. Texas is led by sophomore guard Brittainey Raven with 15.1 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. Raven also ties for the team lead in steals with 52, while also dishing 82 assists on the season. Junior forward Ashley Lindsey is also in double figures for the Longhorns as she turns in 11.6 points per game. Lindsey pulls down a team-high 6.9 boards per game and also averages 2.8 blocks per game, which is second best in the Big 12. Junior guard Carla Cortijo is averaging 9.6 points per game to go along with 4.7 assists per game. Cortijo ties Raven with a team-best 52 steals. The `Horns are one of the deeper teams in the league as eight players average 11.8 minutes or more per game. Texas head coach Gail Goestenkors is 16-11 in her first season in Austin. Goestenkors owns an overall mark of 412-110 in her 16th season in the business.

KANSAS-TEXAS SERIES HISTORY

The Longhorns lead the all-time series 10-7, however Kansas owns a 4-3 advantage in games played in Lawrence. The have prevailed in each of the last two seasons, winning on a last second shot in Austin a year ago. KU head coach Bonnie Henrickson is 2-1 versus UT, including a 1-1 mark in games played in Lawrence.

A LOOK AT KANSAS

Kansas enters Wednesday’s contest with a 15-11 overall mark, including a 4-9 Big 12 Conference record after knocking falling at Texas Tech and Missouri last week. Sophomore guard/forward Danielle McCray is the top Jayhawk in scoring (14.8) and rebounding (7.3). McCray also leads the Jayhawks in steals with 43. Fellow sophomore guard Sade Morris is also in double figures in points per game with 10.4 tallies an outing. Morris also gives KU 3.5 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 5.7 caroms per contest. Boogaard also leads the Jayhawks in blocks with 27 on the season, as well as field goal percentage at 52.7 percent. Senior forward Taylor McIntosh is second on the team in rebounding with 6.5 boards per game, while also dropping in 6.5 points. Junior point guard Ivana Catic is the team-leader in assists with 3.3 dishes per game, while also collecting 41 pilfers on the year. Freshman forward Nicollette Smith comes off the bench to provide 6.6 points per game and leads KU with 39 triples on the season. The Jayhawks are coached by Bonnie Henrickson who owns a 55-60 mark in her fourth season at the helm of the Kansas program. Henrickson owns an overall coaching mark of 213-122 in 11 seasons on the sidelines.

SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION

-Kansas has two players from the state of Texas in sophomores LaChelda Jacobs (Mansfield) and Porscha Weddington (Temple). Texas does not have any players from the state of Kansas, but does have a Kansas City, Mo., native on the roster in senior Erneisha Bailey.

-KU assistant coach Kyra Elzy was recruited and played for Texas assistant coach Mickie DeMoss when DeMoss was in the same role at Tennessee. Elzy and DeMoss teamed up for two NCAA titles while at Tennessee.