March 05, 2008

Jayhawks Come Up Short On Senior Night

March 5, 2008

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

Despite a late second-half surge in which they cut a 13-point deficit down to just two, <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Kansas fell to Kansas State, 61-50, Wednesday on Senior Night in Lawrence. The game was the final home game in Allen Fieldhouse for seniors Jamie Boyd and Taylor McIntosh. <?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>

The loss dropped Kansas to 15-14 overall and 4-12 in Big 12 action, while KansasState improved to 21-8 overall and 13-3 in league play.

The Jayhawks weathered a strong first half performance from KansasState guards Shalee Lehning and Kimberly Dietz, and trailed by only four points, 27-23, heading into the lockerroom. Sophomore guard Danielle McCray kept Kansas in the game, scoring 10 of her team-high 17 points, to go along with three steals in the first half.

The Wildcats controlled the opening minutes of the second half as they jumped out to a 37-25 lead. KansasState led by as many as 13 points in the second half, again using strong guard play to pick apart the Jayhawk defense. The back court duo of Lehning and Dietz combined for 45 points in the game.

The Jayhawks gradually chipped away at the Wildcat lead, as sophomore guard LaChelda Jacobs provided an offensive spark in the second half. Jacobs finished the game with 14 points, including nine in the second half.

Jacobs converted a three-point play to cut the lead to 52-48 with 4:59 left to play. On the next possession, Lehning missed the front end of a one-and-one to give the Jayhawks the ball.

Jacobs then attacked the Wildcat defense and converted a left handed layup to cut the lead to two with 4:14 remaining.

After a KansasState timeout, Dietz hit a deep three to extend the lead to 55-50. After a KU miss, Lehning converted a basket in the lane to make it a three possession game, 57-50, with 3:08 to play.

Kansas could never recover, as Lehning and the rest of the Wildcat attack proved too much for the Kansas defense. Lehning finished with a game-high 29 points to go along with 17 rebounds. The Jayhawks were led by McCray and Jacobs, who finished with 31 points combined.

Kansas will play as the 11-seed in the Big 12 Championship next week in Kansas City, Mo. The Jayhawks will take on Nebraska in the opening round of play on Tuesday, March 11 at 8:30 p.m. The tournament, which begins Tuesday, runs through Saturday, March 15 inside historic Municipal Auditorium.