Jayhawks Host UC Riverside Sunday Evening
Dec. 14, 2007
LAWRENCE, Kan. –
Game Notes
OPENING TIP
The University of Kansas women’s basketball team will close out its five-game homestand with a tilt versus UC Riverside on Sunday, Dec. 16. The first all-time meeting between to the two teams is slated for 7 p.m., in Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas enters the game riding a four-game winning streak, while UC Riverside has won two of their last three outings.
FAST BREAKS
-Freshman center Krysten Boogaard has scored in double figures in the last two outings, setting new season highs in both games. Boogaard had 12 points in KU’s win over Marquette, before turning in 13 points in the Jayhawks’ win over Indiana.
-Kansas has led at the half in each of its seven wins. In their lone loss on the season, the Jayhawks were tied at the break with SMU.
-Sophomore guard-forward Danielle McCray is coming off a week where she averaged 20.5 points and 10.0 rebounds in her two outings. McCray has led KU in scoring four times this season and has scored in double digits in all eight games. McCray has a 12-game double-figure scoring streak dating back to last season.
-Kansas is currently ranked No. 9 in the RPI according to collegerpi.com. The Jayhawks’ strength of schedule ranks 20th on the site.
KANSAS-UC RIVERSIDE SERIES HISTORY
The Jayhawks and Highlanders will be meeting for the first time in program history.
A LOOK AT UC RIVERSIDE
The Highlanders are 2-6 on the season, with wins over UNLV and Gonzaga. UCR has won two of their last three outings, falling to Nevada 62-52 in their last game. UC Riverside is led on the season by senior Kemie Nkele, the preseason Big West Player of the Year, with 18.2 points per game. Nkele also pulls down 8.8 rebounds per game to lead the Higlanders. Junior Seyram Gbewonyo also scores in double figures with 10.1 points per game. Gbewonyo adds 4.5 caroms per contest, while leading the team in steals with 12. Sophomore Brittany Waddell leads UCR off the bench with 9.1 points per game. Waddell has also collected 11 steals on the season. The Highlanders, who are 0-2 on the season in road games, have struggled on the boards, getting out-rebounded by six boards per game. UCR head coach John Margaritas is 55-45 in his fourth season with the Highlanders. His overall coaching mark is 165-125 in nine years in the business.
A LOOK AT KANSAS
The Jayhawks enter Sunday’s game with a 7-1 mark, including four-straight wins over Creighton, Saint Louis, Marquette and Indiana. The Jayhawks are led by a pair of sophomores as Danielle McCray (16.6) and Sade Morris (12.9) both average double figures in scoring. The duo has been aided by the rising presence of freshman center Krysten Boogaard who is adding 8.4 points per game in just 14.6 minutes of play. McCray pulls down 8.0 rebounds an outing to lead the Jayhawks, while also ranking third on the team in assists (20) and steals (12). Junior guard Ivana Catic is dishing just over 4.6 assists per game and is also the steals leader with 2.1 per game. KU is coached by Bonnie Henrickson, who owns a 47-50 mark in her fourth season. Henrickson is 205-112 in her 11th season overall.
SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION
– Kansas does not have any players from the state of California, and likewise the Highlanders do not have any native Kansans on their roster.
– KU sophomore forward Porscha Weddington is a native of Temple, Texas, however, her parents have relocated and currently reside in Semi Valley, California.
– The Jayhawks and Highlanders share two common opponents in Oklahoma State and California. UC Riverside has already faced both teams, falling to both, while Kansas has both teams coming up on the schedule.
