Women’s basketball’s Big 12 dream dashed

Jayhawks fall to Oklahoma State 82-62, coach still hopeful for WNIT berth

Sloppy play doomed the Jayhawks Wednesday night as the Oklahoma State Cowgirls rolled on in the Big 12 Tournament.

By Taylor Bern (Contact)

Thursday, March 13th, 2008


KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The magic that exuded from every Kansas player after its first round victory was nowhere to be seen Wednesday night.

Perhaps the Jayhawks left it in the locker room or on the bus. Either way, Oklahoma State played with fire and determination to beat a suddenly pedestrian Kansas squad 82-62, eliminating the Jayhawks from the Big 12 Tournament.

“We were a little flat,” coach Bonnie Henrickson said. “We couldn’t guard off the dribble and we gave up layups and kick-out threes. We made ourselves look silly there for awhile.”

Henrickson’s team dealt with a plethora of problems in the defeat.

Senior forward Taylor McIntosh, who led the Jayhawks in points and rebounds against Nebraska, was held to just 2 points and corralled only 5 rebounds.

Kansas hit only 2-of-13 from beyond the arc, scored just two fast-break points and turned the ball over 18 times. Eighty-two is also the most points the Jayhawks have given up all season.

“It’s hard to look at that and come up with a word better than just undisciplined,” Henrickson said.

Sophomore guard Danielle McCray was finding and hitting open shots early in the game to lead Kansas with 11 points and 6 rebounds at halftime. Still, Cowgirl forward Shaunte’ Smith put an exclamation point on the first half for her team with a rebound and tip-in to beat the buzzer.

Oklahoma State led 43-31 at the break.

Two keys to the Jayhawks’ first-round victory were coming out strong in the second half and the production from role players.

Wednesday night Kansas accomplished the first task as freshman center Krysten Boogaard scored 10-straight points out of the break to bring the lead down to eight. However, she picked up her fourth foul with 14:53 left and the bench players failed to pick up the slack, scoring just six points.

“We came back early in the second half and made a run but we couldn’t sustain that for the rest of the game,” sophomore guard LaChelda Jacobs said.

All five of Oklahoma State starters reached double figures in points with sophomore guard Andrea Riley’s 23 points leading the way.

McCray led Kansas with 18 points and 12 rebounds while Boogaard and Jacobs poured in 17 and 15 points, respectively.

The Jayhawks first and last Big 12 loss came at the hands of the Cowgirls, but it probably won’t be the last chance they have to pick up a victory.

Henrickson is confident that her team has done enough to earn a trip to the WNIT, it’s just a matter of when and where. While she would like to have a game at home, Henrickson said it was more important for her team to find its identity.

“I think we’re a good basketball team that plays in a great league,” Henrickson said. “We’re not a great team, because great teams finish, great teams are consistent and great teams have maturity.

“We’ve got to be who we are, own what we can own in the postseason and play with some confidence.”

— Edited by Jeff Briscoe

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