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/ SPORTS / FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2011 / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / KANSAN.COM
Strategy behind undefeated start
BY HANNAH WISE
hwise@kansan.com
Softball is off to its best start in program history at 10-0 after two weekend tournaments in Florida. This weekend, the team will continue on the East Coast in Greensboro, N.C., for the UNCG Spartan Classic.
Spartan Classic The team has focused on fundamental techniques throughout the week. Thus far, it has focused on aspects it has control over and tried to perfect those.
"We have been doing some more base running concepts, being more aggressive on the bases. We want to make sure that we really focus on that weekend," coach Megan Smith said.
Smith said.
The team has laid down a strong offense over the past two weekends with a total of 74 RBI, 85 runs and 20 home runs. The lajhawks are holding their opponents to 25 RBI, 28 runs and five home runs. They
have racked up enough runs in four match-ups to invoke the run rule and end the game early.
Montgomery
Clark
"The coach has really said in practice this week: 'Even though we came out and hit 15 home runs last week, we just need to keep hitting line drives and hitting balls into play'" said Liz Kocon, a junior outfielder. "I think we just keep doing what we've been doing and keep playing the ball, we are just going to keep
producing runs and hopefully keep winning ball games."
Over the past two weekends, they committed a total of 13 errors. Last season, they had a total of 74 errors. The team continued to work on its full field defense while it was in Lawrence.
The defense has worked on keeping opponents off the bases.
in Lawrence.
"Our defense on the infeld has been really solid. It is a pretty young infield but we are always talking
e always thanks to each other and helping our pitchers out," said Mariah Montgomery, sophomore second baseman.
Jones
The pitching staff has also worked on striking out batters. So far, the staff has totaled 37 strikeouts and allowed 28 runs. Senior Allie Clark, who leads the staff's win record at 5-0, and sophomore Alex Jones, who leads the staff's ERA at 1.97, are leading the young team. The team averages 2.48 ERA.
"On the pitching staff our focus is getting ground balls and letting our defense work behind us. Working together as a staff, we are doing a really good job of doing just that. Our defense is working so well behind us that we don't have to have 10 or 11 strike outs a game," Jones said.
Jones said. This weekend, the Jayhawks will face UNC Greensboro, Morehead State University and the University of Minnesota. This will be a weekend of good competition, leading up to Big 12 play beginning in mid-March.
"They are going to be tough games. Minnesota is in the Big 10. They are second in the Big 10 in home runs right now, so they are having a pretty good start to their season". Smith said. "Greensboro won 30 games last year. They are going to be a good test for us and we are excited about it."
Edited by Caroline Bledowski
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Sophomore guard Angel Goodrich fires a three-pointer in overtime Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse. Goodrich was 2 of 3 from beyond the arc.
Close wins give team momentum
--four recounts.
"It feels good that I can contribute more to the team on the offensive end." Goodrich said.
BY KATHLEEN GIER
kqier@kansan.com
The bus rolled into Lawrence at 3 a.m. on Thursday after another close game for the Jayhawks. The team was tired going into practice 12 hours later, but was renewed by the excitement of recent success.
"We have to come off these two wins and have this momentum going into every game," sophomore guard Angel Goodrich said.
said. Junior forward Aishah Sutherland said the team was working on more consistency going into the last three games of the regular season.
The score was close through
Kansas traveled to Oklahoma State Wednesday and returned with the 73-66 victory, led by Goodrich's season high 14 points. She also added five assists and four rebounds.
"We are all focused and we are dedicated to win" Sutherland said.
out the game, making it the latest in a string of close games including three overtime games in conference play alone.
in conference setting Goodrich said the caliber of teams in the conference made games competitive
"Of course you don't want a close game,but in the Big 12 all the teams are good so it is a tough conference so we have to go in and work on our mindset and get ready for every game," shww said.
"It makes it a more exciting game," she said.
Sutherland, on the other hand enjoys close games.
game, she said.
On Saturday, Kansas will face Nebraska for the last time before conference realignment. Earlier in the season, Kansas had trouble attacking Nebraska's 2-3 zone. The Jayhawks fell to the Huskers in a 75-61 overtime loss. The rematch is set for 7 p.m. on Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse.
Sutherland said Kansas would be working on keeping fouls under control, which has been a challenge for the Jayhawks lately.
Edited by Tali David
BASKETBALL
HARTFORD, Conn. — Darius Johnson-Odom scored nine of his 17 points in overtime Thursday night to lead Marquette to a 74-67 victory over No. 14 Connecticut, which played without coach Jim Calhoun on the bench.
Eagles take off with the win in overtime against Huskies
Jimmy Butler added 16 points for the Golden Eagles (17-11, 8-7 Big East), who tied the game at 59 with 5.3 seconds left on a drive by Johnson-Odom.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
drive by johnny Kemba Walker led the Huskies (20-7, 8-7) with 27 points but the junior guard missed fur shots and committed one turnover in the extra period.
It was the Huskies' first game since the NCAA revealed its sanctions against the program over recruiting violations. Among the penalties was a suspension of Calhoun for next season's first three Big East games. Calhoun was cited for failing to monitor and promote an atmosphere of
compliance within his program.
compliance within his program
Calhoun left the team
Wednesday to be with his family
in New Hampshire following the death of his sister-in-law.
The loss was the third in five games for the Huskies, who beat Marquette 76-68 earlier.
Nine of Marquette's 11 losses have been to ranked teams, and this looked to be No. 10 when the Huskies opened the second half with a 26-7 run to wipe out an 11-point halftime deficit.
The Golden Eagles responded with an 8-2 run that brought them to 51-49 with 6:55 to play.
There were two lead changes and three ties from there, including Johnson-Odom's drive that tied it with 5.3 seconds left.
Walker missed a spin move as the regulation buzzer sounded.
the regulation bait
Johnson-Odman made one of
two free throws and a jumper in
the opening 40 seconds of the
overtime to give Marquette the
lead for good.