Jayhawks Continue Homestand Versus Oral Roberts
Dec. 19, 2011
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LAWRENCE, Kan. – Looking to keep its undefeated home season intact, Kansas women’s basketball will take on Oral Roberts (7-4) on Wednesday, Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. At 9-1 overall, KU has amassed at least nine non-conference victories for the fifth-straight season.
How to Follow the Jayhawks
Wednesday’s contest will be televised on Knology and the Jayhawk Radio Network will broadcast the game over the airwaves. Fans can also watch online (for a fee) at www.KUAthletics.com.
Fast Breaks
– Kansas is second in the nation with a 50.6 field goal percentage led by Carolyn Davis’ 69.0 percent mark, which also ranks second nationally (through games on Dec. 18).
– Kansas is 8-0 at home this season.
– The Jayhawks have defeated their opponents by 20 or more points five times in 2011-12, including a 25-point win margin (77-52) against UMKC on Dec. 17.
– KU had just six turnovers versus Wisconsin on Dec. 8 which was one shy of the school record for fewest turnovers in a game. The team’s six miscues were its fewest since turning the ball over six times against New Orleans on Dec. 3, 2005.
– Kansas has outrebounded nine of its 10 opponents.
– Carolyn Davis is coming off her best shooting night of the season going 8-for-9 (88.9 percent) versus UMKC on Dec. 17. She continues to lead the Big 12 with a 69.0 field percentage this year. Additionally, the forward is just one block shy of cracking KU’s top 10 career blocks list.
– Angel Goodrich has played at least 35 minutes in each of the last four contests.
– Bunny Williams turned in two points in six minutes versus UMKC Saturday. Despite limited playing time, Williams has managed to score in every game she has appeared in this season.
About the Jayhawks
For the fifth-straight season, Kansas notched at least nine non-conference wins with its 77-52 victory over UMKC last Saturday to improve to 9-1 in 2011-12. Four Jayhawks reached the double-digit point mark, including senior Aishah Sutherland and juniors Angel Goodrich and Carolyn Davis, who are averaging double-figures for the season. Davis is tops on the team contributing 16.1 points per game and is second in the nation with a 69.0 field goal percentage. As a team, KU ranks second in the country shooting 50.6 percent from the field. Sutherland and Goodrich also rank in the top 50 nationally for field goal percentage and add 13.5 and 12.4 ppg, respectively. Goodrich has been a threat from both ends of the court this season as her 7.7 assists per game are second in the nation, while her 4.4 steals per outing rank third. Junior Monica Engelman joined the trio in the starting lineup versus the Kangaroos for the first time in five games and responded with 14 points. One of the top free throw shooters in the nation, she is adding 8.7 ppg and 2.9 rpg. Sutherland leads the Jayhawks on the boards pulling down 9.2 caroms per outing to rank fourth in the Big 12 and is one of six conference players to rank in the league’s top 15 for scoring and rebounding.
Scouting Oral Roberts
Following an 89-80 overtime loss to Grambling State last Thursday, Oral Roberts is 7-4 overall after opening the season with five-straight wins. Kevi Luper, the only player to start all 11 games for ORU, has been the Golden Eagles’ top offensive threat producing 25.0 ppg and also has a team-high 51 steals. She is an effective three-point shooter going 25-for-59 (42.4 percent) from beyond the arc. Jordan Pyle is the only other player averaging double-digit points as she adds 12.5 ppg on 53.9 percent shooting from the floor to go along with a team-best 6.8 rpg. Georgia Jones (8.9 ppg) and Jaci Bigham (7.5 ppg) round out Oral Roberts’ top scorers. Bigham is one of the teams’ top free throw shooters with an 84.0 percentage from the foul line. As a team, the Golden Eagles have been successful from the charity stripe shooting 78.9 percent.
Series History
Kansas is undefeated all-time versus Oral Roberts holding a 10-0 advantage in the series. The teams will be playing in Lawrence for the seventh time and last met on Nov. 15, 2009, a 106-80 KU victory. The Jayhawks have won the last four games by an average of 41.5 points and have reached 100 points in three of those contests.
Top Guns
In the most recent national statistics release, Kansas continues to be one of the top field goal shooters in the nation with a 50.6 shooting percentage to rank second. The Jayhawks’ accuracy is helped by the fact that 53.5 percent of the team’s points have been scored in the paint. Carolyn Davis, Angel Goodrich and Aishah Sutherland all rank in the top 50 nationally for field goal percentage.
Up Next
Kansas will return to action after the holidays when it welcomes Sam Houston State to Allen Fieldhouse on Wednesday, Dec. 28 for a 7 p.m. contest.
