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MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Hawkins emerges as strong shooter late in season
MAX GOODWIN
mgoodwin@kansan.com
Junior Markisha Hawkins walked into practice last Monday with a job to do. There was just one problem:
the 5'9 guard couldn't do it without cracking a smile.
She looked to a group of reporters and said with a slight grin on her face, "You need to talk to her to die."
Hawkins
her today?"
"OK. I'll see what I can do," Hawkins said as she walked off in laughter.
She's talking about senior guard Angel Goodrich, who rarely goes a day without being asked for an interview. Hawkins just wants to help the seniors in any way that she can.
Of course, it's just a joke. Hawkins has had a good laugh from pretending to be the press secretary for Goodrich for most of the season. She hasn't had much of a real role on the team until now.
"Just sitting," Hawkins said, "and learning from what my teammates do. I watched every game."
But that's all starting to change.
Before Kansas was eliminated from the Big 12 tournament with a loss to Iowa State in the quarterfinals, Hawkins had been on a three-game scoring outburst where she averaged 12 points per game.
If that average alone isn't impressive, it began in the 28th game of the season, at Oklahoma. Before then, Hawkins had only scored 11 points in all 27 games for the Jayhaws. She had only received playing time in a third of those games.
So, how does a player go from the last player on the bench to the team's starting shooting guard?
"Just staying positive and being patient," Hawkins said.
A year ago, Hawkins, from Little Rock, Ark., signed with Kansas coach Bonnie Henrickson, leaving Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas. She, there was an男健men-
tion on the NICAA All-American list and averaged 15.4 points per game.
Grades were not the issue for Hawkins. She took the junior college route because she wasn't satisfied with the colleges that offered her a scholarship after high school. She went to Tyler to prove herself and ensure that she ended up at the NCAA program where she belonged.
Her teammates and coaches call her "Hawk," which suggests Hawkins is fitting in well within the Kansas locker room.
Despite the lack of playing time with the Jayhawks, Hawkins continued to practice in high spirits every day with the intention of learning something new and improving her game.
"All year she has asked really good questions," Henrickson said. "She hasn't sat there and felt sorry for herself."
Hawkins was shooting free throws at practice last Monday when Henrickson approached her and said she would be in the starting lineup on Senior Night against TCU, after she scored 11 points against Oklahoma.
Hawkins turned out to be just the piece Kansas needed for a win on senior night. She had 15 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists in the 74-67 victory.
"She brought a spark," Henrickson said after the game. "She brought energy."
Nothing seemed to make Hawkins happier that night than when the game was over and the Senior Night win was official.
The 15 points that Hawkins scored were an afterthought, though she admits that even she was surprised by the scoring outburst. Hawkins just couldn't see the three seniors leave Allen Fieldhouse with a loss in their final home game.
"I was so happy that we won the game and could make the seniors happy on senior day," Hawkins said.
She ran and met Goodrich at center court after the victory, and wrapped her arm around the senior.
"I was like 'I told you I was
going to do this for you," Hawkins said to Goodrich. "It was just a happy moment."
It's not uncommon to see Hawkins alone in the gym nearly a half hour before practice. She has worked hard for these happy moments, and hopes that they will keep coming.
The seniors recognize the effort that Hawkins has put in during practice this season and appreciated the spark she provided them on Senior Night.
"She's been working hard, and has been consistent," senior guard Monica Engelman said. "She gave us a little something, and we needed that."
Senior forward Carolyn Davis said that Hawkins earned her spot in the starting lineup. Goodrich seemed especially happy with the impressive performance from Hawkins.
"I'm proud of Markisha," Goodrich said. "She played really well. She was aggressive and attacked and knocked down shots. I'm so proud of her."
The next day Hawkins sits in the practice gym alone, waiting for the rest of her team to get ready for an afternoon practice.
A smile crosses her face when she's asked how it feels to hear the seniors say they are proud of her.
"It feels great," Hawkins says. "It's just about the seniors right now. Just doing whatever it takes for them to just keep it rolling and get win after win, but it starts in practice. Seeing a smile on their face makes me real happy, so whatever they need me to do, I'll do"
After Hawkins' recent performance, the Jayhawks will likely need her for more than just setting up Goodrich's interviews.
