McCray's Double-Double Leads Kansas To 75-56 Win At Saint Louis
Nov. 23, 2008
ST. LOUIS, Mo. –
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Kansas junior Danielle McCray collected her first double-double of the season with 27 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Jayhawks to a 75-56 win over Saint Louis Sunday afternoon at Chaifetz Arena on the campus of Saint Louis University. The win improved KU to 3-0 on the season, while SLU dropped to 1-3.
The Jayhawks got off to a sluggish start, trailing for much of the first half. SLU got on the board with a quick bucket from junior Theresa Lisch. McCray dropped in two free throws to even the game and then KU forward Porscha Weddington scored underneath to give KU a 4-2 lead less than a minute into the game. SLU then went on a 7-0 run to take a 9-4 advantage off a lay-up and free throw by Janisha Gearlds.
KU managed to stay within striking distance thanks to six points by junior Sade Morris and four by junior LaChelda Jacobs, but the Billikens maintained control for much of the first period with Lisch scoring 11 first half tallies. The Jayhawks took the lead for good on a free throw by senior Ivana Catic with just 43 seconds remaining in the opening half of play. Jacobs hit a jumper in the lane to give KU a 33-31 lead heading into the break.
KU forced two quick SLU turnovers and got three-point baskets by McCray and sophomore Nicollette Smith to open up a eight point lead less than two minutes into the second half. Another bucket by Smith and a lay-up by Morris gave Kansas a 10-point lead a couple of minutes later at 43-33 with 16:32 to play in the game.
A lay-up by Weddington off an assist from Catic gave KU a 58-39 lead with just over 11 minutes to play. SLU inched back to within nine points off a lay-up by Lauren Woods with a little more than four minutes to play, but McCray scored nine points down the strentch to preserve the win for the Jayhawks.
McCray, who started the game hitting just one of her first seven shots, knocked down 7-of-18 shots for the game, including 2-of-5 from the three-point line. She also canned 11-of-12 shots from the foul stripe. The Olathe, Kan., native, also had four steals and two assists in the win.
Morris finished with 14 points, while Weddington and Jacobs were also in double digits with 12 points and 10 points, respectively. Jacbos and senior Marija Zinic each grabbed five boards and Jacobs had a team-high five assists.
Lisch finished with 21 points for the Billikens and Gearlds had 11.
The Jayhawks will take a week-off from game action as they will not return to the court until Sunday, Nov. 30, when they host the University of New Orleans in Allen Fieldhouse. Game time is set for 2 p.m.
