Jayhawk Women Dominate Logan Red 83-56
Aug. 11, 2007
BRISBANE, Australia – Sophomore Sade Morris ignited the University of Kansas women’s basketball team to an 83-56 win over Logan Red on Saturday evening with 14 first-half points. Morris, who finished with a game-high 19 points, helped the Jayhawks improve to 2-1 on their tour of Australia, with one game remaining.
“This was by far our best outing of the tour,” said Kansas head coach Bonnie Henrickson. “We were much more consistent on both ends of the court and once we got in a good rhythm, we just kept building on it. I was very pleased with our effort.”
Logan Red got on the board early and pulled out to a 6-2 lead just two minutes into the game. Kansas came roaring back though, out scoring Logan Red 18-0 over the next six minutes of play. Morris led the charge, knocking down two jump shots from the top of the key and two three-point baskets from the wing for 10 of her points. The Jayhawks closed out the quarter matching baskets with Logan Red for a 26-12 advantage at the end of the first frame.
“Sade has had a great spring and summer and it’s nice to see that show up in a game,” said Henrickson. “She was on balance and knocked down some nice mid-range jumpers. We are going to need to see that on a consistent basis from her.”
Sophomore guard Danielle McCray, who has had the hot hand in the first two games of the tour, got in the action in the second quarter scoring seven points of her own. Kansas opened up a 23-point lead at 38-15 with five minutes left in the second period, before ending the half with a 45-23 advantage.
Senior forward Taylor McIntosh was also instrumental in the first half charge, as she collected nine rebounds, five points and four steals in the first half of play.
“Taylor was missing some shots she normally makes,” said Henrickson. “However, she was still all over the court making plays for us. She sets a great tone with her energy, and her teammates followed right behind her tonight.”
As the second half began, Kansas picked up right where they left off in the first half. McCray and sophomore forward Porscha Weddington each dropped in six points, and the Jayhawks owned a 65-37 lead at the end of three quarters of play.
All eleven Kansas players on the trip for the tour got in the scoring column versus Logan Red with senior forward Jamie Boyd and sophomore guard LaChelda Jacobs knocking down a jumper each and junior guard Katie Smith hitting a three-point basket in the final quarter, to assist in providing the final margin of 83-56.
“Our team is really starting to put everything together,” said McIntosh, who is one of two seniors on the 2007-08 team. “This game was really good for our confidence. We were able to play well and sustain some momentum. We were very focused and it showed.”
In addition to Morris’ 19 points, McCray finished with 17 tallies for KU, while Weddington finished with 13 and sophomore guard Kelly Kohn tossed in 10 points. McIntosh had seven points, junior center Marija Zinic had six points and junior guard Ivana Catic dropped in four points.
McIntosh led the Jayhawks on the glass with 13 boards, her second-straight double-figure rebounding game. McCray pulled down eight caroms, and Weddington grabbed six as Kansas won the rebounding battle, 48-35.
Catic was the assist leader for Kansas with four, while Kohn and McIntosh each dished three assists.
The stingy Jayhawk defense forced 26 Logan Red turnovers, while only committing seven of their own miscues. Kansas tallied 13 steals, compared to zero for Logan Red, with McIntosh collecting seven. KU outscored Logan Red, 38-10, in points off turnovers.
Logan Red was led by Jenny Whittle with 17 points. Whittle recently retired from international competition, giving up her position on the Australian National Team. She had participated in two Olympic Games as a part of the team.
The Jayhawks will leave Brisbane on Sunday morning, trekking to Cairns for their fourth and final game of the tour. Kansas will take on the Queensland Under-19 state team on Tuesday evening.
