Around lunch time yesterday, sophomore Krysten Boogaard received the news that avoided her for nearly three weeks. After talking with doctors, coach Bonnie Henrickson informed Boogaard she’d been cleared to play.

Playing in her first game since Nov. 18, Boogaard, who missed four games with a stress reaction in her leg, totaled four points and three rebounds in 11 minutes as Kansas defeated Western Illinois 66-43 Wednesday night.

“It’s a good time for her to come back,” junior Danielle McCray said. “I think she got that feeling back tonight.”

At times, though, Boogaard appeared a step or two behind, while struggling early on the offensive end. In the first half she missed both field goal attempts and all three of her free throws.

“That first half was a little different,” Boogaard said. “I used it in a way to get me back into things. Getting back into a game situation was a little bit different.”

Still, in the second half Boogaard showed flashes of why the Jayhawks so eagerly awaited her return. The 6-foot-5 center scored two easy baskets after sealing her defender in the low post while playing just five minutes.

Missing in Boogaard’s absence was consistent interior play from the Jayhawks. Sure, sophomore forward Nicollette Smith averaged 7.8 points per game playing in Boogaard’s starting spot. But Smith said that Boogaard’s presence creates easier chances for Kansas’ other players.

“People feel like they need to sink in on her,” Smith said. “That opens it up for the rest of us. Then, when we’re hitting shots from outside, that opens it up for her inside. And she’s a great one on one post player.”

Without Boogaard, junior forward Porscha Weddington became Kansas’ best threat near the basket – something that she wasn’t always used to with Boogaard in the lineup.

In the four games Boogaard missed, Weddington averaged 7.8 points and four rebounds per game.

“It opens her eyes and shows her how much more she needs to do,” McCray said. “With Krysten back, she’ll still have that mentality where she thinks ‘I still need to do more.’ She knows she can’t hide behind Krysten and let her score all the points. I think she’s getting the idea now.”

Henrickson said doctors cleared Boogaard to play more than 11 minutes, but the Jayhawks wanted to cautiously ease her back into things. The real test, though, will come tomorrow when the pain in Boogaard’s leg is reevaluated.

And Boogaard is hoping her time spent on the bench with an injury is finally done.

“I’ve grown a better appreciation for the bench now,” Boogaard said. “It’s hard sitting on the bench, especially when you can’t play.”