WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2005
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
3B
WOMEN'S BASKETBALI
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BY BJ RAINS
brains@kansan.com
KANANS SPORTWRITER
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Though their Big 12 Conference record is a dismal 1-8, the Oklahoma State Cowgirls are much better than their record indicates.
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Junior guard Kaylee Brown drives past Missouri sophomore forward EeTisha Riddle during Saturday's game in Columbia, Mo. Brown led the Jayhawks with 15 points. Kansas' next game is at 7 tonight against Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Okla.
On Jan. 29, the Cowgirls lost to Baylor, the No. 7 team in the country, by only two points, 67-65. In their next game, they lost on a buzzer-beater to the Nebraska Cornhuskers, who beat the Jayhawks by 11 earlier this year. Then, to add to the Cowgirls' frustration, they only trailed the Kansas State Wildcats, the No. 14 team in the country, by two points with just more than 4 minutes remaining in the game. They couldn't close the gap, though, and let a victory slip away in the closing minutes.
"They lost to Baylor by one possession, lost on a buzzer-beeper at Nebraska, and had K-State on the ropes in the second half," Kansas coach Bonnie Henrickson said. "Their record is tremendously deceiving."
Destanie Sykes, who is averaging only 5.8 points per game, had a career-high 13 in the defeat.
In the defeat against the Wildcats last Saturday, senior guard Nina Stone led the Cowgirls with 17 points. She is the team's leading scorer, averaging 15.8 points per game. She also is pulling down 5.3 rebounds per game. Sophomore forward
The strong point of the Cowgirls is defense, something that Henrickson is worried about.
"Defensively, they do a good job of double-teaming and have done it all year," Henrickson said. "They like to play some zone and trap, which could potentially create problems for us if we don't handle the pressure."
The Cowgirls lack a consistent starting lineup. Only Devry McDonald, sophomore guard, and Stone have started every game. Nine players have started in at least one game, and eight have started at least four games. The rotating starting lineup has helped the Cowgirls maintain a solid bench. They have 11 players who play more than 10 minutes a game. The Jayhawks have only seven players in their rotation, with four starters averaging more than 34 minutes a game.
The Cowgirls' statistics can also be misleading. While they have lost eight of their last nine games, they outscored their opponents in the second half by a total of 25 points. In the first halves they have been outscored by 80 points.
With an 0-7 record on the road, tonight's home game against the Jayhawks looks promising for the Cowgirls.
The game starts at 7 p.m. in Stillwater, Okla.
Edited by Ross Fitch
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B
Rower
"We have enjoyed watching Ashlea," Stallbaumer said. "We watched her all through high school with basketball and volleyball."
The lessons sports has taught Kramer will stay with her. She said she didn't know what she would do without sports and the responsibility that comes along with it.
"People don't understand how hard college sports can be," she said. "It can be difficult at times to balance everything."
Her brothers have successfully transitioned out of the sports world. Brandan is in his last year at the University of Kansas Medical Center, and Lance works with a construction company in Grand Junction, Colo.
No matter where members of the Kramer family end up, their experiences with sports will always stick with them.
Kramer will graduate in December 2005 and then work toward her master's degree.
"After a year or two, I'm sure there will be an empty spot in their lives," Stallbaumer said. "But because of that college team experience, it gives them a large plus for the rest of their life, a huge advantage."
When Ashlea's dad thinks back on her hard work, he can only be proud.
Ashlea Kramer, Topeka senior, works out with her teammates from the Kansas women's rowing team yesterday.
"I'm so proud of Ashlea," Duane Kramer said. "It takes a lot of hard work, and Ashlea is always willing to put that in."
Erin Droste/KANSAN
Edited by Kim Sweet Rubenstein
Success
Despite finishing 2-14 in the conference last season and starting this season with startling losses to Texas-Arlington and Washburn, the Jayhawks already have garnered three conference victories with seven league games left to play.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B
Despite the strides taken this year, Henrickson said her team's rising stature within the Big 12 was only the beginning.
Since the start of the year, McIntosh has established herself as a rebounding presence and has grown to dominate the boards. In last Saturday's victory against Missouri, McIntosh grabbed a career-high 16
One of the keys to the Jayhawks' development as the season goes on is the vast improvement of freshman forward Taylor McIntosh.
"We have work to do with this group, and also with recruiting." Henrickson said. "But I think we have made tremendous progress.
rebounds, with eight coming on the offensive end.
The Wichita product leads all Big 12 freshmen in rebounding, snaring 7.1 per game, and is second overall in the conference with 3.55 offensive rebounds per outing.
"She has gained tremendous experience by being on the floor as much as she has, and she has handled the transition of being a freshman in this league as well as you can expect a kid to," Henrickson said. McIntosh has also stepped up in scoring. In each of the last two games, McIntosh has scored 10 points.
The improvement has seen the freshman forward take a more aggressive role in the offense with more frequent drives and shots inside.
Adding the threat of McInosh would greatly aid the Jayhawks on the offensive end, where the only other post scoring threat is junior forward Crystal Kemp, who is often double-teamed.
- Edited by Jennifer Voldness
Another
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B
Massey, who wears number 15, could possibly be matched up with another number 15.
"Our players haven't been a part of many games there and some haven't been a part of any games. From my perspective, I think it is blown way out of proportion."
Kansas State is 13-6 and 3-5 in the Big 12 after losing at to a struggling Colorado team on Saturday. It is led by senior guard Jeremiah Massey, who is putting up 17 points a game.
"We aren't going to ignore it." Woolridge said, "because we want to use it to motivate the team."
As for the Wildcats, coach Jim Woolridge said he would use the 21 consecutive losses as a way to get his players fired up.
sophomore guard J.R.
Giddens. At 6-foot-7, 230
pounds, Massey would have a
size advantage over the 6-foot-
5, 185 pound Giddens.
Giddens said he was up to the challenge.
"He might be a little bigger than me, down there in the post, but I'll get on him, if that is where coach wants me to play." Giddens said.
A victory for the Jayhawks tonight would maintain their two-game lead in the Big 12 Conference race. Oklahoma State moved to 8-2 Monday after beating Oklahoma, 79-67.
"This is a huge game," said junior forward Christian Moody. "Because KU is playing really well, they are going to be really excited to play us. We will have to match their toughness and play well to beat them."
Edited by John Scheirman
FINAL WEEK!
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