Kansas wraps up nonconference play with UC Riverside

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LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas women’s basketball concludes its 2016-17 nonconference slate with UC Riverside on Wednesday, Dec. 21, inside Allen Fieldhouse. The matchup is the final tuneup before the Jayhawks begin Big 12 Conference action later this month. Tipoff against the Highlanders is slated for 7 p.m., on the Jayhawk Television Network/ESPN3 and the Jayhawk Radio Network. 

Fast Breaks

• The Jayhawks and Highlanders meet for the third time in program history inside Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas leads the overall series, 2-0.
• The Jayhawks have faced six programs from the Big West Conference and are 6-7 against teams from that league. 
• In the month of December, the Jayhawks own an overall mark of 188-83 (.678). Under head coach Brandon Schneider, Kansas is 4-7 in the 12th month of the year. 
• Kansas has played three overtime games in 2016-17 and is 2-1 on the season in extended games. Under Schneider, the Jayhawks are 3-1 in overtime games.
• Kansas’ bench is averaging 24.3 points per game and is coming off its best effort of the season after providing 38 points against Arizona (12/17).
• Kansas finished the game with 48 boards and outrebounded Arizona, 48-35. Kansas has grabbed more boards than its opponents in each of the last three games. 
• The backcourt duo of redshirt junior Jessica Washington and redshirt sophomore McKenzie Calvert each shot 50 percent or higher against the Wildcats. Washington finished the game 6-for-11 (.545), while Calvert made five of her 10 attempts (.500). 
• Washington led Kansas in scoring after netting 16 points, good for her fifth double-digit scoring effort of the season. Calvert finished just behind with 14 points, marking her sixth game in double figures. 
• Senior Timeka O’Neal made one of KU’s seven 3-pointers against the Wildcats. The Raytown, Missouri native is shooting 47.4 percent from long range. She has made a total of 18 shots from beyond the arc. 
• KU’s 75-51 victory marked the second game in a row resulting in Kansas winning by 20 or more points. 

About the Jayhawks
Kansas enters Wednesday night’s matchup with back-to-back wins by 20 or more points after defeating Arizona, 75-51, on Saturday. The Jayhawks improved to 5-5 on the season with the victory over the Wildcats and have won five their last eight games.

After two games in a row scoring 70 or more points, KU increased its points per game average to 65.5, while its scoring margin improved to +1.2 on the year. The Jayhawks are shooting 36.2 percent from the field and are coming off their best game of the season after connecting on 47.4 percent of their attempts. From the 3-point line, Kansas is making 30.4 percent of its shots. Defensively, KU is averaging 44.6 boards, 9.4 steals and 4.1 blocks per contest.

Redshirt junior guard Jessica Washington and redshirt sophomore guard McKenzie Calvert led Kansas against Arizona with 16 and 14 points, respectively. The backcourt duo each shot above 50 percent with 10 ore more attempts in their last outing. On the season, Calvert and Washington are averaging double figures with 13.9 and 11.4 points per contest, respectively. Five Jayhawks are connecting on at least 40 percent of their shots, led by senior forward Jada Brown’s 48.4 shooting percentage. 

Scouting the Highlanders
UC Riverside comes to Allen Fieldhouse with a four-game win streak on the line. The Highlanders are 5-3 on the season and after winning just one of their first four games, UCR has responded by winning four-straight contests. 

Going into Wednesday’s game, the Highlanders are averaging 64.1 points per contest with a +1.8 scoring margin. UCR is making 43.8 percent of its attempts from the field and draining 35.9 percent of its shots from long range. Defensively, UC Riverside is averaging 33.1 boards, seven assists and 4.3 blocks per game. 

After eight starts, senior forward Rejane Verin leads the squad with 16.6 points and 7.1 boards per game, along with 4.5 assists and 1.4 blocks per contest. Junior guard Clemence Lefebvre is shooting a team-best 51.2 percent after making 22 of her 43 attempts from the floor. 

This Day in Kansas Women’s Basketball History
Record on Dec. 21: 9-9
Wednesday’s game against UC Riverside is the 19th contest to be played on Dec. 21 in program history. KU’s last victory on Dec. 21 came during the 2011-12 season. On the heels of another big night from Carolyn Davis, the Jayhawks beat Oral Roberts, 85-68, in Allen Fieldhouse. Davis recorded season highs in both points and rebounds, with 25 and 11, respectively.

Swipe and score
The Jayhawks are averaging 17 points per game off of their opponents’ turnovers. Kansas is forcing 18.6 turnovers per contest, including 9.4 steals. Sophomore guard Kylee Kopatich leads the squad with 16 steals, while redshirt sophomore guard McKenzie Calvert and sophomore guard Aisia Robertson have 14 and 13 steals, respectively. 

There’s No Place Like Home
Named in honor the late Dr. F.C. “Phog” Allen, the Jayhawks’ head coach for 39 years, Allen Fieldhouse is labeled by many as one of the best places in America to watch a college basketball game. This astounding basketball monument has been home to Jayhawk basketball for 63 years, including the inaugural year of KU women’s basketball (1969). In 48 seasons playing inside Allen Fieldhouse, Kansas women’s basketball has amassed a 414-179 (.698) record when playing in front of a home crowd. 

Up Next
The Jayhawks open Big 12 Conference action with Oklahoma on Thursday, Dec. 29. Tipoff against the Sooners is slated for 7 p.m., inside Allen Fieldhouse, on the Jayhawk Television Network/ESPN3 and the Jayhawk Radio Network. 

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