Carolyn Davis Has Sensational Day In Exhibition Opener

Oct. 31, 2010

There was a recurring theme Sunday during the Kansas women’s basketball exhibition game against Fort Hays State in Allen Fieldhouse. That theme was sophomore Carolyn Davis putting the ball through the net.

It started with a simple layup just 12 seconds into the game and ended almost 40 minutes later with another kiss off the glass to put her team up 22 points with just minutes to play. In the end, the second year starter poured in a total of 35 of the team’s total 83 points in their double digit victory over the Tigers. Davis scored the Jayhawks first 10 points and at one stretch had 20 of the team’s total 25 points in the game.

“She was tough,” said Fort Hays State head coach Tony Hobson. “We didn’t have an answer for her. I thought in the second half we defended her a little better than the first, but she’s just a good player.”

Before Hobson’s squad could make those second half adjustments, Davis went into the locker room shooting 11-of-13 from the field, good for 26 points and 11 rebounds.

“It felt good to be out there and to get a good win,” said Davis, a Houston, Texas, native. “We talked about it in practice, so I knew the ball was going to come to me and I was ready for it.”

Davis would go on to add nine more points and six boards to her game-leading totals in the final 20 minutes of the contest. Had this been a regular season game, her 35 points and 17 rebounds would have both been career bests–eclipsing the 31 points and 14 rebounds she posted last year. Her exhibition game totals versus Fort Hays State, well exceeded the three points and two rebounds she contributed during last year’s pre-season opener against Pittsburg State.

“I think this year I’m more confident,” said Davis. “Last year I was just a freshman. This year I have so much playing experience under my belt and I’m ready and more confident to take those shots.”

Her coach saw that confidence in full force on the court Sunday afternoon.

“She just took advantage of the fact she was a lot bigger and longer than everyone else,” said Kansas head coach Bonnie Henrickson. “What she did today is what great players do. She made it look real, real easy.”

In her team leading 33 minutes of game action, Davis was 15-of-21 from the field and 5-of-8 from the charity stripe. Davis, along with the rest of the Jayhawks, will look to wrap up a perfect exhibition schedule next Sunday when they play host to Washburn in Allen Fieldhouse.