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KANSAN.COM
SPORTS
Kansas falls to OSU in first round of Big 12 tournament
JARED ANDERSON
@jAnderson_383
March 3, 2016 was a day that Kansas women's basketball defied the odds, upsetting TCU in the first round of the Big 12 championship after failing to pick up a single regular season conference win in 2016.
Bedshirt-junior guard Jessica Washington dribbles past a defender in a game against Kansas State.
Fast forward to 2017 and two regular season conference wins later, and Kansas (8-22, Big 12 2-16) was unable to repeat history, falling to Oklahoma State (17-13, Big 12 6-12) in the opening round of the Big 12 Championship, 79-75.
Although the loss cut the Jayhawks' season a bit short, this season, the team undoubtedly held greater aspirations. The additions of redshirt-sophomore McKenzie Calvert and redshirt-junior Jessica Washington provided the team with additional talent and Kansas' five active seniors instilled an undeniable drive for success.
However, even with their 67-49 win over the Cowgirls earlier this year, the Jayhawks' failed to capitalize on their opportunity, but not without a fight.
In a matchup that was anticipated by many to result in a back-and-forth battle, the outcome did not disappoint.
Caitlynn Salazar/KANSAN
As the first quarter unfolded, neither team managed to capitalize on their lead. While Oklahoma State concluded the first quarter up 15-11, in the second, Kansas' efforts amplified. The Jayhawks refused to let deficit get out of hand, staying on the tails of the Cowgirls throughout the quarter and capturing the lead with 2:57 remaining.
Yet, Oklahoma State took over in the closing minutes, entering the half up 32-29.
Unfortunately for Kansas, Oklahoma State furthered its momentum in the third.
Despite the Jayhawks' dominant play down the stretch - going on a 12-0 run in the fourth - the Cowgirls held the lead throughout the entirety of the half, ultimately propelling them to the second round of the Big 12 tournament.
Oklahoma State dominated on both ends of the floor in the win. Junior centers Kaylee Jensen and Mandy Coleman each had significant double doubles, with senior
guard Diana Omozee contributing 21 points and eight rebounds.
"Coleman had 18 rebounds, 14 points, and Jensen had 23 points, 12 rebounds, so if we get outrebounded 53-24, it's going to be really hard to win those games," Kansas Associate Head Coach Aqua Franklin said.
Kansas had its own
fair share of standout performances as well
Washington - Kansas' go-to player this season and 2017 Big 12 Newcomer of the Year — stepped up once again, along with sophomore guard Kylee Kopatich, with their 18-point showings.
forward Jada Brown. Brown embodied what it means to leave it all out on the floor, notching 14 points and six rebounds on 6-of-10 shooting.
But the unsung hero in her final game as a Jayhawk, was senior
"We put up a great fight," Franklin said. "Jada Brown, how about her play? Came out, gave us a big spark, hit a couple of three's, but I thought we lost the game on the
rebounds."
Although the loss or Kansas' seniors will be difficult, Franklin and the coaching staff remain hopeful for next season.
"We'll get some muchneeded rest, then get back in the gym and start working on next season," Franklin said.
Softball can't match batting power in loss to JMU
@jacknadeauk
▶ JACK NADEAU
A shaky start to the Citrus Classic in Orlando, Florida, finished with a shaky finish as No. 12 James Madison (16-3) proved to be too much for Kansas (12-9) in a 5-0 loss Sunday morning. The Jayhawks finished the classic with a 2-4 record.
Sophomore ace Alexis Reid started for the Jayhawks, which was her third start of the weekend, fourth of the classic. Reid, from Blue Spring, Missouri, had trouble with the Bulldogs all morning. After giving up a double and RBI single in the bottom of the first inning, Reid surrendered a walk and three base hits in the second inning to put Kansas in a 2-0 hole early.
The Jayhawks were able to put a scoring threat together in the third
inning with sophomore Emily Bermel leading off the inning with a single. A walk later drawn from senior Lily Behrmann and a base on error by junior Jessie Roane loaded the bases, but a ground out junior Harli Ridling to shortstop snuffed out any scoring.
Freshman Mandy Roberts was called upon in her consistent relief role after three innings of work from Reid. Roberts breezed through the fourth inning with little issues, but was hit hard in the fifth.
In the sixth frame,
Roberts, from Lee's Summit, Missouri, allowed the first three batters to reach by way of a walk and singles, which plated a run. Then, after retiring the next hitter, Roberts surrendered another RBI single to leave the Jayhawks trailing 4-0.
consecutive singles from Ridling and junior Erin McGinley gave Kansas another great scoring chance, as both runners advanced to second and third on a wild pitch. But, Bulldog pitcher Madison Good struck out the next two batters to end the inning and leave two runners stranded in scoring position.
Reid did not look as sharp in her third appearance of the weekend and the loss dropped her record to 6-4. McGinley led the team with two hits on Sunday and stole her 11th base in as many attempts this season. The Jayhawks
Senior pitcher Sophia Templin was called to relieve Roberts, but even she struggled to retire Bulldog batters. A double and ensuing single pushed another run across and gave James Madison a 5-0 lead.
left eight runners on base during Sunday's matchup, including six left in scoring position.
The Jayhawks head home to their first home games of the 2017 campaign, with five games
scheduled March 10-13 in the Jayhawk Invitational.