Senior fuels first Big 12 women's win

By By Asher Fusco

Wednesday, February 7, 2007

Since arriving at Kansas at the beginning of last season, Shaquina Mosley has experienced the peaks and valleys that every athlete endures. Until recently, Mosley had seen more of the valleys than the mountains.

However, the senior guard’s performance Tuesday night in Kansas’ 70-68 victory against Colorado may have changed some things.

Porscha Weddington, freshman forward, drives up a shot passed Colorado forward, Aija Putnina.

Mosley’s arrival at Kansas in fall 2006 was much-heralded, but she failed to live up to the promise bestowed upon her. During her junior season she played only 13 minutes per game and clashed with coach Bonnie Henrickson, earning a late-season suspension.

Early on in the 2007 campaign it looked to be more of the same for the tiny point guard known as “Shaq.” A flock of underclassmen ate away at Mosley’s playing time, and she looked unimpressive in the minutes she received.

Henrickson inserted Mosley into the starting lineup and granted her the majority of the ball-handling responsibilities as the Jayhawks moved into conference play, Shaq was electric at times but turned the ball over nearly as often as she made an assist.

Against Colorado, Mosley limited her turnovers to two.

“Me and the coaching staff had a conversation yesterday,” Mosley said. “We talked about taking care of the ball and eliminating turnovers. I was just rushing things.”

Tuesday night, the pieces finally fell into place. Mosley pulled down eight rebounds, distributed five assists, grabbed three steals and scored 20 points.

The final two of her 20 points were the biggest. Mosley broke a 68-all tie with her aggressive drive through the lane and a floating shot over two Colorado defenders with 4.6 seconds remaining.

Shaq’s game-winner was even sweeter considering the fact that she turned the ball over on the Jayhawks’ final posession in the Jan. 31 loss to Texas Tech. Mosley’s performance, down to the final buzzer, was a perfect portrait of redemption.

Plays that were once turnovers became daring passes, and what many considered mental weakness turned into fortitude and grit. What was once a turnover became a game-winning layup.

Mosley was not the only contributor to the Jayhawks’ first conference victory, but her performance overshadowed her teammates. Tuesday night was all about the Jayhawks’ intense floor general. As her teammates celebrated the victory at mid-court, it became apparent that Shaq Mosley had finally reached the mountaintop.

Kansan sportswriter Asher Fusco can be contacted at afusco@kansan.com.

— Edited by James Pinick

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