+
PAGE 6B
MONDAY, MARCH 10, 2014
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Jayhawks' lack of energy leads to loss against Baylor
KYLE PAPPAS
sports@kansan.com
It was clear that Baylor hadn't quite shaken the image of Kansas celebrating Baylor's unlikely upset on Jan. 19. The Jayhawks mobbed each other at mid-court of Allen Fieldhouse while the Bears walked off the court with their first conference loss.
"I guess we knew we had to come out with more intensity," Baylor freshman guard Imiani Wright said. "We still remember the loss that we took, so we felt like we needed to start fast and keep it going."
Baylor (27-4, 16-2 Big 12) handily defeated the Jayhawks (13-19, 5-13 Big 12) 81-47 on Saturday in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 women's tournament. The 34-point loss was their worst of the season.
Kansas couldn't get much offense going after falling behind by 16 after only eight minutes of play. The Jayhawks were ice cold from the floor, shooting only 26.5 percent (9-34) as the Bears limited clean opportunities.
The Jayhawks were fairly efficient in the paint; their guard play was what ultimately cost them a shot at a second upset. Of the Jayhawks' four starting guards, only two converted a field goal, combining to shoot 12 percent (2-17) in the first half. It would prove too much for coach Bonnie Henrickson's squad to overcome.
"We've got to shoot the ball
better to get Chelsea [Garden] some room," Henrickson said. "We've got to give her some room to play."
Gardner was Kansas' only legitimate offensive threat; she finished with 11 points and converted its only free throw in the first. But, the junior forward was again limited by early foul trouble and her teammates' inefficiency as the Bears
"They came out and ran a buzz saw and we didn't have an answer defensively."
BONNIE HENRICKSON Coach
began keying in on taking her out of the game.
Forward Nina Davis, the Big 12 Freshman of the Year, was dominant for Baylor, scoring 18 points and grabbing five rebounds in just the first half. Senior guard Odyssey Sims, Big 12 Player of the Year, contributed 11 points as well, creating several chances for teammates in the process. The Bears held a 46-20 lead entering halftime.
"It first started with Odyssey pressuring the defense and we just followed her lead," Baylor sophomore guard Niya Johnson said.
Things weren't much different in the second half. Kansas, possibly exhausted from its 87-84 overtime victory against
Kansas State on Friday night, showed a visible lack of energy out of the locker room. The layhawks were never able to mount a serious run, managing a meager 22 field goal attempts after the second half despite trailing by double digits.
They turned the ball over 20 times as well,10 in the first,10 in the second,in surely one of their most disappointing performances of the year.
“[Baylor] just looked at us and said, ‘We're going to rip it and drive on you and offensive rebound and get you in transition,’ Henrickson said. “They came out and ran a buzz saw and we didn't have an answer defensively.”
Gardner finished with 21 points and nine rebounds, falling just short of her 14th double-double of the season. Senior guard CeCe Harper scored no points on 0-6 shooting in her last game as a Jayhawk.
After losing three 1,000-point scorers from last season, not much was expected from Kansas in 2013-14, but the loss is disheartening for Henrickson's squad nonetheless. It showed promise at times throughout the year, but never was quite able to put it all together on a consistent basis.
— Edited by Amber Kasselman
Junior forward Chelsea Gardner shoots between Baylor point guard Kristina Higgins and forward Nina Davis in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Conference women's college tournament in Oklahoma City on Saturday. Kansas lost 81-47.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SOFTBALL
Jayhawks pick up four more wins at Florida tournament
AMIE JUST
sports@kansan.com
Coming away with four straight wins, the Jayhawks (15-7) slugged their way through the Under Armour Classic in Tampa, Fla.
The first game of the tournament was the only loss of the weekend for Kansas. Kansas faced Northwestern (15-5) and was up with an early lead in the bottom of the first innning. The Wildcats came back swinging in the fourth inning, taking a 3-2 lead over the Jayhawks. Kansas tried for a comeback in the seventh, but couldn't cross the last runner to force extra innings. Kansas lost 4-3. The only Kansas batter to have multiple hits was junior utility player Maddie Stein.
"I like the fight [from our team]," coach Megan Smith said. "Northwestern punched us with four runs, but we kept fighting back and just kind of
ran out of time."
After the loss to Northwestern, Kansas didn't look back. In the second game off against University of South Florida (16-7), a team that has played many ranked opponents. Kansas didn't let that phase them as they delivered a 9-3 rout of the Bulls. Leading the Jayhawks were sophomore infielder Chaley Brickey and freshman catcher Harli Ridling. Both Brickey and Ridling hammered a home run, having three RBIs each. The home runs were the third of the season for both Jayhawks.
Letting the momentum from Friday carry them into Saturday morning, Kansas took on St. John's (7-11). Sophomore pitcher Kelsey Kessler (8-5) allowed only four hits while striking out 10.
"Offensively, we were locked in at the beginning and had a lot of intensity at the plate and got really good at bats," Smith said. "The difference in this game was that we kept putting pressure on them which was good to see our offense do."
“[Kelsey] looked great,” said Smith. “She gave up two big hits [on Friday] and then
are going to lead our offense and they are doing a great job for us" Smith said.
In the second game of the day, Kansas faced Utah (9-7). Junior pitcher Alicia Pille (5-2) allowed just four hits, one run, and committed one error
"I like the fight [from our team]. Northwestern punched us with four runs, but we kept fighting back and just kind of ran out of time."
MEGAN SMITH Coach
bounced back and just dominated. She threw the ball really well. She moved the ball and kept them off balance."
Leading the way for Kansas batters were Brickey and Ridling, as they both posted individual home runs. Ridling had two RBIs, with Brickey accounting for one.
"Those two and Maddie Stein
on the day. Pille also accounted for six strikeouts in the contest.
"Pille came out determined," Smith said. "She threw extremely well and had that mental lapse in the last inning. Today she came out in the last inning and was ready to go, mentally tough and went right at them."
Brickey recorded her third consecutive game with a home run, giving her two RBIs that evening. Junior infielder Chanin Naudin added a hit and two RBI for the Jayhawks for the 4-1 win over the Utes.
In the final game of the tournament, Kansas took on LIU Brooklyn, a game that was long overdue. Earlier in the season, the Jayhawks were to take on the Blackbirds, but the contest was rained out.
"Chanin is very poised up at the plate and battles," Smith said. "She's really good at not taking one at bat to the next. She was locked in and came through for us."
The game against LIU Brooklyn was the second shutout of the tournament for Kansas, winning 6-0. Kessler pitched in both shutout games, recording two straight, her fifth of the season, and 12th of her career.
"Our pitchers have been dominant the last two days
to only give up one run," Smith said. "Kelsey kept them off-balance and just went right at them."
Brickey's home run streak came to an end, but she still recorded two hits on two runs and a base on balls. Stein also had two hits and added two RBIs.
“[Maddie] is just a poised hitter,” Smith said. “She is really good at doing her job and her job is to drive in runs. She gets up there and she is confident, has good at bats and she executes for us.”
Kansas will return to action on Tuesday when they host the 2014 season opener with a double header against South Dakota State at Arrocha Ballpark. The opening pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Edited by Sarah Kramer
Don's Auto Center
HELPING KANSAS STUDENTS MAKE IT TO SPRING BREAK SINCE 1972
NO WORRIES!
Don is here to save the day!
I'm having a mental breakdown because my car is brokendown
Stop by before leaving for spring break and make sure your car is ready for the road!
Lawrence's local repair shop | 11th & Haskell | 841-4833
+