WEDNESDAY,APRIL9,2003
KANSAS BASKETBALL
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 5B
Experience from rough season to benefit next year
Young players grow to improve future of women's basketball
By Ryan Greene
rgreene@kansan.com
Kansas sportswriter
After going 5-25 overall and 0-16 in the Big 12 Conference in 2001, it was safe to say that changes needed to be made when the Kansas women's basketball team prepared for the 2002-2003 season.
After five
seniors
graduated,
coach
Marian
Washington
brought in a
crew of nine
newcomers.
The number of fresh faces dwindled to seven, as Sereeta Jones left the team during the season, and Alicia Rhymes was forced to sit all year with a knee injury.
It was safe to say that changes needed to be made to the Kansas women's basketball team for the 2002-2003 season.The new players would be thrust into prominent roles and learn from observing on the bench and in practice.
Some of the new players would be thrusted into prominent roles early on, while others would do their learning by observing on the bench and in practice.
Either way, all nine contributed to the season in some way, shape or form, and they are all helping to build towards what could be a landmark season in Kansas women's basketball.
Aquanita Burras — Sophomore Guard
10.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg,
2.6 spg
Burras' first season at Kansas, following her transfer from Central Arizona Community College, saw her assume a leadership role early in the year. At the start of the season, Burras earned MVP honors at the Holiday Inn Jayhawk Classic. From then on, Burras progressed as a player. Half way through the season, the sophomore saw extended time at the point guard spot in order to bolster the team's offensive production. Aside from scoring, Burras established herself as one of the team's most tenacious defenders, leading the team in steals with 76.
Burras
Tamara Ransburg — Freshman Forward
10.9 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 2.3 bpg, team-high
50.8 field goal percentage
Ransburg not only ended the year tied for the team lead in scoring, but she emerged as the dominant inside threat that Kansas was missing in past years. He
Ransburg
68 blocked shots were the fifth highest single-season total in program history. When Ransburg found a way to stay out of foul trouble, her numbers improved. Even more impressive than the blocked shots and team-high six double-doubles was Ransburg's emotional growth. Washington said she thought that Ransburg would emerge from this group of newcomers as the emotional cornerstone.
Crystal Kemp —
Freshman
Forward
10.9 ppg, 5.8 rpg,
team-high 74.3
free throw percentage
Kemp combined with Ransburg to form an intimidating inside tandem for the next three seasons. Kemp had a tendency to play inconsistent this year. Her best performance of the year was a 26-point outburst on Jan. 29 in a 67-64 victory against Nebraska. Kemp's versatility and
Erica Hallman — Freshman Guard 7.8 ppg, 3.3 apg, 32.1 three-point field goal percentage
ability to handle the ball outside of the low-post will help her in the coming seasons.
Kemp
It's pretty hard to sum up the highs and lows of Hall-
Hallman
man's season in a quick paragraph, but the best word to describe the former Miss Basketball in Kentucky is gritty. Hallman came off the bench to lead the Jayhawks in assists, 97, and three-pointers made, 25. She played the entire season with an injured knee. The injury required Hallman to wear a brace, holding her short of her potential as a lightning-quick point guard. Hallman showed flashes of her ability with some behind-the-back and no-look passes, but she hoped that last week's surgery would help her soar to new heights next season.
Stacey Becker —
Sophomore
Guard
4. 0 ppg. 33.2 three-point field goal percentage
son, being forced to sit eight games after transferring from Wichita State. However, when Becker became eligible, she paid dividends immediately, especially beyond the arc. Of Becker's 29 field goals made, 24 of them were three-pointers. Becker also showed to be an imposing defensive presence. If Becker continues to work on her long-range jumpers, she will be an outside weapon to be feared coming off the bench throughout her KU career.
Becker was unable to play in the early portion of the sea-
Nichelle Roberts
— Freshman Forward
3.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg,
46.9 field goal
percentage
Becker
Roberts showed to be exactly the type of player Washington wanted
Roberts
on her team — a scrappy, tough forward who gives it her all every time out on the floor. Once Roberts began to see more time on the floor, she proved to be a solid replacement for either Kemp or Ransburg when they were in foul trouble. Roberts' offensive numbers tailed off at the end of the year, but she will be an outstanding role player for a team going into next season with postseason dreams.
0. 7 ppg, 0.3 rpg, 10 games played
Ebony Haliburton — Freshman Forward
Sure, Haliburton's stats as a freshman were not what one might consider impressive, but to see her contribution to the team, you would have to watch her in practices and on the bench during games. Haliburton is one of the team's most vocal members on the sidelines, and she is the same way in practice. She makes everyone around her a tougher player. Haliburton has also drawn praise from her coaches as being friendly and outgoing with fans off the court, helping to give the program a positive reputation.
Haliburton
Next season, incoming freshmen Lauren Ervin and Sharita Smith will add to what is already a large pool of young talent in the women's basketball program. Washington thinks they will have a smooth transition, benefiting from the experience around them. The experience this year's newcomers received was the most satisfying of all. Not only did they suffer growing pains as a collective whole, but used the season's hard-learned lessons to teach each other and grow as one.
Edited by Jason Elliott
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