INSIDE SPORTS Kansas softball team battled the Arizona Wildcats yesterday in the Hillenbrand Invitational. Kansas lost to the Wildcats 11-1 and to LSU, 9-1. On Saturday, the Jayhawks won against DePaul, Colorado State and Florida. 3B KANSAS 29-1, 15-1 RANKED NO. 1 85 NEBRASKA 16-13, 7-9 UNRANKED U N I V E R S I T Y D A I L Y K A N S A N JAYHAWK BASKETBALL 65 MONDAY, MARCH 3. 1997 No.1 Kansas 85. Nebraska 65 KANASIS (29-1) FG FT TP Williams 1-1 0-1 1-2 7-13 5-14 LaFrenzt 9-14 5-6 1-3 Vaughn 4-8 1-3 9 Haase 2-9 3-4 7 Roberson 1-4 2-4 7 Romer 0-0 0-0 0 Thomas 0-3 0-0 0 Branstrom 1-1 0-0 0 Bradford 0-0 0-0 0 McGraw 0-0 0-0 0 Pollard 5-7 4-4 14 Pugh 1-1 1-3 9 Ransom 1-1 1-3 9 Tolmey 32-44 16-25 NBREAKSA (16-13) FG FT TP 3 Florence 1-4 1-2 1 Garner 3-6 2-6 2 Moore 2-6 1-2 5 Lue 5-15 4-7 18 Balcher 3-7 1-2 1 Hamilton 6-9 1-2 13 Mitchell 0-9 1-2 13 Platkowski 2-5 0-0 4 Markowski 2-5 0-0 4 Tomkiewicz 2-5 11-24 65 Nalltime: Kansas 41, Nebraska 28, 3-Point Baskettie: Kansas 61, Nebraska 20, 3-Point Baskettie: Omaha 1-0, New York 2-0, Thomas 2-0, Hasee 5, Nebraska 4-12 (Luse 3-2, Bellerack 2-4; Garner 6- 4, Kirkman 7-1, Kelley 3-1; Rebounds: Kansas 62 (Polled 12), Nebraska 24 (Gamer 5); Assists: Kansas 18 (Hasee 6), Nebraska 18, Kansas 18, Hasee 18, Nebraska 22, Technician: Ackerman 4-1. No.11 Kansas 92.Oklahoma 69 KANAS (23-4) Canada FG FT TP Apple 3-5 6-7 12 Haggle 2-2 1-2 16 Greyhawk 5-9 3-4 5 Dixon 11-19 3-4 25 Sanford 11-19 3-4 24 Pride 1-1 0-8 0 Scott 0-0 0-0 0 Reed 1-1 0-0 11 Ryman 2-3 0-0 0 Fletcher 0-1 0-0 0 Wiley 0-1 0-0 0 Halftime: Kansas 44, Oklahoma 29, 3-Point goal: Oklahoma 5-13 (Long 4-8, Whale 1-2, Taylor 0-1, M. Workman 0-2), Kansas 2-4 (Rayman 1-1, Tahlee 1-2, Dixon 0-1). Fouled out: None. Rebounds: Oklahoma 27 (Bramter 7), Kansas 27 (Bramter 6), Oklahoma 16 (Long, Bramer 3), Kansas 16 (Reed, Reed 4). Total fouls: Oklahoma 24, Kansas 19 Technician: Dixon, A: 4, 025. OKLAHAMA (621) FG FT TB M. Workman 0-8 2-2 2-2 Whaley 9-15 8-10 27 Taylor 7-12 3-15 17 Long 4-9 0-0 12 Bramer 2-5 2-2 2 Breedlove 2-3 2-2 5 K. Workman 0-1 0-0 0 Hailey 0-0 0-0 0 Stacy 0-3 0-0 0 Haley 0-3 0-0 0 Brown 0-2 0-0 0 Totals 24-61 16-21 69 Big 12 women's honors The following are the coaches and players who received Big 12 Conference honors yesterday. Player of the Year: Tamecka Dixon, Kapsa Coach of the Year: Marian Washington, Kansas Newcomer of the Year: Nicole Palmer, Baylor Freshman of the Year: Julie Helm, Missouri First Team All-Big 12 First Team All-Blg 12 Tamecka Dixon, Kansas Alicia Thompson, Texas Tech Anna DeForge, Nebraska Andria Jones, Kansas State Jayme Olson, Iowa State Second Team All-Big 12 ■ Raegan Scott, Colorado ■ Erin Scholz, Colorado ■ Angela Jackson, Texas ■ Renee Roberts, Oklahoma State ■ Amie Smith, Texas Third Team All-Big 12 Danielle Vigilone, Texas Rene Hanebutt, Texas Tech LaToya Doage, Nebraska Kacy Moffitt, Baylor tie, Janel Grimm, Iowa State tie, LaShena Graham, Colorado Honorable Mention All-Big 12 Honorable Menton All-Big 12 - Angie Halible, Kansas - Lynn Pride, Kansas - Nakia Sanford, Kansas - Jennifer Trapp, Kansas - Tara Gunderson, Iowa State - Missy Decker, Kansas State - Julie Helm, Missouri - Kesha Bonds, Missouri - Tina Taylor, Oklahoma - Phylesha Whale, Oklahoma - Cheri Edwards, Oklahoma State - Angie Jo Ogletree, Texas - Vanessa Wallace, Texas - Melissa Rollerson, Texas A&M - Lana Tucker, Texas A&M 'Hawks trounce Nebraska KU never trailed in final game of regular season By Bill Petulia Kansas sportswriter Kansan sportswriter LINCOLN, Neb. — In its final regular season game, the No. 1 Kansas men's basketball team throttled Nebraska yesterday 86-65 at Devaney Center in Lincoln, Neb. The Jayhawks never trailed, leaving the sellout Nebraska crowd of 14,759 little cause