Jayhawks set for Dillons Sunflower Showdown

Game Notes

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas women’s basketball concludes its two-game road stint with the first installment of the Dillons Sunflower Showdown. The Jayhawks travel to in-state rival Kansas State on Wednesday, Jan. 11. The first of two meetings during the 2017 campaign tips off at 7 p.m., inside Bramlage Coliseum.

Following the Jayhawks
Kansas’ game at Kansas State will air on Cox Cable and the Jayhawk Radio Network, while live stats will also be available through K-State’s website, kstatesports.com. Additionally, fans can follow the Jayhawks on twitter at  
@KUwbball.

Fast Breaks

• Wednesday’s matchup is the 115th meeting between the two programs. Kansas State leads the all-time series 68-46, which began in 1969. 
• The Jayhawks have a 16-31 mark inside Bramlage Coliseum and haven’t won in Manhattan since 2014.
• Kansas looks to snap a five-game losing skid to K-State.
• Six of Kansas’ first seven Big 12 Conference games are against a nationally-ranked opponent. Kansas is 0-3 against teams ranked in the top 25 this season.
• The Jayhawks own a 119-215 all-time record against Big 12 Conference foes. 
• When Brandon Schneider-coached teams are leading with less than five minutes to play, his overall record is 355-12, and 9-0 at Kansas.
• Kansas has played four overtime games in 2016-17 and is 3-1 on the season in extended games. Under Schneider, the Jayhawks are 4-1 in overtime games.
• Kansas’ bench is averaging 22.9 points per game and recorded its best effort of the season after providing 42 points against UC Riverside (12/21).
• The Jayhawks are averaging 14.3 offensive rebounds per game, good for the third-best average in the Big 12.
• KU forced Texas (1/4) to turn the ball over 31 times, a season-high mark for the Jayhawks’ defense. 
• Kansas recorded 14 steals against Iowa State (1/8), marking the eighth time this season to record 10 or more steals, including three of the last four games. 
• Kansas dished out 14 assists against the Cyclones and has recorded 10 or more assists in five of its last eight games.
• Redshirt junior guard Jessica Washington opened Big 12 Conference action with three-straight games as the top scorer. Washington is third in the league in scoring in Big 12 only games with 16.8 points per contest. 

About the Jayhawks
With the loss to Iowa State over the weekend, Kansas dropped to 6-9 on the season and 0-4 in Big 12 Conference action. The Jayhawks look to snap their four-game losing skid to start league play and five-game losing streak to Kansas State on Wednesday night when KU travels to Manhattan for the first of two hardwood editions of the Dillons Sunflower Showdown. 

The Jayhawks are averaging 63.6 points per game with a scoring margin of -6.7. KU is making 34.2 percent of its shots from the field, while converting 28.1 percent of its attempts from the 3-point line. Kansas is averaging 42.1 boards per game. The Jayhawks have also swiped 9.7 steals per contest, good for the third-most by any team in the conference. 

Redshirt junior guard Jessica Washington led all scorers in KU’s first three league games of the season. In Big 12 Conference only games, Washington is third in the league with 16.8 per game. On the year, Washington leads Kansas with 14.1 points per contest. Redshirt sophomore guard McKenzie Calvert is coming off of a 12-point effort at Iowa State (1/8), marking her team-leading ninth double-digit scoring performance of the year. Senior forward Sydney Umeri grabbed a career-high nine boards at Iowa State and is averaging 3.0 rebounds per game. Umeri is also shooting a team-best 41.9 percent from the floor. 

Scouting the Wildcats
Kansas State started the 2016-17 campaign with a nine-game winning streak before suffering its first loss of the season to No. 1 UConn. On the year, the Wildcats have a 12-4 mark and a 2-2 record in Big 12 Conference action. The Wildcats recently entered the top 25 polls for the first time since 2012. 

The Wildcats are averaging 68.8 points per game heading into the game against the Jayhawks and have a +10.4 scoring margin. Kansas State is connecting on 43.1 percent of its shots from the field and 32.9 percent from long range. Defensively, K-State is averaging 39.5 rebounds, 7.7 steals and 4.2 blocks per game.

Senior center Breanna Lewis is pacing Kansas State’s offense with a team-high 14.4 points per game, while senior guard Kindred Wesemann is just behind scoring 13.9 points per contest. Lewis is connecting on 59.1 percent of her attempts from the floor and also leads the team with 8.9 rebounds per game. Lewis not only makes her presence known on offense, but also defensively with a team-best 31 blocks. Junior guard Shaelyn Martin has converted a team-best 38.5 percent of her attempts from long range and leads the team with 58 assists. 

This Day in Kansas Women’s Basketball History
Record on Jan. 11: 4-5
Wednesday night is the 10th time in program history that Kansas has played on Jan. 11. On Jan. 11, 1997, Kansas extended its win streak to  five games with a  79-49 victory over Baylor. The Jayhawks had five score in double figures led by Jennifer Trapp with 15 points. Nakia Sanford recorded 13 points, while Angie Halbleib, Tamecka Dixon and Patience Grayer each recorded 11 points.

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