6B | SPORTS THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAS MONDAY; FEBRUARY 23, 2009 KANSAS 2632-58 IOWA STATE 24 23 — 47 KANSAS (14-11,3-9) Player FG-FGA 3FG-3FGA Rebs A Pts Danielle McCray 8-19 2-5 16 3 24 Nicollette Smith 1-3 0-1 3 0 2 Krysten Boogaard 2-3 0-0 4 0 8 LaChelda Jacobs 2-3 0-0 1 1 4 Ivana Catic 0-1 0-1 3 6 2 Aishah Sutherland 1-3 0-0 0 0 2 Kelly Kohn 0-2 0-1 0 0 0 Sade Morris 5-10 0-2 5 1 16 Porscha Weddington 0-0 0-0 1 0 0 Team 1 Total 19-44 2-10 34 11 58 NO.21 IOWA STATE (19-7, 7-5)
PlayerFG-FGA3FG-3FGARebsAPts
Nicky Wieben6-162-37019
Amanda Nisleit0-50-3312
Alison Lacey3-111-20210
Kelsey Bolte1-80-2812
Heather Ezell3-80-42210
WhitneyWilliams00000
Denae Stuckey0-30-2500
Ashley Arlen1-20-2212
Toccara Ross1-20-0202
Team4
Total15-553-1633747
notes WEDDINGTON SEES INCREASED MINUTES During practice last week, coach Bonnie Henrickson told junior forward Porscha Weddington she may be called upon against Iowa State. What's the big deal? Weddington had played just three minutes in Kansas' last seven games, but played 17 minutes of physical defense on Sunday "I thought she came out and played with confidence," Henrickson said. SMITH LEAVES WITH INJURY BUTRETURNS With just less than 11 minutes remaining in the game, sophomore forward Nicollette Smith had to be walked off the court. Smith, who wears a brace on her right knee, didn't put any pressure on her right leg while being assisted to the bench. She returned, however, with 3:24 left in the game despite a noticeable limp. Henrickson said the extent of the injury is unknown. Jayson Jenks The Jayhawks used a switching defense in their victory over Iowa State and Clark reminisces about his old dives playing in front of big days playing in front of big crowds. Danielle McCay channeled her inner Charles Barkley and pulled down rebound after rebound. She did about everything else. BY CLARK GOBLE cgoble@kansan.com Jayhawks end their four-game losing streak, largest crowd of the season boosts energy Rvan McGeenev/KANSAN It's a surprise that Danielle McCray didn't sell popcorn at the concession stands in Allen Fieldhouse at halftime yesterday afternoon against No. 21 Iowa State. McCray dazzles against Iowa State Junior guard Danielle McCray drives to the basket past an Iowa State defense during Sunday's 58-47 victory in Allen Fieldhouse. But it was her 16 boards and defensive effort that truly showed she dominated from the opening tip. She had three steals and three blocks and took a charge in the second half with the outcome still well up in the air. McCray scored 24 points, a few more than her average. They came in mostly the same way they have all season: pull-up jumpers from the right and left wing in the eyes of her defender. Junior guard Kelly Kohn angles for a pass under the basket during the first half of Sunday's game against ISU in Allen Fieldhouse. Ryan McGeeeney/KANSAN "I thought her focus and energy WOMEN'S BASKETBALL "When you need a basket, you can't just let it come to you," McCray said about clutch situations. "You gotta get it." shots in the entire game. McCray thought it was just "one three towards the end" that she rushed, but the sentiment was clear. With just under five minutes left and the game tight, McCray went and got it. She took a charge on one end, hit a tough jumper over Iowa State's Danae Stuckey on the next possession, and rebounded an Iowa State miss back on defense. The shot was big, but the two stops on the defensive end were bigger. Both Henrickson and McCray agreed that the energy of the larger crowd helped in the defensive effort. "Kids feed off of that," Henrickson said. "I don't think it bothers Iowa State, but I know it helps our kids. I know it does." was better, she just hasn't had much energy defensively," coach Bonnie Henrickson said. However, McCray did not, and will not, shy away from attacking the hoop with the game on the line. - Edited by Realle Roth iy said she decided to WOMEN'S (CONTINUED FROM 1B) "I let everything come to me." McCray said. "It was kind of hard to do the McCray said, make a change to give more effort on the defensive end because against good teams such as Iowa State there was no room for error. One missed assignment on a screen can end up in three points. McCray said that earlier in the year, she "couldn't transfer" from offense to defense. Missed shots on the offensive end would bother her on the defensive end. Against Iowa State, she focused on both sides of the ball. DANIELLE MCCRAY Junior guard "I think we did a great job of staying focused and talking and communicating and making them feel rushed the whole game." McCray said. "When you need a basket, you can't just let it come to you. You gotta go get it." But even a cynic could have found peace inside Allen Fieldhouse on Sunday afternoon, when Kansas snapped a four-game losing streak while honoring the ongoing fight against breast cancer. Dressed in pink uniforms, Kansas defeated its first ranked opponent since Jan. 3, 2006. "Oh my goodness, it just feels great to win," junior guard Sade Morris said. "I don't even know what to say." This season, taking care of business has been a nagging problem for Kansas. The Jayhawks have rarely been blown out this season, instead losing many games because of a poor stretch in the second half. Roll to The Wheel for lunch-it's tradition $4.50 Cheeseburger, fries and a soda Valid all of February Mon-Thurs, 11-2. Any age to eat, 21 and over to drink. UPGRADE TO A WANG BURGER FOR $1.25 MORE ... As heard on ESP More than 50 years at 14th and Ohio Facing an aggressive three-point firing Iowa State team, though, Kansas never trailed in the second half. Down the stretch, instead of fading, the Jayhawks actually expanded their lead. "We had to bust our butts," Morris said. "We were like, 'It's crunch time. Let's get it done. Let's get a win today.'" In the first half, Kansas made 52 percent of its shots and held a 26-24 lead at halftime. Kansas' two leading scorers, juniors Danielle McCray and Morris, carried the Jayhawks, scoring 24 and 16 points respectively. Yet, it was Kansas' defense — inconsistent and maligned at times this season — that truly allowed the Jayhawks to maintain a lead. knock down threes so you have to play with your hand high the whole time." sophomore forward Nicollette Smith said. "That's been the emphasis the whole week during practice: keep a high-hand and on ball pressure." Perhaps the moment Kansas began confidently sensing victory happened with slightly more than eight minutes still remaining in the game. Kansas held Iowa State, the Big-12 leader in made threes, to just three three-pointers, while blocking nine shots and coming away with six steals. With the shot clock nearing zero, senior guard Ivana Catic passed up a three-point shot and found McCray wide open for an uncontested three-pointer. McCray's three not only gave Kansas a 44-39 cushion, but it provided a spark for the Jayhawks. "They can come off screens and "I thought it was the point of the game where we were like 'there's no turning back and there's no way we can mess this up," Catic said. "We had to get a win." — Edited by Realle Roth