Kansas faces No. 8 Texas in midweek matchup
Beginning in August 2017, fans will be allowed to bring only one clear plastic bag no larger than 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches or a one-gallon, clear, resealable plastic storage bag per person inside Kansas athletics events.
Fans will also be allowed a small clutch purse not to exceed 5.5 inches by 8.5 inches.
2
| Game 2: vs. No. 6 Texas |
| Wednesday, Jan. 31 |
| 7 p.m. |
| Allen Fieldhouse (16,300) |
| JTV/ESPN3 |
| Listen |
| Live Stats |
| Game Notes |
| Stats | KU | UT |
| Record | 11-10 | 16-4 |
| Points/GM | 64.6 | 83.3 |
| Field Goal % | 39.4 | 46.7 |
| 3-PT Field Goal % | 29.7 | 31.0 |
| Free Throw % | 64.3 | 70.2 |
| Rebounds/GM | 39.9 | 44.2 |
| Assists/GM | 11.8 | 16.8 |
| Blocks/GM | 3.6 | 3.9 |
| Steals/GM | 6.6 | 8.9 |
LAWRENCE, Kan. — Kansas women’s basketball faces No. 8 Texas on Wednesday, Jan. 31 at 7 p.m., inside Allen Fieldhouse. Wednesday’s game will conclude the 2017-18 series between the Jayhawks and the Longhorns. The game will be broadcast on the Jayhawk Television Network/ESPN3 and the Jayhawk Radio Network.
Around the Arena
Jayhawk fans can enjoy a performance by the Rock Chalk Dancers at halftime of KU’s matchup with the Longhorns.
Fast Breaks
• The Jayhawks are 6-9 when facing the Longhorns inside Allen Fieldhouse and 11-24 overall against Texas.
• KU has not topped UT since 2013, when the Jayhawks won three-straight games against the Longhorns from 2012 to 2013.
• Kansas is 35th in the nation for field goal percentage defense, holding its opponents to shooting 36.7 percent from the field.
• Junior guard Brianna Osorio has been KU’s most consistent offensive presence throughout Big 12 play, netting eight double-digit scoring efforts in the Jayhawks’ 10 league games thus far. Osorio scored a career-high 28 points against Texas Tech (1/17) for her first 20-point game as a Jayhawk.
• Junior guard Kylee Kopatich registered her second career double-double scoring 15 points and grabbing a career-high 12 rebounds in the Jayhawks’ 63-59 overtime loss against Kansas State (1/28).
• Kansas connected on a season-best 10 baskets from behind the 3-point line against the Wildcats (1/28). Three different Jayhawks knocked in 3-pointers for Kansas. Osorio and Kopatich each netted four 3-point baskets, while junior forward Austin Richardson scored two against K-State.
• Junior guard Christalah Lyons continues to lead the Jayhawks, offensively, scoring 14.3 points per game. The Dallas, Texas native has registered double-digit scoring efforts in 18 of KU’s 21 games this season.
• When Brandon Schneider-coached teams are leading with less than five minutes to play, his overall record is 366-15, and 21-3 at Kansas.
About the Jayhawks
Kansas looks to bounce back and end its seven-game losing skid on Wednesday night in the 2018 series finale against Texas. Along with
ending its losing streak, Kansas also looks to snap its 11-game losing streak against the Longhorns. No. 8 UT is the fifth matchup against a
nationally-ranked for the Jayhawks this season.
The Kansas offense has been paced by impressive performances from junior guards Christalah Lyons, Kylee Kopatich and Brianna Osorio throughout Big 12 play. Lyons is leading the Jayhawks with 14.6 points per game through the first 10 league games, including a 20-point performance at then-No. 7 Texas (1/13). The Dallas, Texas native’s offensive efforts rank her 13th in the conference for scoring, while also dishing out 2.9 assists in league play, which is 13th-best in the Big 12. In eight of KU’s 10 Big 12 games so far, Osorio has netted double-digit scoring efforts, including a career-high 28 points in the Jayhawks’ 68-56 loss to Texas Tech (1/17). Osorio is averaging 14.4 points per game in league play and has had career nights on two separate occasions since Big 12 play began. Additionally, the Las Vegas, Nevada native has connected on 43.5 percent of her attempts from beyond the arc and is trailing Kopatich by three treys, netting 20 3-pointers in league play. Kopatich has averaged 12.1 points thus far in Big 12 play and netted 23 3-pointers to date, which is the fourth-most 3-pointers made in conference play.
The Jayhawks are continuing their best defensive efforts this season, holding their opponents to shooting just 36.7 percent from the field for the season. KU’s field goal percentage defense is one of the best in the nation, ranking 35th among NCAA Division I programs. In its 21 games so far, Kansas is second in the Big 12 for field goal percentage defense, trailing only Baylor. The Jayhawks have held their opponents to 64.6 points per game, which is fifth-best in the league. Kansas is third in the Big 12 in 3-point field goal percentage defense, keeping its opponents to connecting on just 29.2 percent of their long-range attempts in the 2017-18 campaign.
Scouting the Longhorns
The No. 8 Longhorns enter Wednesday’s matchup with Kansas with just two losses in Big 12 play. Texas trails only Baylor in the league, owning a 7-2 record over Big 12 foes. The Longhorns are one of the conference’s best rebounding teams, leading the Big 12 with 147 offensive rebounds (16.3 per game) and trailing only Baylor and Oklahoma with 241 defensive rebounds (26.8 per game) in Big 12 play. UT is 13th in the nation for offensive rebounds per game and comes in at 37th for total rebounds with 883 through its first 20 games.
Offensively, the Longhorns are averaging 83.3 points per game and beating their opponents by an average of 19.8 points. UT owns the second-best field goal percentage in the league, shooting 46.7 percent from the field and 33.9 percent (eighth) from long range.
Texas has four players averaging double-digit scoring so far in the 2017-18 season. Junior guard Lashann Higgs leads the way for the Longhorns, netting a team-best 15.0 points per game on 112-of-192 shooting from the field. Higgs owns the best field goal percentage for UT, connecting on 58.3 percent of her attempts from the floor. Senior guard Ariel Atkins follows closely behind with 14.8 points per game, while snagging a team-best 55 steals (2.8 per game). Senior guard Brooke McCarty and junior forward/center Jatarie White average 13.1 and 10.7 points per game, respectively. Additionally, White leads the team in rebounds, grabbing 5.9 per game for the Longhorns.
Series Breakdown
Record
Texas leads the series 25-10 since its start in 1982.
Overview
The Longhorns have won the last 11 games against the Jayhawks. KU’s last win over UT came in the 2012-13 season when Kansas topped Texas, 76-38, inside Allen Fieldhouse.
Last Time Out
After Kansas led for the entire second quarter and owned a two-point advantage heading into the halftime break, a second half surge by Texas pushed the Longhorns past a scare by the Jayhawks, winning 79-62. Junior guard Christalah Lyons led Kansas with 20 points, her second 20-point performance as a Jayhawk.
This Day in Kansas Women’s Basketball History
Record on Jan. 31: 5-9
Kansas women’s basketball will play on the 31st day of January for the 15th time in program history. In 1993, Kansas recorded 17 steals, while forcing 27 K-State turnovers, in a 58-51 victory over the Wildcats. Angela Aycock led the Jayhawks with 15 points, seven rebounds and three assists.
Long-Range Leaders
For the first time in the 2017-18 campaign, the Jayhawks netted double-digit 3-pointers in a single game. KU’s 10 baskets from behind the 3-point line came from three different Jayhawks in a 63-59 overtime loss against Kansas State (1/28). Junior guards Brianna Osorio and Kylee Kopatich netted four 3-pointers each, while junior forward Austin Richardson scored two baskets from long range. The last time Kansas connected on 10 or more long-range baskets was during the 2016-17 season when the Jayhawks knocked in 11 3-pointers in a 90-75 loss to Iowa State (2/21/17). Three Kansas players are shooting 35 percent or better from behind the arc in Big 12 play. Osorio is connecting on a team-best 43.5 percent of her attempts from the 3-point line, which is the fourth-best 3-point field goal percentage in the league. Kopatich and Richardson are also boasting top-15 performances. Kopatich ranks fourth in the league with 23 3-pointers in conference play and 10th in the league for 3-point field goal percentage, connecting on 37.1 percent of her attempts. Richardson has made 35.3 percent of her shots from long-range, placing her 14th in the Big 12.
Nearing 1,000
With 290 points so far in her junior campaign, Kylee Kopatich is just 130 points away from the 1,000 point mark. Kopatich will be the 29th 1,000-point scorer in Kansas women’s basketball history should she achieve this accomplishment. The last Jayhawk to score 1,000 career points was fellow Olathe, Kansas native Natalie Knight, who ended her Jayhawk career with 1,081 points. Should Kopatich net 1,000, she would be the eighth Kansan to earn the accomplishment.
Up Next
The Jayhawks hit the road for their first matchup of the 2017-18 season with Oklahoma State. Kansas and the Cowgirls will tipoff Saturday, Feb. 3 at 7:30 p.m., inside Gallagher-Iba Arena. The game will be broadcast on the Jayhawk Radio Network.
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