Wednesday
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
8B = THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
TUESDAY, JANUARY 21. 2003
Colorado tramples on women's team
By Ryan Greene
rgreene@kanasun.com
kansan Sportswinter
The Kansas women's basketball team found itself in unfamiliar territory following Saturday's 71-50 loss against Colorado (13-2, 3-1).
For the first time this season, they had a losing record.
The Buffaloes stamped through Allen Fieldhouse, leaving Kansas coach Marian Washington and her players' weaknesses exposed.
"We didn't shoot the ball very well," Washington said. "We were rushing a lot of shots, whether they were right under or 15 feet in."
Jared Soares/Kansan
Two Swedes square off, KU point Leila Mengüç directs a traffic while her Colorado counterpart Maria Billingsley puts on the pressure.
Sophomore guard Aquanita Burras struggled on the floor Saturday, missing her first nine shots of the game. She came on late, finishing with 7 points.
In the first half, Kansas (7-8, 0-4) could not seem to find its comfort level. The Jayhawks headed to the break shooting only 29.4 percent from the field, going 10-for-34. The team made nearly half its shots in the second half, but it was not enough to compensate for Colorado's 27-for-46 shooting.
Freshman forward Tamara Ransburg led the Jayhawks in the point column with 13 points. Ransburg was close to a double-double with nine rebounds, and another blocked shot kept her in the top 15 in the nation in the category.
Junior guard Kate Fagan led the way for the Buffaloes, draining six three-point shots in the contest, including her first four attempts of the second half. Fagan ended the game with 22 points and seven rebounds.
Sophomore guard Blair Waltz said it was tough for the Jayhawks to execute their offense how they wanted to, but that part of the problem can be easily cured.
To complement Fagan on the perimeter, junior center Tera Bjorkland did the dirty work inside, with 12 points and eight boards.
"Their defense was very aggressive, and we were rushing our offense." Waltz said. "Some of the problem was knocking the shots down, but that's good because it's something we can work on."
Some silver lining to the loss was the spark off the bench from junior forward Keila Beachem.
Beachem added some flair on both ends of the floor when she checked in, ending the game with 4 points, four rebounds, and four steals in 12 minutes played.
Washington said Beachem had some work to do before earning a spot in the regular rotation.
The Jafhawks' next test will come on Wednesday night at
Allen Fieldhouse when they will host the No. 23 Oklahoma Sooners (10-5, 2-1).
Edited by Andrew Ward
Softball CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1A
depth across the board. Bunge said that freshmen Jessica Moppin, Nettie Fierros, Destiny Frankenstein and junior Sandy Smith are all well qualified to play third base, short stop or second base. Sophomore Lindsey Weinstein, who suffered a stress fracture on her right foot earlier, will start at first base. Mountain will back her up. Bunge said.
Bunge said she would continue to experiment with the starting lineup during pre-conference play and possibly into the Big 12 season.
Bunge said her squad has been practicing on their own time all throughout the winter.
"I don't think I've ever seen a team like this grab their bats on their own and take extra batting practice," she said. "That was across the board and that excites the coaching staff."
The coach hopes all the batting practice will pay off next month as the team tries to improve on last year's 33-25 record (7-11 in the Big 12).
"We have a lot of question marks because we have so many new faces." Bunge said. "We're hoping to quickly get off the roller coaster of being a young team and even out our play."
Past teammates, childhood friends meet at Allen Fieldhouse Saturday
— Edited by Andrew Ward
By Shane Mettlen
smettlen@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
The Colorado guard faced off against two former teammates, Aquanita Burns and Loila Mengue.
Maria Billingsley earned a double dose of bragging rights Saturday afternoon.
as her Buffaloes beat the Jayhawks 71-50 in Allen Fieldhouse.
Burras and Billingsley played together in the junior-college ranks last season at Central Arizona College. They helped lead the Vaqueros to a 26-1 record last season.
A native of Stockholm, Sweden, Billingsley and Menguc, Kansas' Swedish import, both
played on the Swedish National team before moving to the United States. They are used to suiting up against each other though.
"There are two major clubs in Stockholm," Mengüc said. "We played on different teams growing up. It's a very friendly rivalry. The last couple of years before we came over here we played on
"I've been really excited to see them again," Billingsley said. "It's fun to come here in the U.S. and play against people I have played since I was a little kid. With Aqua it does feel kind of strange to have her on the other side."
national teams together."
Billingley relished the chance to face the familiar opponents.
Billingsley's Buffaloes not only won the game, but she also won the statistical battle. Billingsley came off the bench to post eight points, five rebounds and three assists in 24 minutes of playing time. Burras and Menguc both started for the Jayhawks and played 34 and 21 minutes respectively. Burras managed only seven
points, four below her average and four rebounds with no assists. Mengue had three points, two rebounds and an assist.
Billingsley's performance helped Colorado drop the Jayhawks' record to 7-8 overall and 0-4 in Big 12 play.
Edited by Jason Elliott
kansan.com The online edition of The University Daily Kansan student perspective
- Maintanence & Repair
- Machine Shop Service
- ASE Master Technicians
- Diagnostic Service
WOMEN OF KU CALENDAR PERSONALIZED AUTOGRAPHING Wednesday, January 22, 3-5 PM
$6.95 CALENDARS AVAILABLE NOW!
"...At the top of the Hill"
1425 Crescent LA, Lawrence, KS 785.843.3826
We Buy, Sell & Trade USED & NEW Sports Equipment
PLAY IT AGAIN!
SPORTS
841-PLAY 1029 Massachusetts
FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY
Get more minutes than ever before!
New UNBEATABLE rate plans and UNBEATABLE phone prices-NOW-while supplies last! Activation required, call or stop by today!
600 Whenever Minutes Unlimited Nights & Weekends
GET MORE PLAN
$29.99 PER MO.
$3999 PER MO.
TALK & TEXT PLAN
Simple Answers
300 Whenever Wherever Minutes Unlimited Weekend Wherever Minutes 500 Text Messages OR 1MB T-Zones Service
Simple Solutions Simply Wireless
Simply Wireless T Mobile authorized dealer
19th & Mass • LAWRENCE • (785) 842-5200
19th & Mass • LAWRENCE • (785) 422-3260
4651 W. 6th • LAWRENCE (Between Blockbuster & Pizza Hut) • (785) 749-1850
1602 S. Main • OTTAWA (Next to Taco Tico) • (785) 242-5400 Toll Free 800-977-4659
Other Locations In Emporia & Garnett