THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY,FEBRUARY 7,2007
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
3B
Sarah Leonard/KANSAN
Senior fuels first Big 12 win
Porscha Weddington, freshman forward, shoots over Colorado forward AJ Purina. The Jawahks gained their first victory conference T7-68 in Allen Fieldhouse.
BY ASHER FUSCO
Since arriving at Kansas at the beginning of last season, Shaquina Mosley has experienced the peaks and valleys that every athlete endures. Until recently, Mosley had seen more of the valleys than the mountains.
However, the senior guard's performance Tuesday night in Kansas 70-68 victory against Colorado may have changed some things.
Mosley's arrival at Kansas in fall 2006 was much-heralded, but she failed to live up to the promise bestowed upon her. During her junior season she played only 13 minutes per game and clashed with coach Bonnie Henrickson, earning a late-season suspension.
Early on in the 2007 campaign it looked to be more of the same for the tiny point guard known as "Shaq." A flock of underclassmen ate away at Mosley's playing time, and she looked unimpressive in the minutes she received.
Henrickson inserted Mosley into the starting lineup and granted her the majority of the ball-handling responsibilities as the Jayhawks moved into conference play, Shaq was electric at times but turned the ball over nearly as often as she made an assist.
Against Colorado, Mosley limited her turnovers to two.
"Me and the coaching staff had a conversation yesterday," Mosley said. "We talked about taking care of the ball and eliminating turnovers. I was just rushing things."
Tuesday night, the pieces finally fell into place. Mosley pulled down eight rebounds, distributed five assists, grabbed three steals and scored 20 points.
The final two of her 20 points were the biggest. Mosley broke a 68-11 tie with her aggressive drive through the lane and a floating shot over two Colorado defenders with 4.6 seconds remaining.
Shaq's game-winner was even sweeter considering the fact that she turned the ball over on the lashawks' final possession in the Jan. 31 loss to Texas Tech. Mosley's performance, down to the final buzzer, was a perfect portrait of reedemonition.
- Plays that were once turnovers became daring passes, and what many considered mental weakness turned into fortitude and grit. What was once a turnover became a game-winning layup.
Mosley was not the only contributor to the Jayhawks' first conference victory, but her performance overshadowed her teammates. Tuesday night was all about the Jayhawks'
intense floor general. As her teammates celebrated the victory at mid-court, it became apparent that Shaq Mosley had finally reached the mountaintop.
Kansan sportswriter Asher Fusco can be contacted at afusco@kansan.com.
free throws to put the Buffaloes up 62-60.
- Edited by James Pinick
VICTORY (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
On the next possession, junior forward Taylor McIntosh was fouled with 14 seconds left. She made both free throws to send the game into overtime.
It wasn't only McIntosh's free throws that were important.
As a team, Kansas shot 17-for-18 from the free-throw line. In a game where the offense fluttered, the free throws proved invaluable. The Jayhawks shot only 32 percent from the field.
"We've been in some games and shot poorly," Henrickson said. "But when that happens, you've got to be able to do other things to win."
Although Houston had a career-high in points with 26 and rebounds with six, Smith shut her down with the game on the line. Smith also added a career-high 12 points.
"Sharita Smith picked the perfect time to have her best game." Henrickson said.
The seven lajayh freshmen have been the focus for much of
Kansas 70, Colorado 68 OT
Colorado 30 32 6 — 68
Kansas 28 34 8 — 70
Colorado:lilc 4-15-4-4 12;McFarland 9-
16 3-5 22;Richards 0-0-0-0;Houston
11-15 2-3 5;Powers 0-1-0-0;Smith
0-2-0-0;Skildum 0-0-0-0;Rucker 1-2
4-4-6;Putnina 1-3 1-2 3;Dow 0-0-0-0;
Totals 26-64 15-20 68.
the season, but on Tuesday it was the upperclassmen that stepped up. In addition to Smith's career high, Mosley had 20 points and McIntosh added 12.
The game was tied for most of overtime. Colorado junior forward Jackie McFarland got two easy points in the post to make the score 68-66 with 2:29 remaining.
Even though she was only shooting 1-for-15 at the time, freshman forward Danielle McCray aggressively attacked the rim to tie the score at 68. A turnover on the other end set the stage for Mosley's heroes.
Kansas received an emotional
Kansas: Smith 3-8-6-6 12; McIntosh 4-12-0-20; Wedding 1-2-22-0-4; Kohn 3-9-2-28; Mosley 8-20-2-20; Jacobs 0-3-0-00; McCray 1-25-1-26; Zinch 1-3-0-02; Morris 3-8-2-28; Totals 25-78 17-18.70
RECORDS
Colorado 10-12, 4-6 Big 12
Kansas 7-16, 1-9 Big 12
boost in the first half as sophomore forward Marija Zinic entered the game to a standing ovation. Zinic missed the last six games with a stress fracture.
As the horn expired, the Jayhawks stormed the court in excitement.
"We're gonna celebrate today," Smith said. "Then get back on the court Thursday and prepare for Texas."
Kansan sportswriter Case Keefer can be contacted at ckeefer@ kansan.com.
Edited by Ryan Schneider
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