Despite losing four of their first five conference games, the Jayhawks aren’t panicking. The schedule won’t get any easier, but on Saturday the Hawks will face a Texas A&M squad stuck at the bottom of the Big 12 Conference standings as well.

Fast starts for both teams have faded from memory, and coach Bonnie Henrickson knows the only way to bounce back is to win.

“Both of us are in the same boat right now,” coach Bonnie Henrickson said. “I don’t know if desperate is the right word, but in need of a win.”

After an 11-2 start again teams outside the Big 12, Henrickson’s team has found the rigors of conference play more challenging. Most discerning is sophomore guard Danielle McCray and freshman center Krysten Boogaard’s tendency to spend significant time on the bench in foul trouble.

Against Colorado on Tuesday, Boogaard collected four fouls in only 11 minutes of playing time. McCray played 31 minutes, but her absence during a key stretch of the first half after picking up her second foul helped the Buffaloes turn a 10 point deficit into a 7 point halftime advantage.

It’s a trend that is beginning to become all too common for Kansas.

“You need your best kids on the floor,” Henrickson said. “Danielle right now has been good on the perimeter and Krysten is really evolving into the best low post offensive threat that we have. When those two go out it hurts our team.”

Without consistent minutes from the talented duo, Kansas struggled to find the same scoring touch that served it well during the nonconference season. After scoring 67 points per contest against nonconference foes, the Jayhawks have scored an average of 49 points in their five Big 12 games, making wins hard to come by so far.

“We aren’t getting to the free throw line and we aren’t scoring in transition,” Henrickson said. “That puts a lot of pressure on your half court offense and half court defense. You just don’t have any wiggle room.”

— Edited by Patrick De Oliveira