Jayhawks welcome No. 16 Longhorns to Allen Fieldhouse

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LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas women’s basketball returns to Allen Fieldhouse to host No. 16 Texas on Wednesday, Jan. 4, for its third-straight contest against a nationally-ranked opponent. Tipoff against the Longhorns is slated for 7 p.m., on the Jayhawk Television Network/ESPN3 and the Jayhawk Radio Network.

Around the Arena
At Wednesday night’s game, the world-renowned Red Panda will perform at halftime of the contest against No. 16 Texas.

Fast Breaks

• Kansas and Texas face off for the 33rd time in program history on Jan. 4. The Longhorns own a 22-10 lead in the all-time series that began in 1982. 
• KU looks to snap its eight-game losing skid to Texas in the first meeting of the season against the Longhorns. The Jayhawks are 6-8 when hosting UT inside Allen Fieldhouse.
• Wednesday’s contest is the third game in a row where KU has faced a nationally-ranked opponent. Kansas is 0-2 against teams ranked in the top 25 this season.
• The Jayhawks own a 119-213 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 24.0 points per game and recorded its best effort of the season after providing 42 points against UC Riverside (12/21).
• The Jayhawks are averaging 43.8 rebounds per game, good for the third-best average in the Big 12 and 21st in the nation. 
• Redshirt junior guard Jessica Washington led all scorers in back-to-back Big 12 games. First, Washington netted a game-high 22 points against Oklahoma (12/29). At Baylor (1/1), Washington recorded 18 points. 
• Washington has netted double figures in each of the last five games, tying redshirt sophomore guard McKenzie Calvert with a team-high eight double-digit scoring efforts. 
• Calvert and Washington are averaging a team-best 14.2 points per game, the only Jayhawks averaging double figures so far this season. 
• Junior forward Chayla Cheadle has grabbed eight or more boards on four occasions. Cheadle has recorded two double-digit rebound efforts and leads the squad with 6.1 rebounds per game.

About the Jayhawks
With the loss to No. 3 Baylor over the weekend, Kansas dropped to 6-7 on the season and 0-2 in Big 12 Conference action. The Jayhawks look to snap their two-game losing skid and eight-game losing streak to Texas on Wednesday night when the Longhorns travel to Lawrence. The contest is the third-straight game against a nationally-ranked opponent for KU. 

The Jayhawks are averaging 64.8 points per game with a scoring margin of -4.5. KU is making 34.8 percent of its shots from the field, while converting 29.6 percent of its attempts from the 3-point line. Kansas is averaging 43.8 boards per game, the third-best rebounding average in the Big 12. The Jayhawks have also swiped 9.2 steals per contest, good for the third-most by any team in the conference. 

Redshirt junior guard Jessica Washington turned in her fifth-straight double-digit scoring effort against nationally-ranked Baylor. Washington led all scorers in the New Year’s Day matchup with 18 points. The Tulsa, Oklahoma product, along with redshirt sophomore guard McKenzie Calvert, are averaging 14.2 points per game to lead the Jayhawks. Junior forward Chayla Cheadle leads the team with 6.1 rebounds per contest.

Scouting the Longhorns
After starting the season 2-4, No. 16 Texas has won its last six games, including a 2-0 mark to open Big 12 Conference play. The Longhorns are 0-1 on the road in league action and 1-2 when playing away from Austin. 

The Longhorns are averaging 73.9 points per game heading into the game against the Jayhawks and have a +14.2 scoring margin. Texas is connecting on 45.8 percent of its shots from the field and 34.5 percent from long range. Defensively, the Longhorns are averaging 42.8 rebounds, 8.0 steals and 6.2 blocks per game.

Junior guard Brooke McCarty is pacing Texas’ offense with a team-high 13.3 points per game, while junior guard Ariel Atkins is just behind scoring 13.1 points per contest. McCarty is connecting on 47.5 percent of her attempts from the floor, including a 25-of-60 (.417) mark from long range. Senior center Kelsey Lang is averaging 10.7 points per game and a team-best 8.8 rebounds per contest. Lang also leads the team in blocks per game with 2.1. The final Longhorn to average double digits is freshman guard/forward Joyner Holmes, who is netting 10.2 points per contest.

The Series Breakdown
Record
After winning both contests in 2015-16, Texas leads the all-time series 22-10.

Overview
Wednesday night marks the 33rd meeting between the two programs, a series that began in 1982. Kansas has lost its last eight games to the Longhorns. However, before the eight-game losing skid Kansas had won three-straight games over Texas. KU owns a 6-8 mark against the Longhorns inside Allen Fieldhouse. 

Last Time Out
A night after Kansas stunned TCU to end its 20-game losing streak, the Jayhawks caused problems for the Big 12 Championships’ No. 2 seed for most of the evening. Trailing by only eight points after halftime, Kansas continued to battle in third quarter, a period that has persistently caused problems for the Jayhawks. Texas was not able to grow its lead, tying Kansas 15-15 in the quarter, and had to rely on a 21-point fourth quarter and 58 percent shooting to seal the win.

This Day in Kansas Women’s Basketball History
Record on Jan. 4: 13-1
Wednesday night is the 14th time in program history that Kansas has played on Jan. 4. In one of the most recent Jan. 4 contests during the 2012  season, KU knocked off then-nationally-ranked Texas, 72-67. Monica Engelman and Angel Goodrich paced the Jayhawks with season-high performances. Goodrich connected on 6-of-11 attempts from the field and added eight free throws as she turned in a career-high 22 points. 

Up Next
The Jayhawks hit the road for a two-game tilt away from Allen Fieldhouse starting Sunday, Jan. 8 at Iowa State. Tipoff in Ames is slated for 1 p.m., on ESPNU and the Jayhawk Radio Network. 

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