Friday, February 16, 2001
The University Daily Kansan
Section B · Page 3
Jayhawks search for route to win
By Jessie Mever
by Jessie Mayer
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas women's basketball team is finding out that close doesn't count. The Jayhawks have been able to keep games tight, but they haven't found a way to come out ahead.
Failure to capitalize down the stretch has left Kansas in the midst of another three-game losing streak heading into the end of the season.
But to snap their string of losses, the Jayhawks will have to knock off No. 6 Iowa State, a team that some consider capable of winning the NCAA Championship. Tip-off is at 3:05 p.m. in Allen Fieldhouse and will be televised on ESPN2.
"What's happening is that we're able to demonstrate that we are able to play with anyone," said coach Marian Washington. "We just can't find a way to win."
The Jayhawks (9-14 overall and 3-9 in the Big 12 Conference) have been able to stay in most ball games this season, with 10 of their 14 losses coming by a 10-point margin or less.
"We lose every game by five or 10 points ... that's not progress for me," said senior forward Jaclyn Johnson. "We're just playing the same way and seeing the same results."
A lack of consistency has plagued the Kansas bench for much of the season.
Seniors Jennifer Jackson and Brooke Reves committed a combined 18 turnovers and scored just 10 points in Wednesday's loss to No. 14 Texas Tech. Johnson, who scored 20 points, was the only Kansas player to score more than six points.
Although Johnson has led the team throughout the season, averaging 16.7 points and 7.7 rebounds, it is going to take much more than Johnson alone to upend the Cyclones.
Iowa State (20-3 and 10-2) is looking for vengeance after No. 19 Colorado upset the Cyclones 73-66 on Wednesday in Boulder, Colo., ending Iowa State's five-game win streak.
"The they have an all-around game, and I think we're really lacking in some areas," Johnson said. "So we've got to stick to our game plan and not let them exploit us."
Kansas vs.
No. 6 Iowa State
3. 05 p.m.at Allen Fieldhouse Televised on ESPN2
Probable Kansas Starters
15 G Jennifer Jackson 5-10 sr
15 G KC Hilgenkamp 5-10 sr
22 G Selena Scott 5-6 jr
5 F Brooke Reves 6-0 sr
5 F Jaclyn Johnson 6-1 sr
Probable Iowa State Starters
13  G Undessey Wilson 5-9, so
25  F Angie Welle 6-4, jr
32  F Megan Taylor 5-10 sr
34  G Tracy Gahan 6-0 jr
12  F Erica Haugen 5-10 sr
All kids, 18 and under, will be admitted free with a paying adult at the door as part of the national "Take a Kid to the Game" promotion. Adult tickets are $5. KU Fan Fest will follow the game in Horei Family Athletic Center. Call 1-800-34-HAWKS for more information.
The Jayhawks lost to the Cyclones 67-48 on Jan. 10 in Ames, Iowa, one of the team's worst losses of the season.
Game notes
Kansas forward Brooke Reves attempts a shot against a Texas Tech defender. The Jayhawks will face Iowa State tomorrow at 3 p.m. in Allen Fieldhouse. Kansan file photo
- Edited by Brandy Straw
Stopping Cyclone guards key for Kansas
By Zac Hunter
Kansan sportswriter
Eleven days ago, Kansas had a chance to take a two-game lead in conference play, but it lost 79-77 to Iowa State, and the Cyclones took the Big 12 lead back with them to Ames, Iowa.
Tomorrow, the Jayhawks will try to beat conference leading Iowa State and take share of the Big 12 lead.
matter if the Jayhawks can't contain the Iowa State's guards.
But that's easier said than done. No. 7 Iowa State (21-3 overall and 9-2 Big 12 Conference) has beaten No. 6 Kansas (19-4 overall and 8-3 Big 12 Conference) the first four times the two teams have played and Hilton Coliseum is anything but a friendly place for opposing teams — the Cyclones have won their last 33 home games.
sports@kansan.com
But the location of the game won't
"They play in a great place where the crowd will be into it," said Kansas coach Roy Williams. "I really do believe that they are one of the top five teams in the country, and they have not done anything on their record to make me not feel that way."
Kirk Hinrich:
defensive play
against Iowa State
guards key to game
Guards with speed have been the Jayhawks' Achilles heel all season and Monday's loss to Baylor did nothing to dispute that. The 'Hawks
allowed 35 points to Baylor's guards, but that was nothing compared to the shooting clinic the Cyclone's back-court put on in Allen Fieldhouse 11 days ago.
"We have had teams in the past where the guards did not need help." Williams said. "They could guard anybody. With this team we do need to able to guard the ball better individually, as well as know how far to go to help and how far to get in there when you are trying to support the drive."
Iowa State seniors Jamaal Tinsley and Kantrail Horton combined to score 37 points and hit seven of 10 three-pointers in the Cyclones' upset of Kansas.
The key for the Jayhawks will be stopping Tinsley, who is both an effective three-point shooter and can be absolutely lethal with his quickness.
"It is going to be a tough job," said
sophomore guard Kirk Hinrich. "We have to defend their dribble penetration, and we have to get up to the shooters. When they have a combination of good shooters and great penetrators, that's tough to guard."
Despite their prior loss to the Cyclones, the Jayhawks have reason to believe things might be different this time around. Because Hinrich was in foul trouble early in the teams' last encounter, Kansas guard Jeff Boschew was forced to defend Tinsley for much of the game.
"We have a chance to play them again and to play them better," Williams said after Kansas' first loss to Iowa State. "Hopefully we will be able to get a hand up in some of those threes. Hopefully we will take care of business. We are not out of it by any means."
- Edited by Doug Pacey
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