Kansas Opens Regular Season Versus Western Michigan

Nov. 11, 2011

Womens Basketball Program

Game Information
Kansas vs. Western Michigan
Time 2 p.m. (CT)
Location Lawrence, Kan.
Arena Allen Fieldhouse
Video Feed AT&T Jayhawk All-Access($)
Radio Jayhawk Radio Network
Live Stats GameTracker
Notes Kansas
Stats at a Glance*
KU WMU
Record
Points Per Game 70.0 60.2
Opp. Points Per Game 64.3 65.9
Scoring Margin +5.7 -5.7
FG Percentage 46.2 37.1
Opp. FG Percentage 40.0 40.8
3-Point FG Percentage 32.6 31.2
FT Percentage 67.6 71.1
Total Rebounds/GM 38.0 36.4
Rebounding Margin +1.2 -2.3
Assists/GM 15.7 11.8
Turnovers/GM 16.0 19.4
Turnover Margin -0.6 -0.3
Steals/GM 7.4 8.9
Blocks/GM 3.8 3.2

*2010-11 Stats

Statistical Leaders*
Kansas W. Michigan
PPG Davis (19.0) M. Giden (11.7)
RPG Davis (7.4) Iaquaniello (4.4)
APG Goodrich (6.2) Anderson (1.5)
SPG Goodrich (1.7) Anderson (1.8)
BPG Davis (1.3) Iaquaniello (0.6)

*2010-11 Returners Stats

Game Notes in PDF Format Get Acrobat Reader

LAWRENCE, Kan. – With two exhibition wins under its belt, the University of Kansas women’s basketball team officially opens the 2011-12 season with its first regular-season contest of the year when it hosts Western Michigan on Sunday, Nov. 13. The Jayhawks will be looking to pick up their seventh-straight season-opening victory when the game tips off at 2 p.m. in Allen Fieldhouse.

The contest will be broadcast live on Knology. Fans can also watch online through AT&T Jayhawk All-Access by going to www.KUAthletics.com.

Game Promotions
Sunday is faculty and staff appreciation day and those members can get in for just $3.

Fast Breaks
– Bonnie Henrickson is 6-1 in season openers at KU, including a 73-40 win over South Dakota last year. Henrickson has compiled a 13-1 record in season openers as a head coach.
– The Jayhawks are 9-2 in their last 11 season-opening contests and have won six-straight season-openers.
– KU was led in exhibition play by junior Angel Goodrich, who averaged a team-high 14.0 points per game to go along with five assists per outing. Juniors Carolyn Davis (13.0 ppg), Monica Engelman (13.0 ppg) and senior Aishah Sutherland (10.0) also contributed double-figure points through two preseason games. Davis collected her points while shooting 75 percent from the field. She also led the Jayhawks pulling down 7.0 boards per game.
– KU trails the all-time series versus Western Michigan, 0-1. The Broncos edged the Jayhawks, 84-82 in the teams’ only meeting back on Nov. 29, 1986 in Kalamazoo, Mich.
– Among its seven returners, KU brings back the Big 12’s leading field goal percentage shooter- Carolyn Davis, .660- and assists leader- Angel Goodrich, 6.3 assists per game- while Monica Engelman returns after leading the league with a 43.1 three-point percentage during conference play.
– The Jayhawks return 83.4 percent of their scoring and 81.5 percent of their rebounding from a year ago.

About the Jayhawks
Through two exhibition games, Kansas’ four returning starters each averaged double-digit points to help the Jayhawks to a pair of preseason victories. Junior point guard Angel Goodrich led the pack with 14.0 points per game. Her 5.0 assists per outing often found juniors Carolyn Davis (13.0 ppg) and Monica Engelman (13.0 ppg), as well as senior Aishah Sutherland (10.0). Davis collected her points while shooting 75 percent from the field and also led the Jayhawks pulling down 7.0 boards per game. Last season, Davis was tops on the team averaging 19.0 ppg, 7.4 rpg and a 66.0 field goal percentage, which ranked second in the nation.

All five Kansas freshmen found themselves in the mix during exhibition play with Natalie Knight earning a spot in the starting lineup both games. While she did not make any of her attempts from the field, Knight did dish out 3.0 assists per contest. Donielle Breaux led the newcomer scoring effort adding 6.0 ppg.

Scouting Western Michigan
Western Michigan fields a young squad as 10 of its 14 players are underclassmen. Just one starter returns from its 9-21 team last season in senior Miame Giden. A 5-11 forward, Giden averaged 11.7 points per game in 2010-11 and picked up right where she left off scoring a team-high 13 points in WMU’s 94-35 exhibition win over Indiana Tech on Nov. 3. The Broncos scored 44 of their points in the paint and out-rebounded ITU 61-27. Freshman guard Michelle O’Brien also poured in 13 tallies in just 17 minutes off the bench and added 10 rebounds. Sophomore center Rachel Adaline helped Western Michigan dominate down low putting in 10 points, including 6-for-6 from the free throw line. As a team, the Broncos shot well from the charity stripe hitting 19-of-27 attempts (70.4 percent).

Non-Conference Success
The Jayhawks have compiled an impressive record outside the Big 12 Conference in regular-season play. KU owns a 304-145 (.677 winning percentage) record versus non-conference opponents. The Jayhawks’ best non-conference record came during the 2005-06 season when they posted a perfect 11-0 mark during the regular season and added another out-of-conference win during the 2006 WNIT. KU is 47-8 (.855 winning percentage) in non-conference play over the last four seasons.

Jayhawks in Season Openers
Kansas is 33-9 all time in season-opening games, including 37-5 when opening its season at home. Under head coach Bonnie Henrickson, KU is 6-1 in its first regular-season game (all at home). Kansas has won 10 of its last 12 season-openers, including six straight, and has been victorious in 13 of its last 14 opening games played in Allen Fieldhouse.

Up Next
The Jayhawks have just three days to prepare for their next contest as KU is scheduled to host Creighton on Nov. 16 at 8 p.m. The game will be televised live on Knology.