Oklahoma State Surges Past Jayhawks, 65-57

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas led Oklahoma State for a total of 25 minutes and 33 seconds, but the Jayhawks found themselves at a disadvantage as time expired, falling to the Cowgirls, 65-57, Saturday night inside Allen Fieldhouse.

With just under three minutes to play, it was a one posession ballgame as each team battled to gain an advatange. The second half saw a total of five lead changes, but Oklahoma State capitlized on Kansas turnovers to finish with an 8-1 run and leave Lawrence with the win.

“We had energy defensively,” head coach Bonnie Henrickson said. “We got into passing lanes and put good pressure on the ball. They got into sets, they started to spread us out, their bigs went to work and they get back in (the game). Then we get stagnant and at some point someone has to knock down a shot or pull down an offensive rebound, but at the very least get a turnover, so you can get them in transition. It was a combination of those things and we normally don’t turn it over as much. We were giving them the ball and we didn’t even have a shot and two of those were layups.”

Kansas (13-11, 4-7) posted its 18th game this season with three or more Jayhawks finishing in double figures. Senior forward Chelsea Gardner led all scorers with 18 points and seven rebounds. Senior guard Asia Boyd chalked up her first double-double this season and fourth all-time with 11 points and 12 rebounds from the bench. Freshman guard Lauren Aldridge tallied her 10th game this season in double figures with 14 points. KU finished the night with 42 percent shooting from the field behind a 23-for-55 mark.

“Against the zone you have to spread out,” Henrickson said. “We can’t have many times where it goes inside or shoot a three and Chelsea Gardner is the only one in the lane and everyone else is standing around. You have to chase the rebound. We can’t stand and watch there has to be a second effort to rebound offensively.”

Oklahoma State (14-8, 4-7) finished with four Cowgirls in double digits. Sophomore guard Roshunda Johnson and junior guard Brittney Martin each finished with 16 points apiece. Senior forward Liz Donohoe followed with a double-double adding 13 points and 10 rebounds. Close behind was senior center Lashawn Jones with 12 points.

Kansas took six shots before it missed an attempt to start the game, going 5-for-5 from the field and not missing until the five-minute mark. Meanwhile, Oklahoma State was forced into a scoring drought that lasted over three minutes, allowing the Jayhawks to go on an 11-2 run to start off the game. Senior guard Asia Boyd pulled down one
of her game-high 12 boards, on her way to
her first double-double by adding 11 points.

Hawlfway through the first frame, Gardner hit the double figure mark as the senior had only missed one of her six shots thus far and helped Kansas spark another run. Tallying eight unanswered shots this time around, the Jayhawks kept the Cowgirls silent for two and a half minutes despite attempting four shots.

Then both teams fell into a slump. At one point, Kansas only made one shot in a series of six, while OSU was 2-for-9 from the field. KU has still managed to build a 26-15 lead over the Cowgirls. OSU’s leading scorer, Martin, had only chalked up one bucket at this point in the game.

To Kansas’ dismay, Oklahoma State managed to spark a run after a shooting trouble-spell. The Cowgirls put up a 8-0 run and kept the Jayhawks silent for over three minutes. This allowed OSU to battle back within five, 30-25. Things only got worse for Kansas as the rest of the time ticked off of the first half clock. The Jayhawks had just a two-point lead going into the break, 36-34.

Gardner led the floor in the first 20 minutes with 12 points and five rebounds. Martin and Jones were at the top for Oklahoma State, each with eight points. With a strong start, Kansas ended the half with a 53 percent shooting mark from the field (16-for-30). The Cowgirls shot 15-for-35, equaling a 43 percent from the field.

OSU tied the game, 36-36, to start the second half, but Kansas wouldn’t relinquish its lead just yet. The Jayhawks managed to keep hold of it until the 16-minute mark, but then a jumper from Martin put things in the Cowgirls’ favor, 42-41, marking their first lead of the game. Following the switch, the two teams entered into a shooting battle, which resulted in a couple lead changes.

Oklahoma State ran into trouble in the following minutes, making only one of seven shots. Unfortunately Kansas didn’t take this opportunity to spark a run and the Cowgirls were still close on the heels of Kansas’ lead.

After making four baskets in a row, Oklahoma State sparked a 7-0 run and took over the lead. Five turnovers from the Jayhawks allowed OSU to keep Kansas silent for over two minutes. The Cowgirls got a taste of their own medicine as they entered an two-minute scoring drought as well. The game still remained close with less than a minute to play, 59-56, with OSU on top.

Kansas ended the game a four-minute span of no buckets from the field. Oklahoma State’s late surge had paid off as they took home a win, 65-57.

NOTES:

Senior guard Asia Boyd turned in her first double-double of the season with an 11-point, 12-rebound effort. The double figure total was the Detroit, Michigan native’s fourth double figure performance.
Kansas surrendered its third-most offensive rebounds of the season against the Cowgirls who grabbed 19 offensive boards. The 19 offensive rebounds translated into 19 second-chance points for Oklahoma State marking the most second effort points KU has given up since allowing Oklahoma to put 23 points on the board after its first attempt on Feb. 22, 2014.
Senior forward Chelsea Gardner led all scorers with 18 points and tallied her 20th game this season in double figures.
With 12 points and 11 rebounds, senior guard Asia Boyd posted her first double-double this season and her fourth career.
Freshman guard Lauren Aldridge ended the game wit 14 points, her 10th game this season with 10 or more points.

UP NEXT:
The Jayhawks hit the road to take on West Virginia for the second time this season on Tuesday, Feb. 10 at 6 p.m. (CT) inside WVU coliseum.

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