Technically speaking, Kansas University’s women’s basketball team hasn’t played a meaningful game in two weeks.
Sure, the Jayhawks thumped Washburn, 72-46, last Saturday in Allen Fieldhouse, but that was an exhibition.
| CREIGHTON (5-1)F Taya Allen, 5-11, Sr.C Lisa Buysse, 6-3, Sr.G Traci Jones, 5-10, Jr.G Krissie Spanheimer, 5-8, Sr.G Angela Timmons, 5-6, Sr. KANSAS (5-2)F Brooke Reves, 6-0, Sr.F Jaclyn Johnson, 6-1, Sr.C Kristin Geoffroy, 6-6, JR.G KC Hilgenkamp, 5-10, Jr.G Jennifer Jackson, 5-10, Sr. Tipoff: 2:05 p.m. today, Allen Fieldhouse. |
The last game that counted in the standings was KU’s 70-67 loss to St. Joseph’s in the championship game of the Jayhawk Classic two weeks ago.
Today, Kansas (5-2) will play host to Creighton (5-1). Tipoff is 2:05 p.m. at Allen Fieldhouse.
“It is difficult, but that’s what happens over this period of finals and the holidays,” KU coach Marian Washington said of the Jayhawks’ down time. “We did get a ton of practice in, and that’s something we couldn’t do in that tough stretch of seven games in 15 days.
“The difficult thing is you have these one-shot deals after so much time off. It makes it difficult to get started. But they appreciate the opportunity to be home and not have to think about too many games.”
They’d better be able to focus on Creighton. Last year, the Bluejays handed KU its first loss, 55-54, in Omaha.
“They’re definitely one of the best teams in the Midwest, maybe even the country,” Washington said. “They beat Nebraska, and Iowa State barely pulled out a victory in Ames. One thing about them is they work so hard. They’re going to outwork you.”
Creighton boasts just two double-digit scorers, but has 13 players averaging more than 10 minutes a game. Angela Timmons, a 5-foot-6 senior guard, leads the Bluejays with 15 points a game, while Krissie Spanheimer, a 5-8 senior guard, adds 11.2.
“They’re somewhat like Iowa State has been,” Washington said. “They try to pressure you a lot and they’ve been a good perimeter team. They have good perimeter shooters and they know how to set them up, so our defense will be very important. I think we match up fine with them, but our perimeter defense will be very important.”
The slow schedule did give Kansas the opportunity to get healthy, but the Jayhawks still are slowed by a couple of nagging injuries.
Center Nikki White is battling a pulled hip flexor, while point guards Jennifer Jackson (recurring ankle problems) and Selena Scott (lingering stress fractures in her legs) have been hobbled.
White is questionable, but no other Jayhawks are expected not to play tonight for health reasons.
“We still have a lot of health challenges,” Washington said. “We’ve had to hold Selena out of some practices, and Nikki is day-to-day. Everyone else is OK.”
Kansas is 14-8 all-time against Creighton and KU has won seven of the last eight meetings.
Probable Starters
CREIGHTON (5-1)
F Taya Allen, 5-11, Sr.
C Lisa Buysse, 6-3, Sr.
G Traci Jones, 5-10, Jr.
G Krissie Spanheimer, 5-8, Sr.
G Angela Timmons, 5-6, Sr.
KANSAS (5-2)
F Brooke Reves, 6-0, Sr.
F Jaclyn Johnson, 6-1, Sr.
C Kristin Geoffroy, 6-6, JR.
G KC Hilgenkamp, 5-10, Jr.
G Jennifer Jackson, 5-10, Sr.
Tipoff: 2:05 p.m. today, Allen Fieldhouse.
Sports writer Andrew Hartsock can be reached at 832-7216.
