Jayhawks hit the road, face Memphis

Game 3: Kansas at Memphis
Date Sunday, Nov. 20
Time 2 p.m. Central
Location Memphis, Tenn.
Venue Elma Roane Fieldhouse
Notes Kansas Notes
COVERAGE
Watch GoTigersGo.com
Radio Jayhawk Radio Network
Audio Jayhawk Radio Network
Stats GoTigersGo.com
STATS Kansas Memphis
Record 0-2 2-1
Points/Gm 63.5 58.3
Field Goal % 32.6 44.3
3-Point Field Goal % 31.3 35.5
Free Throw % 55.0 78.4
Rebounds/Gm 38.5 34.0
Assists/Gm 9.5 13.3
Blocks/Gm 5.0 2.7
Steals/Gm 9.5 7.3

LAWRENCE, Kan. Kansas women’s basketball hits the road for the first time in 2016-17 when traveling to Memphis on Sunday, Nov. 20. The Jayhawks looks to extend their winning streak to four in a row against Memphis. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m., on the Jayhawk Radio Network.
 
Following the Jayhawks
Kansas’ game at Memphis will air on the Jayhawk Radio Network, while live stats will also be available through Memphis’ website, gotigersgo.com. Additionally, fans can follow the Jayhawks on twitter at @KUwbball.
 
Fast Breaks

  • Kansas and Memphis meet on the hardwood for the fourth time in program history. KU owns a perfect 3-0 record in the overall series that began in 1979. This is the first time KU will face the Tigers in Memphis.
  • Memphis is the second-straight KU opponent from the American Athletic Conference. The Jayhawks have compiled a 13-9 mark against programs from the AAC, including a 0-1 record this season.
  • In the month of November, KU is 122-45 all time and has won eight of its last 13 contests in the 11th month of the year.
  • Kansas has a record of 364-410 away from Allen Fieldhouse.
  • After completing the 2015-16 season with the youngest team in the Big 12, Kansas will enter this season with one of the conference’s most experienced squads. The 2016-17 Jayhawk roster includes 12 returning players, more than any other Big 12 team, and nine upperclassmen.
  • The Jayhawks are the only squad in the Big 12 without a freshman on their roster, and one of two programs in the country without any freshmen.

 
About the Jayhawks
Kansas dropped to 0-2 on the season after falling to SMU, 75-63, on Wednesday night inside Allen Fieldhouse. The loss evened the series against the Mustangs and was the first victory for SMU in Lawrence. KU heads to Memphis this weekend looking for its first win of the 2016-17 season.
 
Slow starts and scoring droughts plagued the Jayhawks in each of their first two games. After just two games, Kansas is shooting 32.6 percent from the field, while connecting on 31.3 percent of its shots from beyond the arc. A pair of Jayhawks are shooting above 50 percent from the 3-point line, including sophomore guard Kylee Kopatich’s team-best 60 percent.
 
Redshirt sophomore guard McKenzie Calvert is averaging a team-high 18.5 points per game after recording back-to-back double-figure scoring performances to start the year. Redshirt junior guard Jessica Washington is also averaging double digits with 14 points per game after notching double-figure scoring efforts in the first two games of the season.
 
Sophomore guard Aisia Robertson leads the team with 6.0 boards per game and was one rebound shy of her first career double-double against SMU. Robertson finished the night with 11 points and nine boards. Defensively, the Jayhawks are averaging 38.5 rebounds and 5.0 blocks per game.
 
Scouting the Tigers
Memphis enters the weekend with a 2-1 record three games into the 2016-17 campaign. The Tigers opened the season with a 69-60 win over Missouri State before falling to Samford, 48-42. Prior to Sunday’s matchup, Memphis collected its second victory of the season on the road against the Big Ten’s Illinois, 64-54.
 
Head coach Melissa McFerrin enters her eighth season at the helm of the Memphis women’s basketball program. Last season, McFerrin guided the Tigers to an 18-13 mark, including a 12-6 finish in conference play. Prior to the start of the season, McFerrin and the Tigers were selected to finish the American Athletic Conference in seventh place, as voted on by the league coaches.
 
Three games into the season, junior forward Cheyenne Creighton leads the team with 13.7 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. Creighton has connected on 17 of her 30 (.567) attempts from the floor, and is one of three Tigers shooting above 50 percent from the field. Junior guard Brea Elmore is also averaging double figures with 10 points per game behind a 42.9 shooting percentage. Senior guard Taylor Williams is averaging 9.3 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, while also tied for the team lead with six steals.
 
This Day in Kansas Women’s Basketball History
Record on Nov. 20: 5-4
Sunday’s game against Memphis is the 10th contest to be played on Nov. 20 in program history. The Jayhawks have won two of the last three games played on Nov. 20. In 1999 on Nov. 20, Kansas defeated another American Athletic Conference team, Houston, 70-56 on the road. A pair of Jayhawks posted double-doubles in the season-opening victory. Brooke Reves recorded 13 points and 11 rebounds, while Jaclyn Johnson contributed 10 points and 13 rebounds.
 
No New Kids on the Block
After having one of the youngest teams in the country last season, head coach Brandon Schneider now fields one of the most experienced. Schneider’s 2016-17 roster does not have any freshmen. The Jayhawks are the only program in the Big 12 and one of two in the country to not have any freshmen on their roster. SMU is the only other team that doesn’t field a freshman.
 
First Impressions
Redshirt sophomore McKenzie Calvert netted 20 points in her debut in the Crimson and Blue, just one point shy of her career-high set during her rookie campaign at USC. Calvert’s 20 points is the most for a Jayhawk in their debut since 2002 when Crystal Kemp recorded 21 points against UTP (11/24) in her first game for KU.
 
Up Next
Kansas returns to Allen Fieldhouse on Wednesday, Nov. 23 when hosting Oral Roberts at 6 p.m. The game will air on the Jayhawk Television Network and the Jayhawk Radio Network.
 
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