to cheer. "It was an unusual game because the crowd never got to a fevery pitch," Kansas coach Roy Williams said. The game got off to a blistering start. It took Kansas just four seconds to score its first basket as guard Jerod Haase floated an ally-oop pass to a dunking forward Raef LePronty. "We just wanted to come out and jump on them right away," laFrentz said. The Jayhawks leaped out to a 13-4 advantage. Nebraska, however, stormed back on a 15-8 run, cutting Kansas' lead to two points. But two points was as close as the Corn- Raef LaFrentz huskers got, as Kansas countered the Huskers spurt with a 20-9 run of its own and closed out the first half 41-28. After the sluggish first half, Williams thought Nebraska would come out ready to play in the second. "In the second half we knew that they were going to make a run," Williams said. As Williams predicted, the Cornhuskers cut into the Kansas lead, trailing only six points at the 12-minute mark. The Jayhawks, behind six consecutive points by LaFrentz, then busted out with a 9-0 run, leaving the Huskers' upset hopes in the dust. LaFrentz finished the game with 23 points, 16 of which came in the first half. Although Kansas had clinched the Big 12 Conference regular season title on Feb. 22. LaFrentz said the Jayhawks couldn't afford a letdown in their final tuneup before postseason play. LaFrentz and center Scott Pollard helped give Kansas a formidable edge in rebounding. The two combined for 22 rebounds as the Jawhaws outboarded Nebraska 52-24. "It was Nebraska's senior night, and they had a lot to play for," LaFrentz said. "But I think we had a lot to play for." Pollard, who was playing in his third game since returning from a foot injury, pulled down 12 rebounds. Pollard did not play in the first meeting between Kansas and Nebraska, an 82-77 overtime win for the Jayhawks. In that game the Cornhuskers outfured Kansas 46-33. "Scot brings such an inside presence that teams have to concentrate on him," guard Billy Thomas said. "And that opens up a lot of things for us." Nebraska was paced by guard Tyrom Lue's 18 points. Despite his output, Williams was pleased with guard Jacque Vaughn's defensive effort on the speedy Lue. "He's quick to the basket, and he can shoot," Williams said of Lue. "But Jacque did a great job holding him to 6 of 15 shooting." Williams said he was proud of the team's 29-1 record. But there are still a few chapters to write before the book can be closed on the season. "That is a heck of an accomplishment," Williams said. "But we hope to play some more games." Kansas' next game will be in the Big 12 Tournament at noon on Friday against the winner of the Baylor-Oklahoma State game in Kansas City, Mo. Baylor and Oklahoma State will play at noon on Thursday. Kansas forward T. J. Pugh made a homecoming of sorts yesterday. Pugh, a native of Omaha, Neb., received a chorus of boos from the Nebraska crowd. "I took it as if they were cheering'PUUU-UIGH."he said Pugh said that he had five family members and many friends in attendance. He played 13 minutes and scored three points. ■ Center Scot Pollard opted to wear a turquoise(ish) shade of finger nail polish yesterday. Pollard, who finished the game with 14 points and 12 rebounds, said he had to scrap the unhucky blue polish. "Today I wore more of a generic brand," Pollard said. "If something looks good, I keep it." Guard Jacque Vaughn acrobatically takes the ball around Nebraska's Tyronn Lue for two points and was fouled on the play. Vaughn finished the game with nine points and kept Lue to 6 for 15 shooting from the field. Jayhawks extend streak to 7 wins Women's team hoping for high seeding in NCAAs Kansan sportswriter By Tommy Gallagher Kansan sportswriter 1. 