Jayhawks Prepare For Creighton Wednesday
Nov. 14, 2011
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Game Notes in PDF Format 
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Three days removed from a season-opening victory versus Western Michigan, Kansas women’s basketball continues opening week when it hosts Creighton on Wednesday, Nov. 16. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. as the Jayhawks go in search of their ninth-straight win over the Bluejays.
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
Fans who bring their ticket stub from the Kansas vs. Oklahoma match (Wednesday at 6 p.m.) can get into the KU basketball game for free. Wednesday is also Jay Days, in which select concession items are just $2.
Fast Breaks
– Four of the team’s five starters finished with double-digit points in the season opener versus Western Michigan Sunday.
– Junior Angel Goodrich dished seven assists versus WMU. Dating back to last season, the point guard has five or more dimes in 14-straight games, including five consecutive outings of seven or more.
– Without standout Carolyn Davis in the lineup, sophomore Tania Jackson turned in her second career double-double behind 10 rebounds and career-high 16 points.
– After going scoreless through two exhibition games, freshman Natalie Knight netted her first career points against the Broncos, including a key three-point basket, to go along with five free throws for eight total points on the night.
– 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.
About the Jayhawks
Four starters scored double-digit points to help the Jayhawks to a 76-64 win over Western Michigan Sunday as Kansas recorded its seventh-straight season-opening win. The output came as no surprise as returning starters Aishah Sutherland and juniors Angel Goodrich and Monica Engelman all averaged over 10 points in two exhibition games. Engelman was tops on the team Sunday pouring in 17 points on 6-for-10 from the field. Sophomore Tania Jackson, who was starting in place of an injured Carolyn Davis, followed with a career-best 16 tallies. She also added a team-high 10 boards for her second career double-double. Jackson’s efforts on the glass helped KU out-rebound WMU 39-35. Rebounding has been a focus for head coach Bonnie Henrickson after the team was out-done on the boards in its two exhibition games.
Prior to the regular-season opener, Goodrich led Kansas with 14.0 points per game in two exhibition victories. When she was not scoring, she was dishing out 5.0 assists per outing, which often found Davis (13.0 ppg) and Engelman (13.0 ppg), as well as 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.
Scouting Creighton
Creighton took a tour up north before making its way to Lawrence Wednesday. The Bluejays notched wins at North Dakota and North Dakota State last weekend to bring a 2-0 record to Allen Fieldhouse. Through two games, Creighton is led by Ally Jensen and Sarah Nelson, who are each averaging 14.5 ppg. Jensen has emerged as a three-point threat early on sinking seven of her 14 attempts from beyond the arc. Nelson has pulled down a team-high 6.5 rpg while shooting 75 percent from the field. Alexis Akin-Otiko has come off the bench in both contests to add 11.5 points per game and 5.5 boards per outing.
Jensen is one of two returning starters along with Carli Tritz (7.0 ppg). In all, Creighton returns eight letterwinners from its 18-13 team in 2010-11 but is without its top scorer and leading rebounder from a year ago.
Series History
Kansas leads the all-time series with Creighton 22-12, including 13-5 in games played in Lawrence. The Jayhawks have won the last eight meetings with the Bluejays, most recently logging a 64-58 victory in Omaha last year. The teams’ last game in Lawrence was a 71-68 thriller on March 21, 2010 as KU notched a WNIT second-round win.
A Kansas Win Would…
Give Kansas its sixth-straight regular-season non-conference win … Mark the fifth-straight non-conference regular-season win at home … Give KU nine consecutive wins over Creighton … Make Kansas 23-12 versus Creighton … Give coach Bonnie Henrickson a 119-108 mark at Kansas and a 277-170 overall record … Improve Henrickson to 9-1 versus the Bluejays … Make Kansas 716-506 all time.
A Kansas Loss Would…
Halt Kansas’ five game regular-season non-conference win streak … Make Kansas 22-13 versus Creighton … End the Jayhawks’ eight game win streak over the Bluejays … Give Henrickson a 118-109 mark at Kansas and a 276-171 overall record … Drop Henrickson to 8-2 all-time versus Creighton … Make Kansas 715-507 all time.
Jackson Fills Void
With junior standout Carolyn Davis sidelined with a foot injury, sophomore Tania Jackson was inserted into the starting lineup versus Western Michigan Sunday and did not disappoint. The 6-foot-2 forward turned in a team-high 10 rebounds to go along with 16 points for her second career double-double. Jackson was especially impressive from the foul line sinking 8-for-11 at the charity stripe.
Up Next
Kansas will hit the road for the first time in 2011-12 when it travels to Wake Forest on Sunday, Nov. 20 for a 1 p.m. game in Durham, N.C.
