Jayhawks Snap Road Losing Skid With 67-52 Win At Oklahoma State
Feb. 25, 2009
STILLWATER, Okla. – Three Kansas players scored in double figures, led by Danielle McCray’s 30-point effort, as the Jayhawks defeated Oklahoma State, 67-52, on Wednesday evening at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
The win snapped a 14-game road losing streak in the Big 12 for Kansas and improved the Jayhawks to 15-11 overall and 4-9 in Big 12 Conference action. OSU, who was led by Andrea Riley with 18 points, dropped to 15-11 overall and 4-9 in Big 12 play.
A Riley basket and free throw tied the game at 38 all with 12:56 to play in the game. Over the next six minutes, Kansas would go on a 14-4 run to forge a 10-point lead at 52-42. McCray scored seven points during the run, while Nicollette Smith tossed in five of her own.
After an OSU timeout, the Cowgirls held Kansas score less for just under four minutes of play, clawing back to within two points at 52-50, but McCray knocked down two free throws with 3:25 to play to stop the OSU comeback.
The Jayhawks made 9-of-12 free throws in the final three minutes of the game to seal their first road victory in conference play since defeating Missouri on March 1, 2007. The win also marked the first time the Jayhawks recorded back-to-back wins in conference play this season as they defeated #21 Iowa State in their last outing.
McCray knocked down 9-of-13 shots from the field, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc, on her way to tying her career high of 30 points. The Olathe, Kan., native also made 9-of-10 shots from the foul line and pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds. The 30-point, 13-rebound performance marked McCray’s second-straight double-double and the sixth of the season.
Smith joined McCray in double figures with 13 points, while Sade Morris added 11 points and six rebounds as the Jayhawks out-rebounded OSU 40-30.
Sade Morris got the Jayhawks on the board in the first half with a free throw followed by a jumper in the lane as both teams started off slowly. McCray then hit a jumper to give Kansas a 5-0 lead five minutes into the game.
Riley, the Big 12’s leading scorer, would score a lay-up and add a free throw after a Tegan Cunningham bucket for the Cowgirls as OSU knotted the game at five. The two teams would trade baskets over the next several minutes, before OSU would open up a four point lead on a jumper in the lane by Shaunte’ Smith.
McCray would then go to work, knocking down two three-point baskets, two free throws and a jumper to push KU to a 26-22 advantage at the break. McCray finished the first half with 16 points in a near perfect half as she connected on 5-of-6 shots from the field and all four of her attempts from the charity stripe. She also pulled down seven rebounds as KU held a 21-12 lead on the boards in the first frame.
KU will return to action on Saturday evening when they play host to the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Game time is slated for 7 p.m., in Allen Fieldhouse.
