Goodrich Delivers The Goods
Dec. 10, 2009
LAWRENCE, Kan. –
Going into halftime with a 12-point lead over the visiting UMKC Kangaroos, redshirt freshman Angel Goodrich remained scoreless, but that did not stop her from being a key contributor to the 42 first-half Kansas points.
Entering the game, Goodrich led the team with 8.1 assists per game, which ranks second in the Big 12 and fourth in the NCAA. In Thursday night’s game, Goodrich tallied eight assists in the first half alone, continuing to impress at the point guard position.
Senior leader Danielle McCray continues to admire Goodrich’s ability to make unbelievable passes both in practice and in the game.
“She just has God-given talent to see the whole floor and does a good job of finding the open person in transition,” said McCray.
The 5-foot-4 guard from Tahlequah, Okla., finally put some points on the board in the second half, scoring five points and adding two assists to put her in double figures in dimes for the third time this season.
Goodrich reached double figures in assists with her dish to freshman Monica Engelman, increasing the Jayhawks’ lead to 29 points.
Head Coach Bonnie Henrickson said after the game that she thought Goodrich played aggressive and was continually looking to reward Boogaard on the baseline and McCray and senior guard Sade Morris in transition.
“She always has her head up trying to find somebody,” Henrickson said. “I thought she was aggressive and tried to drive it in the second half and get inside the paint to go to the rim and that was good for her.”
After she was held scoreless in the Jayhawks’ last outing against Northern Colorado, Goodrich totaled five points to compliment her 10 assists and four rebounds. The 10 assists were one short of her career-high, 11, which she achieved against Xavier.
Sophomore Aishah Sutherland, another frequent recipient of Goodrich’s passes confessed that the redshirt-freshman was the best passer she had ever played with.
“Angel [Goodrich] is a great passer,” said Sutherland. “She can see things that other point guards obviously cannot see. It’s like she has eyes in the back of her head.”
Sutherland also said that she always has to be alert when the ball is in the hands of Goodrich.
“She can look one way and be passing to you the other way,” Sutherland said. “She can always find a way to get you the ball, so your hands have to be ready.
Goodrich and the Jayhawks return to Allen Fieldhouse to continue their five-game homestand as they host the Creighton Bluejays on Sunday, Dec. 13. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m., in Allen Fieldhouse.
