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16B • THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PREVIEW
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 7, 2001
Senior guard KC Hilgenkamp could become the centerpiece of the Jayhawks' offense. Hilgenkamp had nine points, five assists and three steals in Kansas' exhibition game loss last night at Allen Fieldhouse.
Jayhawks hope to rebuild in conference
By Jessica Scott
ansan sportswriter
By Jessica Scott
Kansas sportswife.
After a disappointing 12-17 season last year, the Kansas women's basketball team finds itself in an unfamiliar role — that of the underdog.
Kansas is picked to finish 11th in the Big 12 presseason poll. With the loss of players who contributed more than half of the scoring from last season, the Jayhawks
enter into a transitional period.
VANSAN FILE PHOTO
"We are a program that has always competed in the Top 25, but every once in a while you find yourself at that junction where you're kind of rebuilding and that's where we are at," said coach Marian Washington. "I feel like I am in a juncture in the program that I have not experienced in a long time, but we are reloading."
Senior guard Selena Scott hopes to heat up Kansas' offense this year after providing five points per game for the Jayhawks last year.
The Jayhawks will be led by a group of five seniors with only two returning starters: 5-foot-10 guard K.C. Hilgenkamp and 5-5 guard Selena Scott. Katie Hannon, a 6-2 guard/forward, adds depth to Kansas' roster while 6-6 center Kristin Geoffroy and 6-3 center Nikki White round out the senior class.
"We have some fine seniors who are going to be great leaders and a key to the stability of our program," Washington said.
Hilgenkamp, who begins her second year as a Jayhawk after
for additional previews of women's Big 12 basketball go to www.kansan.com
transferring from Hutchinson Community College, is expected to improve her game from last season, when she averaged 7.6 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists per contest. The Arlington, Neb., native is optimistic about the coming season.
"Selena Scott's role is very important," Washington said. "She's the
Washington said she would look to Hilgenkamp as well as Scott for additional scoring for the Jayhawks.
"I think we have a lot of great people coming in, and the returnees know what we need to do to get the job done this year," she said.
washing him known that "This year we will be anchored by some really strong seniors,but we're going to have to look to these young players,"she said
However, the benefits of senior experience only go so far, and Washington knows this.
most experienced guard we've got, and she's very capable of scoring outside."
The young players that Washington will look to this season include sophomores Leila Menguc, Sharonne Spencer and Keila Beachem. Menguc, a 5-6 guard from Stockholm, Sweden
juncture in the program that I have not experienced in a long time, but we are reloading."
"I feel like I am in a
Marian Washington Kansas women's basketball coach
The four freshman Jahwacks — Brandi McGinest, Valerie Migicovsky, Chelsea Thompson and Blair Waltz — already have lofty goals and an optimistic mindset for the 2001 season. Waltz, a 6-0 guard from Leawood, has battled illness during the preseason but will be ready for the beginning of the season. However, forwards Thompson and McGinest have already shown signs of what they can do.
appeared in 20 games last season while Spencer, who received a medical redshirt last season, and Beachem, who is a junior college transfer, have yet to play a game in a Kansas uniform.
"Chelsey Thompson and Brandi McGinest should both step up and contribute to the team's success," Washington said.
"They're all fine players and will all contribute in some way," she said of the freshmen.
sale of the inexperience
and youth of the team, this year's
outlook is uncertain. However,
the energy and optimism that the
players exhibit will aid them
greatly during the course of the
season, Washington said.
season,
"Hopefully it will not be too long until we are back in the hunt," she said. "As always, anything can happen and we are hoping to surprise some people."
Contact Scott at 864-4858
Senior center Kristin Geoffroy could be a mainstay inside the paint. She averaged 4.4 points in about 15 minutes per game last year. KANSAN FILE PHOTO
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