4B
3 the university daily kansan
sports
friday, january 23, 2004
'Hawks lose to Bears despite efforts
By Jessse Newell
jnewell@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Kansas proved it could more than hold its own against No. 19 Baylor, but the last 10 minutes doomed the Jayhawks in an 85-66 loss Wednesday night.
After leading most of the first 30 minutes, the Jayhawks held their last lead at the 10:22 mark of the second half with a 59-58 advantage. The Bears ended the game on a 27-7 run.
Coach Marian Washington said she was especially pleased with her team's play in the first half, where the Jayhawks took a 40-37 lead into the break.
"We played like conference champions." Washington said, "but when they started to close down our inside game, we struggled with our shooting."
Baylor capped a busy week,
where it defeated No. 3 Texas at home 78-64 last Wednesday and lost to then No. 1 Texas Tech on the road by a single
point Saturday.
Aquanita Burras led the Jayhawks with 21 points, while Crystal Kemp scored 20. Larisha Graves, coming off a one-game suspension for her role in a fight after the Missouri game, added 12 points.
Break Wrap-up
The Jayhawks did not take a vacation during winter break, competing in ten games, with half taking place in the Big 12 Conference.
Kansas posted a 4-6 record,
going 1-4 in Big 12 play.
The Jayhawks went 2-2 in tournaments over the break, struggling against teams in their home arenas.
In the Denver Tournament Dec. 20 and Dec. 21, Kansas defeated Texas-Arlington before falling in the finals to Denver.
Kansas' fate was similar a week later at the Dartmouth Blue Sky Restaurant Classic, where it was defeated by host team Dartmouth before
"We played like conference champions,but when they started to close down our inside game,we struggled with our shooting."
Marian Washington Kansas women's basketball coach
rebounding with a victory against Fairfield.
A home victory against San Diego was the last test before conference play, where Kansas met what may be its toughest conference foe—No. 3 ranked Texas.
The Jayhawks performed well, pulling to within six in the second half, but fell short in a 73-54 loss.
"We are walking out of the game with our heads up," sophomore forward Crystal Kemp said after the game. "It's a
learning experience for us and now we know what we have to do."
The Jayhawks responded against the Missouri Tigers, producing in a high-pressure game in Columbia. Kansas defeated Missouri 55-52, with a scuffle after the game's final buzzer. The conference suspended forwards Kandis Bonner, Tamara Ransburg, and guard Larisha Graves for one game for their roles in the fight, with all three serving their suspensions against Kansas State.
Kansas fell to ranked opponents Colorado and Kansas State before facing No. 19 Baylor Wednesday. Coach Washington said her team's strong effort against Missouri should help it over the course of the season.
"This win is going to help us to continue to grow," Washington said. "It's a long conference race for everybody."
Edited by Donovan Atkinson
Junior guard Blair Waltz drives past a University of San Diego player. The lady Jayhawks take on Missouri at Allen Fieldhouse House Saturday.
John Nowak/Kansar
Key to women's basketball success is crowd support
Punches landed. Players were thrown to the floor. One kick was attempted, and successfully landed, by a Kansas player. And this was in the handshake line.
hawks as they left the court.
The fight that took place after Kansas' 55-52 victory against Missouri grabbed national headlines, running on the front of the ESPN women's college basketball page.
Kansas players reportedly made inappropriate comments during the teams' farewell. Missouri players reportedly responded with "the finger" and more words. The Missouri crowd reportedly threw ice at the Jay-
The Border War in women's basketball was officially on, with five players suspended from the two teams.
And, with that,the war continues.
Now, just 13 days later, the teams prepare to match up again tomorrow.
This is the one KU students need to show up for.
There is definitely some bad blood between the two teams after the scuffle. There is no love lost between Kansas and Missouri, and the game should be an emotional battle.
But here's the thing — fans could be the difference.
Kansas, after struggling through the last few years, has the talent to beat Missouri. The Jayhawks added gifted players to an already young squad and have some confidence after defeating
the Tigers on Jan. 10. They have a chance to sweep the season series from the Tigers, something that hasn't been done since the 1998-1999 season. Now, they just need the support.
"The Kansas-Missouri rivalry," Kansas coach Marian Washington said, "is always intense very emotional."
It might not be if 945 fans — KU's average for the season — show up. Missouri supported its women's team with 2,209 fans a week ago, and they didn't even know a fight was coming.
Although it will be tough to match, this should be a goal for
KU fans.
And this time there will be no excuses.
The Kansas men's team has the day off, playing on Sunday. The NFL playoffs have a week break before the Super Bowl. There is no charge for students, no one should have homework and the game is at 3 p.m. — so you can still drink the night away.
It doesn't matter if you've never attended a women's basketball game. In fact, it doesn't matter if you don't plan on attending another one this season.
This is the one you need to see.
Wear that blue shirt that hangs
in your closet gathering dust — the one with the phrase that rhymes with "duck kazoo."
Make noise. Have fun.
Kansas is playing Missouri and students should not be indifferent.
Whether men's basketball, women's basketball, rowing or chess, that's the way this rivalry should be: rewarding in victory.
Fans should care about the outcome. They should care about the result.
Yes, just because it's Missouri.
Jesse Newall is an Emporia sophomore in journalism.