K-State forward contributes to Wildcat victory in Sunflower Showdown

Monday, February 11, 2008

Photo by Jon Goering

Freshman center Krysten Boogaard battles Kansas State forward Marlies Gipson for possession of a rebound after a blocked shot by Gipson with 53 seconds left. The refs whistled Boogaard for a foul on the play. Gipson and Boogaard both led their teams in scoring with 20 points. Both also recorded double-doubles with Booraard grabbing 14 boards and Gipson 15.

All it takes is a glance at last season’s collapse to realize how important junior forward Marlies Gipson is to Kansas State. Without Gipson for the final 18 games last year, the Wildcats went from nationally ranked and a NCAA tournament lock to a first round exit in the Big 12 Conference tournament and a spot in the Women’s NIT. With her calming presence this season, K-State is 8-1 in the Big 12 and ranked No. 18 in the land.

It was only fitting that Gipson would be the key contributor in Kansas State’s 64-58 Sunflower Showdown victory Saturday afternoon almost a year after her absence allowed Kansas to break a streak of 12 straight loses to their in-state rivals.

Gipson showed her class against the Jayhawks rapidly improving freshman center Krysten Boogaard despite giving up more than five inches. The two turned in a fierce battle in the post and ended with nearly identical numbers. Gipson poured in 20 points to go along with 15 rebounds and three blocks while Boogaard gave the Jayhawks 20 points, 14 rebounds and two blocks.

Wildcat’s coach Deb Patterson, wearing a pair of bright pink shoes and a matching shirt in support of cancer awareness, said Gipson gave her team everything she had.

“She walks off the floor eight-for-16 – fifty percent from the floor – she shoots perfect from the foul line, she finishes the night with a double-double, she spent 38 minutes of the game defending a six-foot-five player and in the last six minutes of the game she took the game over,” Deb Patterson said. “I don’t know if there is anything else that you can ask her to do.”

The accolades weren’t limited to the purple side of the bench either. Coach Bonnie Henrickson said Gipson drew Kansas’ defense into the lane and provided space for Kansas State’s outside shooters. Henrickson said she was happy with her team’s play, and specifically the growth of Boogaard, but that Gipson’s athleticism and quickness were too much for the young Canadian at times.

Photo Gallery

Kansas Women's Basketball vs. Kansas State

Photo gallery of Kansas women's basketball game at Kansas State.

“She is a one on one matchup; all the great shooters are going to spot up around her,” Henrickson said. “She’s been a great player and certainly is a big difference for their success this year and they knew that coming in.”

After finding out what playing without her is like for the second half of last season, senior guard Kimberly Dietz knows just how important Gipson is to the Wildcats. Dietz scored 15 points by virtue of four three pointers and distributed six assists.

“It’s just awesome playing with her because when we get in to tight situations we know we can count on her not only for to be calm and convert but to also calm everyone else down,” Dietz said.

But it didn’t all come easily for Gipson. After having her first shot attempt swatted by Boogaard, she settled down and went about guiding Kansas State to victory. Asked what she thought of Boogaard, Gipson said she foresaw good things in the future for the Kansas center.

For now the two are at opposite ends of the spectrum. Gipson is a key cog in what may be the best team in the Big 12, while Boogaard is just starting to come into her own.

“She is a good player,” Boogaard said. “She is very quick and has a good vertical. She gets up there. It was a little difficult.”

K-State beats Kansas women’s basketball team with ...

Although Kansas loses, coach Bonnie Henrickson said this game allowed the team ...

/news/2008/feb/11/womens_basketball/

Sutherland gains play time against K-State

Freshman Aisah Sutherland plays 32 minutes, doubling her career high.

/news/2009/jan/26/wbb_sider/

Big 12 Women's Basketball Power Rankings

Andrew Wiebe evaluates the Big 12's women's basketball teams

/news/2008/feb/12/big_12_womens_basketball_power_rankings/

Henrickson extension a product of recruiting

Despite an overall 40-49 record during her time at Kansas, Bonnie Henrickson ...

/news/2007/may/09/wbb/

Kansas falls flat in Sunflower Showdown

Kansas State cruises to a 72-39 victory to open conference play behind ...

/news/2009/jan/10/kansas_blown_out_kansas_state_open_big_12_play/

Sophomore center Boogaard out for a couple ...

Danielle McCray will have to step up these next few weeks as ...

/news/2008/nov/25/sophomore_center_out/

Women’s team loses late-season game to K-State

Rebounding problems and defensive slips led to Kansas' most recent loss in ...

/news/2008/mar/06/WBB/

Smith adds depth behind starters

Junior forward brings versatility and communication skills off the bench.

/news/2009/dec/10/depth-smith-starters/

Sloppy play lead to KU’s loss against ...

A recap of Wednesday’s game

/news/2008/jan/31/wbb/

Wiebe: Jayhawks demoralized in Manhattan

Andrew Wiebe describes the grim events of Kansas' 72-39 loss at Kansas ...

