Junior forward Danielle McCray arrived at Kansas three years ago a scorer — the type of player expected to lead a team.

In her first two years, McCray adequately filled Kansas’ needs, ranking second on the team in scoring as a freshman and leading the Jayhawks in points per game last season.

Photo Gallery

Kansas Women's Basketball vs. Baylor

A photo gallery of the women's basketball game against Baylor.

But only recently has McCray so visibly flourished as Kansas’ go-to offensive player. Wednesday night’s 35-point outburst, a career high, in a 69-45 victory against No. 5 Baylor marked Kansas’ fourth consecutive victory and the fourth consecutive game in which McCray excelled with the ball in her hands.

“I had the hot hand tonight and everything was going in,” McCray said. “And I wasn’t going to stop shooting it.”

All season, McCray has been expected to carry Kansas offensively. But never this season — or during her career — has McCray so thoroughly and completely filled the role.

Facing one of the tougher defensive teams in the Big 12, McCray simply dominated. During a first-half in which McCray scored 23 points, fans actually groaned when a shot missed its mark.

“Any time one of the team’s most talented players is producing and playing well, it just gives the whole team more confidence,” assistant coach Katie O’Connor, who works indivudually with McCray, said.

In leading Kansas past Baylor, McCray captivated an audience and cemented herself as a premiere scorer in a conference loaded with talented players.

“The reason she probably hasn’t been heard of as much is we haven’t been winning,” senior guard Ivana Catic said. “Now that we started winning, hopefully Kansas as a program will get more love and great individuals will as well.”

Kansas knows one brilliant individual performance doesn’t translate into victories as well as any team in the Big 12. Sophomore center Krysten Boogaard provided the Jayhawks with a much-needed second option.

Boogaard scored 18 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and provided Kansas with an inside presence.

“She knew that coming out of the gate we’d go to her,” coach Bonnie Henrickson said. “She handled that well, and we needed that from her.”

Individual efforts aside, Kansas’ recent turnaround was built on the commitment to fully disrupt opponents offensively.

Kansas stripped Baylor of any offensive rhythm last night. The Bears made just 19 percent of their first-half shots, scoring 17 points.

While Baylor missed open attempts throughout the game, Kansas contested many of Baylor’s shots and frustrated a team still ailing from the absence of its best player, junior Danielle Wilson.

“I think everything disrupted us tonight,” Baylor coach Kim Mulkey said.

It sure appeared that way early.

Led by Boogaard and McCray, the Jayhawks started the game on a 16-4 run. As the half wore on — and the fans in attendance became more vocal — Kansas continued to increase its lead.

With three seconds left in the first half, Boogaard flung a half court pass to McCray, who tipped the ball to junior guard Sade Morris for a jumper. Kansas jogged into the locker room with an almost unbelievable 42-17 halftime lead.

“The rational side of you says they’re the No. 5 team in the country and you have to stay cautious,” Catic said. “But then there’s that childish side in you that says ‘Oh my God, we’re up 30 against Baylor!’ We haven’t been up by 30 in league play since I’ve been here.”

Still, despite that sense of mystification, Kansas kept Baylor in-check after halftime.

Early in the second half, Boogaard rattled off seven consecutive points to maintain Kansas’ lead. Then, to put the finishing touches on her night, McCray scored seven straight late in the game.

“Even though they are a great team, we had to keep throwing punches,” McCray said. “We never rolled over and let them answer.”BY ANDREW WIEBE

awiebe@kansan.com

— — Edited by Andrew Wiebe