4.2.1.1.1.1.1 The No. 11 Kansas women's basketball team extended its longest winning streak of the season, seven games, when it defeated Oklahoma 92-69 on Saturday. The Jawahri scored their highest point total this season in the victory. Marian Washington "I think Oklahoma came out and played hard," Kansas women's basketball coach Marian Washington said. "I thought it was very physical out there. Overall, with the changes I was trying to make to keep our seniors out there as much as possible, I thought we did fairly well." Kansas guard Tamecka Dixon scraps for a loose ball during Senior Day. Dixon leads the Javahawks with 25 points. She also had nine rebounds, four assists and two steals. The Sooners into the an 8-5 lead four minutes into the game before Kansas went on a 15-2 run. Seven Jayhawks contributed points during the run, and Kansas never trailed again. During that run, Kansas guard Tamee Dicka Dixon was called for a technical foul after disputing a personal foul called against her. She sat on the bench a large part of the first half and finished with just seven points and three rebounds before halftime. "I really wanted to focus on the second half because in the first half, that technical took me out of the game," Dixon said. "In the second half I wanted to get into somewhat of a flow, and I think I accomplished that." Dixon had 18 points in the second half as Kansas maintained a comfortable lead. She scored a team-high 25 points and added nine rebounds, four assists and two steals. Guard Erim Reed came off the bench and scored all 11 of her points in the first half, including a 9-for-9 performance from the free-throw line. In the first half, Kansas was 19 of 22 from the free throw line and had a 23-13 rebounding advantage. Overall, the Jayhawks were 26 of 31 from the free throw line and outrebounded Oklahoma 46 to 27. With the victory, Kansas (23-4 overall, 14-2 in the Big 12) continues to play for national rankings and seedlings. The Jayhawks are looking to crack the top 10 for the first time since Feb. 7, 1994. Washington said she would like to see Kansas make the NCAA Tournament as a No.2 seed or, at the very least, a No.3 seed. The Sooners (5-21 overall, 1-15 in the Big 12) have lost 15 consecutive games since winning their first conference game on Jan.4. Kansan staff report Washington, Dixon receive Big 12 honors Kansas guard Tamecka Dixon was named Big 12 Conference Player of the Year, and Kansas coach Marian Washington was named Big 12 Coach of the Year yesterday. Last year Dixon won the Big Eight Conference Player of the Year award, and Washington earned the Big Eight Coach of the Year honor. Dixon ranks 14th among NCAA scorers, averaging 21.8 points per game. She leads Kansas in points, assists and steals and has scored more than 20 points in each of 15 games this season. She also has scored more than 30 points in three games. Dixon, along with former Jayhawk Lynette Woodard, are the only Tamecka Dixon women in Jayhawk history to record more than 1,600 points and 300 assists during their college careers. "She has worked hard toward helping Kansas win the Big 12 title, and I feel she is very deserving of the honor," Washington said. "I'm just thrilled for her. She has played great basketball all year, and what she brings has really set us apart from the other teams." Washington recorded her 450th career victory on Feb. 12 at Oklahoma State. She has a career record of 455-256, with a 137-75 record in conference games. Kansas is 23-4 this season and posted a 14-2 conference record, winning the inaugural Big 12 title. The Jayhawks are ranked 11th in the country and could break the Top 10 for the first time since Feb. 7, 1994, when the Associated Press releases its poll today.