Kansas Downs Birmingham-Southern, 72-50

Dec. 2, 2005

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LAWRENCE, Kan. –

The University of Kansas women’s basketball team defeated Birmingham-Southern 72-50 Friday night at Allen Fieldhouse in a game the Jayhawks never trailed. KU employed a suffocating defense to hold the Panthers to 32 percent from the field, a season-best for the Jayhawks. <?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>

Senior guard Erica Hallman led all scorers with 19 points and set a career-high with six three-point field goals. She was six-of-eight from behind the arc and moved into a tie for third place all-time in three-pointers made in school history.

Freshman guard Ivana Catic dished out 10 assists to break a school record for assists by a freshman. Senior forward Crystal Kemp chipped in 12 points and senior guard Kaylee Brown rounded out the Jayhawks’ top scorers, finishing with 10 points. Kemp also recorded her 600th career rebound during the game becoming the ninth player in KU history to record 1,000 career points and 600 rebounds.

In the first half, sophomore forward Taylor McIntosh scored seven points and grabbed six rebounds to spur the Jayhawks to a 37-25 halftime lead. Hallman scored 13 of her 19 points in the stanza.

The second half saw junior guard Sharita Smith score all seven of her points, establishing a new career-high. Freshman forward Marija Zinic also set a career-high with six points. The Jayhawks shot a season-best 50 percent from the field on 28-for-56 shooting and also drained nine three-pointers, a season high as well.

The Jayhawks moved to 4-0 with the victory and will return to action tomorrow against the University of New Orleans. Tip off is slated for 1 p.m. at Allen Fieldhouse.