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SPORTS
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2005
WWW.KANSAN.COM
PAGE 1B
INSIDE THE PARK
Courtney Kublen/KANSAN
Aaron Miles, senior guard, gets trapped amongst feet while scrambling for a loose ball during the first half.
JACK WEINSTEIN
jweinstein@kansan.com
Has there been a player in the conference other than Miles as important to his team? No. He led the Jayhawks through a four-game undefeated stretch without All-American candidate senior forward Wayne Simien.
MANHATTAN — Before the start of the Kansas versus Kansas State game in Manhattan last night, I was ready to start the Aaron Miles for Big 12 Conference Player of the Year campaign.
Miles still team leader despite slip
SEE WEINSTEIN ON PAGE 4B
MEN'S BASKETBALL
3-headed monster
Langford, Simien Giddens score all but nine at Bramlage
BY MIRANDA LENNING
mlenning@kansan.com
KANSAN SENIOR SPORTSWRIER
MANHATTAN — Kansas State, 65. Keith Langford, Wayne Simie and J.R. Giddens, 65.
No, it's not a mistake. The three Kansas players combined for as many points as the entire Kansas State team.
Seniors Keith Langford and Wayne Simien and sophomore J.R. Giddens scored all but nine of Kansas' points in last night's 74-65 victory against Kansas State. The Jayhawks improved to 19-1 and remained undefeated in the Big 12 Conference.
Lately, it hasn't been unusual to see the Kansas starters shoulder the bulk of the load. The Jayhawks had just two bench points in their victory against Missouri and ten against Nebraska on Saturday. But Kansas coach Bill Self said he didn't remember a time when team scoring had been so lopsided.
"Those three were good, offensively especially," Self said. "Keith was terrific, Wayne was terrific and LR, was really good tonight."
Giddens' set a season-high, scoring 18 points. Simien added 23 and Langford followed up his 27-point game against Nebraska with 24 points last night.
The Jayhawks led by as many as 17 in the second half, but allowed the Wildcats to claw back to within four points. On a night when senior guard Aaron Miles committed six turnovers and scored only one point and the Jayhawks got just six points from their bench, the ploy of the big three proved to be clutch.
"If those three don't show up to play tonight, we had no chance to win," Self said.
Kansas didn't come out sluggish in the early minutes of the first half, as they have done in the past.
SEE MONSTER ON PAGE 4B
J. R. Giddens pushes up the court after a turnover in the second half of last night's game. The Jayhawks defeated the Wildcats in Manhattan, 74-65.
Courtney Kuhlen/KANSAN
Junior forward Crystal Kemp, left, shoots over 6-foot-5 Oklahoma State sophomore center Christian Hood during last night's game. Kemp, the Jayhawks' leading scorer this season, finished with just seven points as Kansas fell, 57-
Sean Mathews/THE O'COLLEGIAN
Cowgirls upset Jayhawks
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Kansas turns in a lukewarm performance against Oklahoma State
BY PAUL BRAND
pbrand@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTWRITER
Wednesday's game against lastplace Oklahoma State 7-13 (2-8 Big 12) presented Kansas with a rare opportunity to be the odds-on favorite, but apparently the Jayhawks were not ready to take on that role.
In a talented Big 12 Conference, Kansas has played the role of the underdog for most of the season.
"We knew if we didn't show up and didn't compete, we could lose to a team we're not supposed to lose to." Kansas coach Bonnie Henrickson said.
The Jayhawks, 10-11 (3-7), responded with a lackluster performance that ultimately resulted in an upset victory for the Cowgirls. 57-54.
Down the stretch, Oklahoma State held off a late Kansas surge by shooting a combined 19-of-23 from the free-throw line to seal the deal.
Despite the late-game success of the Cowgirls in free throws and clutch scoring, Kansas came back from an eight-point deficit to take the lead with a little more
"We knew if we didn't show up and didn't compete,we could lose to a team we're not supposed to lose to."
Bonnie Henrickson Kansas women's basketball coach
Burras scored a team-high 16 points on the night.
As Oklahoma State's early second-half run and lead evaporated, Kansas senior guard Aquanita Burras led a charge with seven consecutive points that gave her team the lead, 47-46, but the Cowgirls responded with seven points of their own to regain the advantage, 53-47.
Kansas battled to close the gap, and found itself within three on the final possession, but a three-point shot by junior guard Erica Hallman rimmed out to end the contest.
than four minutes left in the game.
The second half, dictated by the low-post
presence of the Cowgirls, was a simple role reversal for both teams.
write Oklahoma State dominated the paint in the closing period, it was Kansas' front line that took the initiative early.
After claiming an early 21-12 lead, Kansas let Oklahoma State creep back into the game.
At the half, the Jayhawks led 29-25 and utilized an enormous rebounding advantage to outmaneuver a taller Cowgirl roster.
Facing off with 6-foot-4 senior center Eliz Gomes and 6-foot-5 sophomore Christian Hood, the Jayhawk posts more than held their own in the first frame.
Kansas junior forward Crystal Kemp grabbed seven first-half rebounds, and freshman forward Taylor McIntosh added six as Kansas out-rebounded Oklahoma State 26-11 in the opening period.
The dominant performance down low disappeared in the second half as McIntosh was saddled with her third foul, leaving Kemp as the lone starter to fend off the Cowgirl front line.
"Taylor getting in foul trouble really hurt us," Henrickson said.
SEE UPSET ON PAGE 4B
PROFILE
KU law student has plenty to cheer about
BY FRANK TANKKAND
fiankand@kansas.com
KANSAN SPORTSWRIETER
As Kendrea White posed for the camera under the giant statue in front of Green Hall known by some as "The Surfin' Judge," she instinctively flashed the smile she has used on the sideline of every Kansas City Chiefs home game for six seasons.
She brushed her hair back and talked through her teeth about meeting Lamar Hunt and KC Wolf.
Then she led the way into Green Hall, the law building, and down a short flight of stairs.
She posed for another picture in front of an intimidating stack of law books, more of which line the walls of the office. Out came the itinerary for her 10-day trip to Hawaii, where she is taking part in Pro Bowl week. She has represented the Chiefs cheerleaders there, since Monday.
She pulled out a key and opened the door to the Legal Aid Clinic. There, she helps defend people who can't afford any better in juvenile, municipal and domestic cases.
It's a busy week: buffet breakfasts at the resort, photo shoots, free lunches and lauus, beach
bowling, hospital visits, a daylong cheerleading rehearsal, a VIP party, a film festival (beachside), a cheerleading clinic at Pearl Harbor. And more.
When she returns home, she'll get on with finishing her law degree. She graduates in Mav.
White, 29, expects to be both a cheerleader and an attorney by this time next year. That's something game production manager Donna Scott doesn't remember happening with the Chiefs.
"But I don't think it's too unusual," said Scott, who has worked for the Chiefs for 26 years.
Glance at the Chiefs cheerleading Web page and you'll see Ginger, an emergency room nurse, Shannon, a dental student, Angel, an art liaison, Heidi, a physical therapist, Brandi, a mutual fund representative, Jessie, an elementary school teacher, and Loree, a community college English instructor, just to name a few.
"We're all professional women." White explained.
Yet White said the 36 well- rounded members of the team constantly face the stereotype of the ditz, flirtatious cheerleader.
SEE CHEER ON PAGE 4B
Nicoletta Niosi/KANSAN
Kendra White, law student, poses by the statue in front of Green Hall yesterday. The white is a cheerleader for the Kansas City Chiefs. She will perform at the Pro Bowl in Honolulu, Hawaii, on Feb. 13.
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