Women's Basketball Hosts Emporia State In Exhibition Finale Sunday

Nov. 5, 2009

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

Game Notes in PDF Format

OPENING TIP

No. 20 Kansas hosts Emporia State in its second and final exhibition game of the 2009-10 season Sunday, Nov. 8. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. at Allen Fieldhouse. Bonnie Henrickson is in her sixth season at the helm of the women’s basketball program after leading the Jayhawks to a 79-79 overall mark during her first five campaigns, including a 22-14 mark and a trip to the Women’s NIT Championship game in 2008-09. KU defeated Pittsburg State, 86-56, in its exhibition opener behind 20 points and 10 boards from sophomore forward Aishah Sutherland.

FAST BREAKS

-Kansas holds a 35-9 all-time record in exhibition games and has won 26 of its last 28 preseason contests. See page 3 for complete preseason exhibition results.

-The game will mark the 15th time the Jayhawks have played an in-state Division II foe in the preseason, including last season’s wins over Fort Hays State and Washburn and last week’s win over Pittsburg State.

-KU defeated Emporia State, 83-53, on Nov. 13, 2005, in Bonnie Henrickson’s second season as head coach. The Jayhawks also defeated ESU, 74-64 in overtime, on Nov. 8, 2007 in Henrickson’s fourth season as the head coach at Kansas. KU is 2-0 in preseason exhibition games against the Lady Hornets.

-Kansas leads the regular season series with Emporia State, 3-0. The Jayhawks and Lady Hornets have not met during regular-season play since KU took a 56-46 win over ESU on December 14, 1991 in Lawrence.

-The Jayhawks will host Oral Roberts in the 2009-10 season-opener on Sunday, Nov. 15 at 2 p.m., in Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas and Oral Roberts will be meeting for the 10th time in program history with KU owning a 9-0 lead in the series.

A LOOK AT EMPORIA STATE

The seventh-ranked Lady Hornets are picked first in both the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Associate media and coaches poll this season. Emporia State is coming off last season’s MIAA Championship, its second straight, and seventh overall. ESU has made 11 overall appearances in the NCAA Tournament twice finishing at the NCAA Division II Final Four. They went 26-6 last season and return three starters from last season including All-MIAA performer Cassondra Boston. Boston averaged 14.9 points and 3.1 boards per game, while also dishing a team-high 139 assists last season. Senior guard Sophia Lenard returns 11.6 points and 3.6 rebounds per game to the ESU line up, in addition to a team-best 48 steals. Junior forward Alli Volkens turned in 7.6 points and 5.6 caroms per contest in 2008-09. Volkens shot 59.1 percent from the field, making 78-of-132 shots from the floor.

A LOOK AT KANSAS

Kansas, ranked No. 20 in the Associated Press preseason poll, will hit the court to begin the 2009-10 season returning eight letterwinners, including four starters, from last season’s 22-14 team that earned a spot in the WNIT Championship game. Senior guard-forward Danielle McCray returns as the Jayhawks’ leading scorer (21.6 ppg) and rebounder (7.7 rpg). McCray, who was tabbed the Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year, earned Honorable Mention All-America honors and was an All-Big 12 First Team performer as a junior after scoring in double figures in 33-of-36 games. Senior guard Sade Morris returns after averaging 12.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per game game a year ago, while junior center Krysten Boogaard returns her 9.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game to the line up. Junior forward Nicollette Smith started 34 games last season, turning in 6.4 points and 4.5 boards a game. Senior guard LaChelda Jacobs recorded 5.9 points per game in 08-09, while also dishing 110 assists and sophomore forward Aishah Sutherland collected 5.9 points and 4.7 caroms per contest during her rookie campaign. Leading the way for the Jayhawk newcomers is redshirt freshman Angel Goodrich. Goodrich, who arrived in Lawrence as a WBCA High School All-American, will see the court for the first time after missing all of the 2008-09 season with a knee injury. Junior college transfers Rhea Codio and Marisha Brown join KU’s four incoming freshmen to provide the Jayhawks with valuable depth for the 2009-10 season.

BIG 12 PRESEASON POLL

The Kansas women’s basketball team was tabbed to finish second in the 2009-10 Big 12 basketball race in a vote of the league’s head coaches. KU, who tied with Texas in the standings, received three first place votes in the poll. It was a tight race for the top three spots with Baylor edging the Jayhawks and Longhorns. The first-place votes were spread among four teams as Baylor earned five, KU and UT received three each and fourth-place Texas A&M nabbed one. Oklahoma, last year’s preseason favorite and regular season champion, placed fifth, followed by Nebraska in sixth, Iowa State seventh, Kansas State eighth, Oklahoma State ninth, Texas Tech 10th, Colorado 11th and Missouri 12th.

LEADERS OF THE HAWKS

Seniors Danielle McCray and Sade Morris and junior Nicollette Smith have been named tri-captains for the 2009-10 season. It is the second-straight year for McCray to earn the honor, while Morris and Smith are serving as captains for the first time in their careers.

UP NEXT

The Jayhawks will remain in Allen Fieldhouse for their next outing as they play host to Oral Roberts in their 2009-10 regular season opener. KU and Oral Roberts will tip off at 2 p.m., on Sunday, Nov. 15.