“I don’t think you can get any lower,” Kansas senior Brooke Reves said. “I’m hoping this is the bottom of the barrel.”

Oklahoma had just barreled over the Jayhawks, 88-64, on Wednesday night in Allen Fieldhouse. It was the worst home loss in KU women’s basketball history.

“This is pretty low,” senior Jennifer Jackson said. “I haven’t been on a team with a losing record since Little League.”

Kansas (7-10) is the only team in the Big 12 Conference with an overall losing record. The Jayhawks are 1-5 in the league. They’ve lost seven of their past eight outings.

Richard Gwin/Journal-World Photo

Earlier this season, in bowing by 22 points to Creighton, the Jayhawks had tied the margin of the worst home loss ever. On Wednesday, they pushed the gap to 24 and they still have home games against national powers Texas Tech and Iowa State remaining.

Now in her 28th year as Kansas head coach, Marian Washington won’t throw in the towel, but she’s waving it.

“I’m not conceding,” Washington said, “but I have to be realistic. We’re starting over. We have to face it.”

Once again on Wednesday night, the Jayhawks’ offense consisted of Reves, