Kansas welcomes Rhode Island to Allen Fieldhouse

Game 9: Kansas vs. Rhode Island
Date Sunday, Dec. 11
Time 2 p.m. Central
Location Lawrence, Kan.
Venue Allen Fieldhouse
COVERAGE
TV Jayhawk Television Network/ESPN3
Radio Jayhawk Radio Network
Audio Jayhawk Radio Network
Stats KUAthletics.com
STATS KU URI
Record 3-5 4-6
Points/Gm 63.5 60.7
Field Goal % 34.3 37.4
3-Point Field Goal % 29.7 26.5
Free Throw % 66.2 55.4
Rebounds/Gm 43.2 40.3
Assists/Gm 12.6 12.3
Blocks/Gm 4.4 5.7
Steals/Gm 9.6 9.0

Game Notes // Buy Tickets

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas women’s basketball continues its five-game homestand with Rhode Island on Sunday, Dec. 11. The first meeting between the two programs is the final game before the Jayhawks take a six-day break from competition to focus on finals. Sunday’s game tips off at 2 p.m., inside Allen Fieldhouse, on the Jayhawk Television Network/ESPN3 and the Jayhawk Radio Network. 

Around the Arena
Sunday is KU’s annual Toys for Tots game and those who bring an unwrapped toy to the game will receive $5 admission. It is also Jay Days inside Allen Fieldhouse with special offers at the concession stand.

Fast Breaks

  • The Jayhawks and Rams meet for the first time on the hardwood in program history. Rhode Island is the second opponent this season that KU has faced for the first time.
  • The Jayhawks have faced seven of eight programs from the Atlantic 10 Conference and are 10-3 against teams from that league. 
  • In the month of December, the Jayhawks own an overall mark of 186-83 (.679). Under head coach Brandon Schneider, Kansas is 2-7 in the 12th month of the year. 
  • KU is averaging 23.6 points off the bench this season. The Jayhawks’ reserves were responsible for a season-high 37 points in an overtime win over North Dakota (11/27). Kansas has recorded 25 or more points off the bench in three of its last four games.
  • Kansas has played three overtime games in its last four outings and is 2-1 on the season in extended games. Under head coach Brandon Schneider, the Jayhawks are 3-1 in overtime games.
  • The Jayhawks recorded their best performance in the paint at Alabama (12/4) after scoring 34 points inside. On the year, Kansas is averaging 23.2 points in the paint. 
  • The Jayhawks outrebounded Harvard, 46-39, marking the fourth time this season and own a 2-2 mark when grabbing more rebounds than the other team.
  • Kansas finished the first half against Harvard (12/7) shooting 60 percent (6-of-10) from beyond the 3-point arc. KU ended the night connecting on 38.1 percent of its shots from the 3-point line, with six different Jayhawks contributing from long range.

About the Jayhawks
Kansas looks to snap its three-game losing skid on Sunday afternoon against Rhode Island. After losing the last three games in a row, KU dropped to 3-5 on the season and 2-3 inside Allen Fieldhouse. 

A pair of upperclassmen have put up big numbers for KU as of late. Junior forward Chayla Cheadle followed up her first career double-double against Alabama (12/4) with a team-best 11 points against the Harvard Crimson (12/7), marking her third-straight double-figure scoring performance. Cheadle is inching closer to averaging double-digits with 9.4 points per contest. Redshirt sophomore McKenzie Calvert and redshirt junior Jessica Washington are both averaging double figures on the season with 13.9 and 10.0 points per game, respectively. 

Senior forward Jada Brown grabbed a career-best 10 rebounds, her first double-digit rebound effort, against Harvard (12/7).  Cheadle is averaging a team-best 6.4 rebounds per game. 

The Jayhawks are averaging 63.5 points per game after eight contests and own a scoring margin of -6.0. KU is connecting on 34.3 percent of its attempts from the floor and 29.7 percent of its shots from behind the 3-point line. Defensively, Kansas is averaging 43.2 rebounds, 9.6 steals and 4.4 blocks per game. 

Scouting the Rams
Rhode Island enters Sunday’s matchup having lost its last three games, dropping to 4-6 on the year. The Rams head to Allen Fieldhouse for their seventh road contest of the season and are 2-3 on the road. 

In her third season at the helm of Rams women’s basketball, head coach Daynia La-Force returns 11 letterwinners and three starters from a season ago. Rhode Island was selected to finish the Atlantic 10 Conference in ninth place, while  junior guard Charise Wilson was named to the A-10 Preseason First-Team All-Conference Team and the league’s preseason All-Defensive Team.

Rhode Island is averaging 60.7 points and has a scoring margin of -9.7. The Rams are shooting 37.4 percent from the field and 26.5 percent from the 3-point line. Wilson leads Rhode Island with 17.5 points per game, the lone Ram averaging double figures. Defensively, URI is averaging 40.3 rebounds, 5.7 blocks and 9 steals per game.  

This Day in Kansas Women’s Basketball History
Record on Dec. 11: 6-2
Sunday’s game against Rhode Island is the ninth contest to be played on Dec. 11 in program history. Kansas won its first five games played on Dec. 11 before suffering its first loss on the 11th day of the month. It took double overtime, but Kansas overcame a 14-point halftime deficit to defeat Wisconsin, 90-87, on Dec. 11, 2005. Crystal Kemp scored 28 points and Erica Hallman, who just missed becoming the first Jayhawk to record a triple-double since Angela Aycock, led the Jayhawks in the spirited comeback. Hallman recorded 24 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds.

Harvard Leftovers
After another closely contested matchup, Kansas women’s basketball wasn’t able to overcome a fourth quarter Harvard run, as the Crimson went on to record their first victory, 69-59, over the Jayhawks on Wednesday night inside Allen Fieldhouse. 

With the win, the Crimson (8-1) extended their win streak to eight games, while KU (3-5) dropped its third game in a row after having won three straight. Sophomore guard Aisia Robertson scored five unanswered points to slow Harvard in the final minutes of the game, but the lead had grown too large to mount a comeback.

Junior guard Chayla Cheadle led the Jayhawks with 11 points, her third-straight double figure performance. Redshirt junior guard Jessica Washington and senior guard Timeka O’Neal each added nine points of their own with O’Neal shooting 3-of-4 from behind the arc. Senior forward Jada Brown grabbed a career-best 10 rebounds, her first double-digit effort off the glass as a Jayhawk.

Up Next
The Jayhawks continue their five-game homestand with Arizona on Saturday, Dec. 17, at 12 p.m. The matchup will air on the Jayhawk Television Network/ESPN3 and the Jayhawk Radio Network. Saturday is public safety day inside Allen Fieldhouse with displays on the concourse and safety vehicles outside. Admission is $5 for all first responders. It’s also Jay Days where concessions will offer special pricing on popcorn and hot dogs. 

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