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8B THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2006
Amanda Sellers/KANSAN
Large crowd will soon be overshadowed
The crowd of 5,467 on Saturday was the second-largest of the season at Allen Fieldhouse, but will likely move to third after Thursday's game. Kansas State fans are famous for making the drive into Lawrence to watch the women's basketball Sunflower Showdown.
Sallard sits
Missouri made 21 consecutive free throws to open the game, tying a school record. Kansas improves to a perfect 3-0 in overtime games.
Statistics to watch
Saint Marie
Freshman guard Sophronia Sal-lerd did not suit up for the game with an unspecified medical condition, but did sit with the team on the bench.
it is the first time the women's basketball team has scored 75 points, the free windshield,wiper, fluid mark, since Dec. 30.
Michael Phillips
Kansas leads Missouri 11.5 to 7 in the Border Showdown series this season.
Senior guard Erica Hallman drives past Missouri senior center Christelle N'Garsanet during the first half of Saturday's game in Allen Fieldhouse. Hallman scored a career-high of 29 points and a game-high of eight assists.
Overtime
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B
The call caught almost everyone in Allen Fieldhouse off-guard, and Savant made her three free throws amidst a chorus of boos. Overtime was a different story, as Kansas made a point of striking first.
"Right at the start of overtime we went up six, and I said 'there's no turning back from here,'" Hallman said.
Kansas also benefited because one of Missouri's star players, guard LaToya Bond, fouled out at the end of regulation. Bond scored 31 points against the Jayhawks in the previous meeting, but was held to just four points Saturday.
"That's 27 points they don't have," Kemp said. "And when
you take a key player out of the offense, it kind of disturbs the rest of them."
For the Jayhawks, the team is peaking at the right time. The final regular season game will be Thursday night against Kansas State. What has been a one-sided rivalry in favor of the Wildcats will be a close game, as both teams look to earn a trip to the postseason in front of a national television audience.
"These kids are fortunate; they get two senior nights," Henrickson said, referring to the Kansas State and Missouri games. The Jayhawks appear to have reclaimed some of the magic from their 12-0 start, and it couldn't have come at a better time.
Edited by Lindsey Gold
Smith brings pressure
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
BY RYAN SCHEIDER
tsclineider@kansan.com
KANSAN SENIOR SPORTWRITER
Junior guard Sherita Smith goes up for a rebound in the second half of Saturday's game. The Jayhawks defeated Missouri in overtime 81-71.
Megan True/KANSAN
After watching tape of the loss at Texas Tech at practice on Thursday, Sharita Smith had an unusual request for her coach.
The junior guard asked Kansas coach Bonnie Hendrickson if they could walk together to the floor before practice.
"She said, 'I feel like I let my seniors down and I let my team down
Smith certainly had no reason to feel like she let her teammates down after Saturday's performance against Missouri.
Despite logging only one point in the 81-71 overtime victory against the Tigers, Smith's presence was felt on defense. She held Missouri's leading scorer, senior guard LaToya Bond, to just five points.
Despite logging
only one point in the 81-71 overtime victory against the Tigers, Smith's presence was felt on defense. She held Missouri's leading scorer, senior guard LaToya Bond, to just five points.
"We don't win without Sharita Smith, no matter what the box score says," Henrickson said. "Her defensive pressure was great today."
Smith's defense also forced Bond into a season-high seven turnovers.
Bond was frustrated all afternoon by Smith's pressure, which cut off Bond's attempts to drive to the basket and get open shots.
"Coach has told me plenty of times that my defensive pressure can make a difference," Smith said. "I just knew I had to come out and put a lot of pressure on the ball."
Smith also spent time in the second half guard Missouri guard Tiffany Brooks after Brooks scored 16 points in the first half.
On several possessions, Smith started the offensive set guarding Bond, but switched assignments to guard Brooks.
The defensive switches proved to be effective, with Brooks scoring only 10 points
in the second half and overtime.
Smith started her stretch of solid defensive performances earlier in the month against Nebraska.
She held the Cornhuskers' leading scorer, Kiera Hardy, scoreless in the second half. In the next game, Smith held Iowa State's leading scorer Lyndsey Medders to 2-12 shooting from the field.
In Thursday's regular season finale, Smith will get the chance to go against Kansas State's young back court, which includes two freshmen starters.
- Edited by Lindsey Gold
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