Kansas Suffers First Home Loss of the Season Against Arkansas

Junior Chelsea Gardner contributed 14 points and seven rebounds against Arkansas.

Kansas 53, Arkansas 64
Allen Fieldhouse // Lawrence, Kan.

	1st	2nd	FInal
Arkansas	31	33	64
Kansas	30	23	53

Box Score (.pdf)

Statistical Leaders
	Kansas	Arkansas
Pts	Harper (19)	Peak (20)
Rebs	Gardner (7)	Bowen (8)
Asts	Harper (7)	Berna (4)
Stls	Harper (5)	Bowen (3)
Blks	Boyd Manning-Allen (1)	Bowen (2)

Stats at a Glance	KU	AR
FG Percentage	41.2	41.5
3-Point FG Percentage	16.7	41.7
FT Percentage	81.8	78.9
Offensive Rebounds	10	11
Defensive Rebounds	23	21
Total Rebounds	33	32
Turnovers	22	17
Points in the Paint	32	24
Points off Turnovers	12	25
Second Chance Points	4	6
Fast Break Points	15	2
Bench Points	10	0

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Senior guard Cece Harper led the charge with a season-high 19 points, but it wasn’t enough as the Jayhawks fell just short against Arkansas, 64-53, Wednesday night, inside historic Allen Fieldhouse.

Harper, a San Antonio, Texas native, also added season-bests in assists (seven), rebounds (six) and tied a career-high with five steals as Kansas (4-4) fell short against Arkansas (9-0). Harper reached her season-best mark in points with a career-high eight field goals on a career-best 16 attempts.

Junior forward Chelsea Gardner added 14 points and seven rebounds for the Jayhawks. Gardner has scored in double-figures in all eight games so far this season for the Jayhawks.

Arkansas was led by senior forward Keira Peak as she matched her season-high with 20 points. Peak received help from freshman forward Jessica Jackson who added 15 points and junior guard Calli Berna, who added 10 points and eight rebounds to keep the Razorbacks undefeated.

The Jayhawks opened the game with three fast points, but the Razorbacks responded quickly as Arkansas went on a 9-2 run to take a, 9-5, lead with 14:42 remaining in the first half. The Jayhawks quieted the Razorback run as they kept even with their opponent and held them to a, 13-9, lead with 7:47 remaining in the half.

Following a media timeout Arkansas jumped out to a, 21-14, lead, but that didn’t last long as the Jayhawks brought it back within two, 21-19, with 4:14 remaining in the half. Kansas entered halftime trailing, 31-30. Harper led the Kansas attack with 13 points and Gardner added added six points and five rebounds.

The two teams traded baskets early in the second half, but the Jayhawks went on a 7-2 run to take the lead, 39-38, at the 14:12 mark. Arkansas came right back at the Jayhawks with an 11-2 run and gave them an eight point lead, 49-41, with 10:21 remaining. As the teams went at it late into the game, the Jayhawks pulled within three, 54-51, with 2:13 remaining. While the Jayhawks fought hard their comeback fell just short.

UP NEXT:
The Jayhawks will host Texas Southern in the second game of a six-game home stand on Sunday, Dec. 8, at 2 p.m., inside historic Allen Fieldhouse.

Game Notes
Kansas 53, Arkansas 64
Dec. 4, 2013

KANSAS STARTERS (SEASON/CAREER): Sr. Markisha Hawkins (3-9), Sr. CeCe Harper (3-24), Jr. Bunny Williams (8-13), Jr. Chelsea Gardner (8-37) and Jr. Natalie Knight (8-61)

KANSAS’ LOSS…

Drops the Jayhawks’ all-time record to 761-537
Drops KU’s all-time non-conference record to 328-152 and 91-26 in non-conference play under head coach Bonnie Henrickson.
Gives Arkansas a 4-3 advantage in the all-time series against the Jayhawks and makes Henrickson 1-2 in her career against the Razorbacks.
Makes Henrickson’s record to 162-139 at KU and 320-200 overall.
Drops the Jayhawks 393-151 all-time in Allen Fieldhouse and 117-50 under Henrickson when playing at home.
Drops Kansas to 179-78 all-time and 45-17 under Henrickson during the month of December.
Drops KU to 1-2 when playing on Wednesday during the 2013-14 season. The Jayhawks are 44-42 when playing on Wednesday under Henrickson.

TEAM NOTES

The Kansas defense held the Razorbacks scoreless for nearly a five minute span in the first half, from 15:00-10:07.
The Jayhawks used a 5-0 run with 1:21 left in the first half to take their second lead of the half, 30-29.
With 17:08 left in the game, KU scored five-straight points to take a, 37-36, lead with 16:40 left in the game.
The Jayhawks used a 6-0 run with 5:32 left in the first half, to get within three, 52-49, with 2:49 left in the game.
Kansas tied a season-high with 22 turnovers, tying a mark it previously set against Oral Roberts (11/10).

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

CeCe Harper scored 11 of the Jayhawks’ first 14 points. The senior guard scored 13 of her season-high 19 points in the first half. Harper also finished the game with season-bests in assists (seven), rebounds (six) and tied a career-high with five steals. The San Antonio, Texas native, recorded her season-best point total with a career high eight field goals made and 16 field goals attempted.
Asia Boyd recorded a three-point play the old-fashioned way, with 4:15 left in the first half. The junior guard also added four rebounds, two assists and her first blocked shot of the season.
Chelsea Gardner finished the game with 14 points and seven rebounds. The junior forward has scored in double-figures in all eight of the Jayhawks games thus far.
Freshman guard Keyla Morgan finished the game with a season-high three rebounds, eclipsing her previous best of two, which she recorded against Oral Roberts (11/10) and Duke (11/30).

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