oB SPORTS
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
THE UNIVERSITY OF HARLY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2009
2 guards, 2 forwards freshly added to the lineup
BY CHRISTIAN LUCERO AND BEN WARD clucero@kansan.com bward@kansan.com
Last week, The Kansan profiled three of the seven 'newbies' to the women's basketball team — Rhea Codio, Angel Goodrich and Tania Jackson. Today, The Kansan will conclude the two-part feature by highlighting the team's four remaining newcomers.
ANNETTE DAVIS
Having Antonio Davis, a 13-year NBA veteran, as a father would give most some notion of entitlement and complacency. Annette Davis, however, was never one to settle for just that.
"Everyone says I play like him, but just staying in the gym with my coaches and sister made me the player I am," Davis said.
The 6-foot-1 inch forward and 2009 McDonald's All-American nominee was on the radar for both Missouri and Texas A&M, but Annette said she saw a difference
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in Kansas, which made the decision easier.
"The fact that everyone believes we have a chance to do something big was important for me," Davis said.
Coming to a school with eight returning letter winners, Annette said staying in the gym would be a big factor in adjusting to Big 12 basketball and competing for playing time. Coach Bonnie Henrickson said Annette's short learning curve had helped ease the transition to university play, and the graduate from Bellaire High School said she expected the team's work in the offseason to pay off with more than just wining.
"Expect something different," Davis said. "We want a big turnout
This year's freshmen add to an already talented team and include: Annette Davis, Carolyn Davis, Monica Engelman and Marisha Brown.
because we're not going to settle for just anything this year."
"We really want turnouts," she said. "We're a good team, but it seems like we get outshined by the boys. We want people to come out and see the girls are just as good as the boys."
CAROLYN DAVIS
Annette and Carolyn Davis aren't sisters, though an argument could be made for it by taking a closer look. Both attended high school in Houston and played on the same Amateur Athletic Union team. Carolyn, like Annette, averaged a double-double during her senior year, notching 19 points and 11 rebounds per game. She also garnered numerous postseason accolades while catching the eye of the same big time schools.
Having the same last name doesn't hurt the comparison, either. Given all of the similarities between the two, it isn't surprising that Carolyn also has high expectations for her freshman season.
Ultimately though, Carolyn simply hopes to add to an already talented lavihawk roster.
"KU had a great year last year," she said. "But I think I can bring a lot to the team. Now I just have to keep in shape and be ready to play."
MARISHA BROWN
"The competition is never as great, so it's going to be hard to get used to." Brown said.
As a junior college transfer, Marisha Brown never thought adjusting to the Division I level of play would be easy.
attended in three years. As far as work in the classroom goes, Brown said she doesn't foresee any problems, but that the work on the court is a challenge – one that she is more than up to.
"Now that everyone's as athletic as everyone else, all I can do now is work to be as athletic as I can and get better every day," Brown said.
But Brown is well-acustomed to change, her move to Lawrence marking the third college she has
She also said that her coaches and teammates were making the transition easier.
Brown should help bolster the Jayhawk backcourt with what Henrickson described as a combination of speed, athleticism and strength. Add to that list her in-
game experience: She started all 32 of her team's games last season and averaged 14 points and seven rebounds per contest.
MONICA ENGELMAN
In selecting Monica Engelman, Kansas adds a guard with All-State accolades in Texas, coming off of her senior season with averages of 17.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, and more than three steals and assists per game.
Though Engelman was unavailable for comment this week, Henrickson spoke glowingly of the strengths of the new guard.
Henrickson said. "She has the ability to score in different ways, and can create her own shot."
Described by Henrickson as soft-spoken and a player who leads by example, Engelman should fit in well with the rest of the Jayhawk guards. Henrickson also said that Engelman had an excellent summer training with the team, and that her transition into fall has been smooth. Be on the lookout for all seven of the newbies, as well as the rest of the Jayhawks, as they get back into action Nov. 1 at Allen Fieldhouse against Pittsburg State.
"She's a very skilled player,"
— Edited by Jacob Muselmann
BASEBALL Royals recall Gordon from Triple-A Omaha KANSAS CITY.Mo. — The Kansas City Royals have recalled third baseman Alex Gordon from Triple-A Omaha and selected
the contract of left-hander Lenny DINardo.
The No. 2 overall pick in the 2005 draft, Gordon missed three months after hip surgery in April and hit .227 in 22 games before the Royals sent him down to Omaha on Aug.18.
DiNardo, 29, was 10-5 with a 3.32 ERA in 29 games for Omaha, including 23 starts. He will start Thursday against Detroit, pushing ace Zack Greinke back a day.
The Royals placed right-hander Doug Waechter (shoulder surgery) on the 60-day DL to make
room for DiNardo on the 40-man roster on Tuesday.
Kansas City is still awaiting word on starters Brian Bannister and Gil Meche, who are bothered by shoulder fatigue.
Associated Press
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