Any sport is really just a numbers game, basketball maybe more than others. Stats can tell a tale of the game that you might not see in action on the court. Shooting percentage, turnovers and rebounds can all lead to a team performing well or crumbling. The women’s basketball team has used a much simpler stat to create its success in the postseason. It’s using the power of three.

I’m not talking about the three-point shot here, I’m just talking about a third scoring option. Since the WNIT started, the Jayhawks have not had a problem with that.

Yes Danielle McCray is an honorable mention All-America, and she continues to carry this team, but other players have really picked up their level of play in the tournament. Sade Morris closed the season strong after an injury sidelined her for a few games throughout the year. The most refreshing performance, though, has come from freshman Aishah Sutherland, who is averaging 11.8 points per game in the WNIT.

Sutherland has really progressed toward the end of the season and that’s a big reason why the Jayhawks are playing well. Coach Bonnie Henrickson has talked about the ceiling of Sutherland’s potential and how high it is, and now Sutherland is really starting to play up to that potential.

In reality they did what the men’s team couldn’t do. They found a third scoring option and got outstanding play from a freshman down the stretch. Tyshawn Taylor and Marcus Morris seemed to trail off in the NCAA tournament, while Sutherland has come on strong.

Add in the fact that sophomore Krysten Boogaard is playing at a high level now and this team looks extremely dangerous. No wonder they made it to the WNIT championship.

Would they have done this well in the NCAA tournament? Probably not, but they are still getting to play, and I don’t think any team could relish that fact more than the women’s team does. This is a fairly young team that’s only losing one starting player next year, point guard Ivana Catic. So, in all reality this tournament is building momentum for next year.

Yes, it was probably sour grapes for this team making it into the WNIT instead of the NCAA tournament, but maybe that’s just what they needed in order to develop. The women’s team most likely would have lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament, but here they are, still going strong in the WNIT. That’s not a bad thing. Their in-state rivals at Kansas State rode back-to-back WNIT berths in 2006 and 2007 including winning the 2006 tournament. The Jayhawks have a chance to do that this year, their second consecutive year in the WNIT. Even if they don’t win the championship on Saturday, don’t be surprised to see this team in the Big Dance next season.

— — Edited by Sam Speer