For now, Kansas is on the bubble for the NCAA tournament. The seniors still aren't sure how their college careers will end, but Markisha Hawkins is doing anything she can to help send them out on a positive note.
Edited by Elise Reuter
WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Canada's Jameson Taillon throws against the United States in the first inning of a World Baseball Classic baseball game on Sunday in Phoenix.
U.S. beats Canada, advances to second round of Classic
Jones and Hosmer both had a rough week at the plate but came through with the United States on the brink of what would have been a humbling loss. Jones' hit was his second in nine at-bats. Hosmer was 3 for 13.
PHOENIX — Adam Jones doubled in the tying and go-ahead runs in the eighth inning, Eric Hosmer hit a three-run double in the ninth and the United States beat Canada 9-4 on Sunday to advance to the second round of the World Baseball Classic.
Down to their last several outs, the U.S. trailed 3-2 after seven innings before breaking loose. Team USA and Italy advanced in Group D while Canada and Mexico were eliminated.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Gold Glove second baseman Brandon Phillips contributed, too, making a diving stop to prevent Canada from tying it in the eighth.
Canada's Michael Saunders, of the Seattle Mariners, hit a two-run homer off starter Derek Holland and was chosen the Group D MVP, going 8 for 11 in the tournament.
Heath Bell pitched a scoreless seventh to get the victory for manager Joe Torre's team. Jimmy Henderson took the loss.
The United States finished group play tied with Italy at 2-1 but gets the No. 1 seed because of its 6-2 win over Italy. The U.S. meets the loser of Sunday's Dominican Republic-Puerto Rico game Tuesday in Miami.
David Wright, whose grand slam lifted the U.S. past Italy Saturday night, doubled and walked three times. Ben Zobrist had three hits, none of which left the infield.
Canada, coming off a 10-3 win over Mexico that featured a bruising ninth-inning brawl, finished 1-2. The Canadians have not made it out of the first round for any of the three WBCs.
But they looked in great shape much of the afternoon against the United States, which was looking to avoid its worst showing ever in the tournament. The Americans made it to the second round in 2006 and the semifinals in 2009.
For the third straight game, the U.S. fell behind early.
Justin Morneau, who was 8 for 12 in the tournament for Canada, doubled to start the second, then Saunders hit Holland's 1-0 pitch into the bullpen down the right field line to make it 2-0.
The U.S. tied it with two runs in the fourth, one unearned.
Joe Mauer led off with a single and Wright walked. Zobrist put down a near-perfect bunt for a base hit, with third baseman Taylor Green throwing wildly to first and allowing a run to score. Jones' sacrifice fly to center brought in the tying run.
Green, playing third for Canada because Brett Lawrie was hurt just before the WBC began, also had an error in the second when he dropped Zobrist's high pop fly ball in the bright sunlight.
Canada regained the lead at 3-2 in the sixth. Joey Votto drew a leadoff walk from reliever Glen Perkins, took second on Morneau's single. Saunders struck out looking and Chris Robinson flied out, advancing the runner to third. Adam Loewen's first-pitch single brought Votto home.
Mauer opened the eighth with a single, then Wright walked.
Torre made an aggressive move when, with Willie Bloomquist pinch running for Mauer, he sent both runners moving on Henderson's 1-2 pitch to Jones. Jones connected, bringing both runners home. Shane Victorino singled Jones home to make it 5-3.
Canada made it a one-run game in its half of the eighth but would have tied it had it not been for a spectacular defensive play by Phillips. His diving stop of Loewen's bases-loaded grounder allowed one run to score, but kept the U.S. in the lead.
The U.S. broke it open off Scott Matheson and closer John Axford in the ninth.
Phillips started it with a double. Jonathan Lucroy had an RBI single, then Wright walked once again. Oxford came on and allowed the infield single to Zobrist. Jones struck out but Hosmer, a late addition to the team when Matt Teixeira was injured, cleared the bases with a shot to deep center.
Torre benched Miami's dynamic young slugger Giancarlo Stanton in favor of Victorino in left field. He also moved Ryan Braun to designated hitter and put Zobrist in right. Mauer, the DH in the first two games, was the catcher. Stanton was hitless in the first two games, although he did have a pair of deep fly balls in the opening loss to Mexico.
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