/news/2009/jan/11/wiebe_kansas_demoralized_manhattan/

Predictions: Women’s Big 12 Awards, Tournament winner

Taylor Bern and Andrew Wiebe present some post-season ideas.

/news/2008/mar/11/head/

Gameday: Kansas @ Kansas State

/news/2006/jan/25/women_gameda/

Kansas women’s basketball center ready for Sooners

Oklahoma Sooner’s Courtney Paris has posted record numbers in each of her ...

/news/2008/jan/30/kansas_womens_basketball_center_ready_sooners/

/photos/2008/feb/09/1522/

Henrickson has improved women's team

Women's basketball coach Bonnie Henrickson turned around a mediocre team since she ...

/news/2007/apr/26/wbb/

KU looks for positives in losing streak

After fourth straight loss, Jayhawks look for better play off the bench.

/news/2009/feb/03/losing_streak/

/photos/2009/feb/09/4743/

Wiebe: Big 12 women's basketball rankings

Andrew Wiebe looks at the women's basketball teams of the Big 12.

/news/2008/feb/19/wiebe_big_12/

Lehning leaves Henrickson questioning defense

Kansas State blows out Kansas behind senior point guard's near triple-double.

/news/2009/jan/11/lehning_leaves_henrickson_questioning_defense/

Jayhawks disappointed by loss to in-state rivals

Kansas State junior forward Brittany Chambers gave Kansas big trouble with a ...

/news/2012/jan/07/womens-basketball-disappointed-loss-state-rivals/

Freshman powers Jayhawks past Wildcats

Kansas plays impressive basketball despite loss of standout Danielle McCray.

/news/2010/feb/08/freshman-powers-jayhawks/

KU women need to play through the ...

Henrickson says players have to get the ball to center Boogaard, recently ...

/news/2009/jan/16/ku_women/

Women’s Basketball relies on running game

Jayhawks’ primary offensive game plan is to run the opposition into the ...

/news/2009/nov/05/womens-basketball-relies-running-game/

Women's basketball falls short, 63-57 to Kansas ...

The Jayhawks scored only 16 points in the paint Saturday night - ...

/news/2012/jan/07/womens-basketball-falls-short-63-57-kansas-state/

Point guard play slows Jayhawks

Angel Goodrich’s replacements are finding it difficult to match the injured star’s ...

/news/2010/jan/22/point-guard/

Boogaard’s return to court helps Jayhawks win

After missing four games with a stress reaction in her leg, Krysten ...

/news/2008/dec/11/boogaards_return_court_helps_jayhawks_win/

Kansas wins against Washburn

Following a tense first half, the Hawks blast by the Lady Blues.

/news/2008/nov/10/WomensBasketball/

An uncommon selection

Canadian Krysten Boogaard chose basketball over hockey and other traditional sports.

/news/2009/oct/02/uncommon-selection/

Jayawks earn easy victory against Bears

The women’s basketball team defeats Northern Colorado by 27.

/news/2009/dec/07/jayawks-earn-easy-victory-against-bears/

Sutherland breaks out; Kansas wins 86-56

Sophomore forward Sutherland and freshman point guard Goodrich contribute to women’s basketball ...

/news/2009/nov/01/sutherland-breaks-out-kansas-wins-86-56/

Oklahoma State defeats Kansas 82-62

The Cowgirls eliminated the Jayhawks from the Big 12 Tournament Wednesday night.

/news/2008/mar/13/wbbsider/

Women’s basketball team ready for play

The young team is geared and excited for their first game later ...

/news/2010/oct/20/womens-basketball-team-ready-play/

Davis scores big but can’t save Jayhawks

Kansas loses in first round of the tournament but maintains high hopes ...

/news/2010/mar/12/davis-scores-big-cant-save-jayhawks/

With McCray out, freshmen step up for ...

Young team members stepped up after McCray tore her ACL during a ...

/news/2010/feb/10/mccray-out-freshmen/

Women’s basketball awaits Morris’ return

After being injured in the game against Texas Tech, Sade Morris is ...

/news/2009/jan/28/awaits_morris/

Women win last exhibition basketball game

Boogaard and Sutherland both had double-doubles against Emporia.

/news/2009/nov/09/women-win/

Precise passing guides Kansas

Kansas' guards and forwards are mastering the entry pass, which is leading ...

/news/2010/feb/18/precise-passing-guides-kansas/

Kansas suffers 'gut-wrenching' loss to K-State

The Jayhawks struggle to describe the 59-35 loss.

/news/2010/jan/09/kansas-suffers-gut-wrenching-k-state/

Jayhawks keep the lead in Missouri game

A collective team effort with some standout players contributed to a close ...

/news/2008/jan/22/wbb_gamer/

Jayhawks hang tough after loss against Wildcats

Defeated by K-State 59-50, Henrickson still has faith in team.

/news/2009/jan/26/wbb_gamer/

Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.

Sign in to comment

Or login with:

OpenID