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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Junior guard strives to be consistent leader
KATHLEEN GIER
kgier@kansan.com
Sophomore guard Keena Mays rolled up a piece of paper and held it out to junior guard Angel Goodrich like a microphone. As Goodrich continued talking with a reporter, Mays nodded and tried to fight off laughter.
Goodrich sat, poised and professional, ignoring Mays. Staying focused despite distraction is a specialty for Goodrich, a point guard from Tahlequah, Okla.
She has not had an easy career so far at Kansas. She tore her ACL during the second practice of her freshman year, and she did so again the next season. However, when healthy, she is one of the Jayhawks leaders.
"Angel has always been someone
"Even when she doesn't think I am looking, I am looking at her and seeing how I can improve my game."
KEENA MAYS
Sophomore guard
who, behind closed doors or away from everybody, says the right things and leads by example," coach Bonnie Henrickson said.
Goodrich started all 27 games she played in last season and led the conference in assists with 6.3 per game.
Henrickson said she is never late to practice and is always where she needs to be.
"I don't think I have ever yelled at Angel. Honestly, I don't think I have," Henrickson said. "You talk about the model of consistency from how she practices to how she plays. That is exactly who you want all your kids to be."
Last season, Goodrich was named the team's best defender, received the Sheahon Zenger Leadership Award and was a V
Foundation Comeback Award finalist.
"Those awards that she won — we nominated her and voted for her." Mays said. "She is definitely a leader on the team."
Goodrich said the awards mean a lot, but she is just as happy to be a leader and an example for the team.
"I want to be a leader to where we push and we make that bar," she said. "I want to be someone they look up to and respect and come talk to for help."
Mays said she goes to Goodrich for help and sees her as an example
to model her game after.
"I don't know if she knows it, but I look up to her a lot," Mays said. "Even when she doesn't think I am looking, I am looking at her and seeing how I can improve my game."
The Jayhawks are predicted to finish seventh in the Big 12 Conference by the coaches. On Oct. 31, Goodrich will get her first chance of the year to lead the Jayhawks to what they hope will be their first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2000.
Edited by Jayson Jenks
MAX MIKULECKY/KANSAN
Junior guard Angel Goodrich is surrounded by reporters during Tuesday's media day held at Allen Fieldhouse. Goodrich now wears the number 3 jersey, changing from 23 last season.
Sophomore guard Angel Goodrich goes up for a basket last season against Oklahoma. Goodrich is one of the team's leaders.
ASHLEIGH LEE/KANSAN FILE PHOTO
THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS UNIVERSITY THEATRE
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