OSU Ends Jayhawks' Big 12 Championship Run
March 12, 2008
KANSAS CITY, Mo. –
Despite 18 points from Danielle McCray and 17 from Krysten Boogaard, the sixth-seeded <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Kansas women’s basketball team fell to No. 3 Oklahoma State, 82-62, in round two of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship. The Jayhawks finish the season 16-15 overall.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
McCray helped Kansas to an early lead scoring nine of the team’s first 13 points but Oklahoma State soon tied the game 11-11 at the 14:27 mark. With 14:08 remaining in the first half, OSU’s Andrea Riley took the ball hard to the basket and was fouled on her way up. Riley’s layup and free throw gave the Cowgirls their first lead of the game and one that they would not relinquish for the remainder of the contest.
Kansas struggled to find the bottom of the net midway through the half but made a strong comeback at the end of the opening frame outscoring OklahomaState 12-7 in the final four minutes to cut OSU’s lead to 43-31 at the break.
Free throws became a major factor in the first half as OSU was sent to the line 17 times, while Kansas failed to make a single trip to the charity stripe.
When McCray was limited with foul trouble in the second half, Krysten Boogaard, who had a quiet six points in the first 20 minutes, stepped up to fill the void scoring all 10 of the team’s points in the first six and a half minutes of the half to keep the Jayhawks within 10 of OSU.
With 13:31 remaining and the Cowgirls ahead 55-41, OSU’s Taylor Hardeman sank a three to jump-start a 14-5 run as OklahomaState pulled out of the Jayhawks’ reach.
Joining McCray and Boogaard in double figures was LaChelda Jacobs who pitched in 15 points for the Jayhawks to go along with six rebounds. McCray added 12 rebounds for her seventh double-double of the season, while Boogard pulled down seven.
