Kansas Routs Pittsburg State in Exhibition Opener, 86-56
Nov. 1, 2009
LAWRENCE, Kan. –
Box Score in PDF Format 
Sutherland Impressive In First Start
Sophomore forward Aishah Sutherland had her best game as a Jayhawk and Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year Danielle McCray scored 18 points as No. 20 Kansas defeated Pittsburg State 86-56 in front of 3,525 fans in Allen Fieldhouse in the first of two exhibition games to open the 2009-10 season.
Fifteen players saw the floor and four scored in double figures (McCray, Sutherland, Krysten Boogaard and Nicollette Smith) as the Jayhawks moved to 3-0 all-time in exhibition games against the Gorillas. Kansas has won 26 of its last 28 exhibition contests.
Sutherland, whose career high is 15 points, led all players with 20 points and collected 10 rebounds while using her length and athleticism to alter shots on the defensive end of the floor. Junior Krysten Boogaard scored 13 points and senior Sade Morris scored nine points, despite taking a hard fall during the first half.
Redshirt freshman Angel Goodrich guided the KU offense with a team-high 10 assists.
Behind Sutherland and McCray, Kansas got off to a quick start, scoring the game’s first eight points and forcing Pittsburg State into eight early turnovers while building an 11-1 lead. The Gorillas cut the lead to 15-9 before the Jayhawks scored 14 unanswered points, including consecutive three-pointers by McCray and six points from Sutherland, to jump to a 27-9 advantage.
The lead wouldn’t last long though as Pittsburg State responded with a run of its own to cut Kansas’ lead to eight before the home team tightened up on defense to go into halftime leading 47-24. The Jayhawks held the Gorillas to 23 percent field goal shooting during the first 20 minutes and forced 15 turnovers while allowing only three assists.
Sutherland was dominant on both ends of the floor from the opening tip. She scored 20 points on 9-of-12 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds in the first half alone while adding two blocks and two steals.
Kansas didn’t look back in the second half as head coach Bonnie Henrickson emptied her bench. Junior forward Nicollette Smith led Kansas’ bench players with 12 points and eight rebounds and also knocked down two three-pointers.
The Jayhawks shot 47.8 percent from the field for the game and made 5-of-18 three-point attempts. Pittsburg State was held to 30.2 percent shooting, committed 24 turnovers and lost the rebounding battle 50 to 39.
The Jayhawks will wrap up the exhibition portion of their schedule when they host Emporia State Nov. 8 at 2 p.m. at Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas opens the regular season Nov. 15 at home against Oral Roberts at 2 p.m.
