Bragging rights at stake tonight in Columbia

Thursday, March 1, 2007

A late-season match-up between two of the worst teams in the Big 12 Conference might seem irrelevant, but Kansas coach Bonnie Henrickson sees the importance of tonight’s game at Missouri.

“We’re still playing hard,” Henrickson said. “This game is potentially a great momentum builder.”

Along with crucial momentum for next week’s conference tournament, the winner will take home border showdown bragging rights.

KANSAN FILE PHOTO

Freshman forward Sade Morris

Kansas lost last time the teams met, 67-57, but the Februrary 14 game was close until the final minutes. If the Jayhawks can exact some revenge, it will be Henrickson’s fourth victory against the Tigers in seven tries.

In that game, Kansas had no answer for Missouri center EeTisha Riddle. The 6-foot-3-inch forward scored 15 points, tallied 12 rebounds and dished out six assists. Kansas junior guard Taylor McIntosh got into foul trouble early and tentatively guarded Riddle for much of the contest.

“They just took control of the game early,” Henrickson said. “We couldn’t defend Riddle.”

Riddle is the Tigers’ most potent offensive weapon, but she is not the only standout the Jayhawks will have to deal with. Forward Carlynn Savant and guard Tiffany Brooks present tough match-ups for Kansas freshman forward Danielle McCray and freshman guard Kelly Kohn. Savant and Brooks are averaging more than 11 points per game, and Savant is averaging eight rebounds per game.

Kansas will counter Missouri’s capable offense with a group of players who have started to fulfill their potential in the past several weeks. Freshman forward Sade Morris, Kohn and McCray have become one of the best young trios in the conference.

McCray has been the most efficient Jayhawk during conference play. She makes 38 percent of her three-point attempts and scores 12 points per game. Considering senior guard Shaquina Mosley is recovering from a concussion and may not play tonight, Kohn will need to step up and put the offensive load on her shoulders.

Kohn’s occasional flashes of brilliance and her sparkling shooting touch have been tempered by inconsistency and a tendency to force shots. Kohn is shooting just 35 percent in Big 12 play but her 49 to 29 assist-to-turnover ratio is the best on the team.

pullquote

They’ll be loose but focused. The end of the regular season gives us a chance to start over.

- coach Bonnie Henrickson

If Mosley is cleared to play, her presence will only add to the Jayhawks’ impressive defense. Senior guards Mosley and Sharita Smith have picked up their levels of play on defense as the season has progressed. The seniors want to build enough momentum in their final regular season game to carry them deep into the conference tournament.

“They’ll be loose but focused,” Henrickson said. “The end of the regular season gives us a chance to start over.”

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

— Edited by Jyl Unruh

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