From the time players first pick up a ball, coaches emphasize the importance of making layups and taking advantage of open shots. During the first half of yesterday afternoon’s season opener against Pittsburg State, Kansas’ players seemed to have forgotten that simple lesson.

The Jayhawks missed nine times in the paint in the first half, including on a variety of uncontested layups. Normally reliable players like senior forward Taylor McIntosh and junior forward Marija Zinic shot a combined 1-for-8 from the field as Kansas struggled to push its lead into double digits.

“We have got to make high-percentage shots, and we’ve got to get to the offensive glass,” coach Bonnie Henrickson said.

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Kansas Women's Basketball vs. Pitt State

Kansas accomplished the latter but couldn’t capitalize on second chances. Despite outrebounding the Gorillas 33 to 13 in the first half, including 15 offensive rebounds, the Jayhawks didn’t take advantage of their rebounding margin as the team shot 32 percent from the field.

“Well, a lot of those rebounds for us came off missed shots,” Henrickson said. “We sometimes played catch with ourselves when we would miss three of four shots.”

Sophomore guard Danielle McCray said the team’s struggles finishing in the first half were a result of rushed shots. Kansas had plenty of reasons to be rushed, with 6-foot-3 freshman forward Larissa Richards providing protection around the rim for Pittsburg State. Richards blocked five shots in the opening period and helped limit Kansas to only 10 points in the paint.

Henrickson said she was unhappy with her team’s inability to adjust to Richards’ defensive presence in the first half, especially players coming off the bench. Kansas made the necessary adjustments after halftime and shot 54 percent from the field while limiting Richards to two blocks and nearly doubling its offensive output.

“We kind of made her look like an All-American,” McCray said. “She had some good blocks and coach just told us to pump fake because she was going for everything.”

— Edited by Matt Erickson