February 27, 2008

KU Can't Hold off Texas in 57-53 Setback

Feb. 27, 2008

<?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>LAWRENCE, Kan. – Despite having the lead for all but 1:29 of the game, the University of Kansas women’s basketball team was edged by Texas, 57-53, Wednesday night in Allen Fieldhouse.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>

The loss dropped the Jayhawks to 15-12 (4-10) while UT improved to 17-11 (5-9).

Kansas, led by sophomore Danielle McCray, stifled Texas in the first half, limiting the `Horns to just 23 points on 33.3-percent shooting. McCray finished the opening frame with 15 points, including a stretch in which she scored 12 of KU’s 16 points and helped her team build a lead that it would hold for the remainder of the half.

A bucket by junior Ivana Catic less than two minutes into the second gave KU its biggest lead of the game at 34-25, but Kansas went stagnant from the field over the next eight minutes. The Jayhawks connected on just one field goal during the stretch, and at one points didn’t score for a streak of 5:48. Meanwhile, the Texas offense took advantage, using a 10-2 run to get within one point at the 10:35 mark – the closest it had been since it was 16-15.

KU recovered, though, and got its lead back out to five on a jumper by McCray at the 7:11 mark – her first points of the second half. Then, after a quick 6-0 UT run gave the `Horns their first lead of the game, both squads went back and forth over the next three minutes and saw the lead change four times.

With Texas up 53-51 with 1:58 left, freshman Krysten Boogaard connected on a jumper to tie the game. However, it would be the last points the Jayhawks would score. UT closed the contest with four straight points from the foul line – part of its 18-21 effort from the charity stripe for the game – and drew a charge on McCray when the Jayhawks had a chance to tie the game to secure the victory.

The Jayhawks shot just 35.7-percent in the second half and scored only four points in the final 4:23. KU also turned the ball over 10 times in the second which led to 12 Longhorn points.

Kansas did forced Texas into 18 turnovers, but turned them in to just 11 points.

McCray, as she has done nearly all season, paced the Jayhawks, scoring 19 points while grabbing 10 boards. Boogaard finished with 10 points, while sophomore LaChelda Jacobs added eight.

Sophomore Sade Morris scored five points and dished out five assists.

Next up for Kansas will be a trip to IowaState on March 1. The contest is set to tip at 1 p.m.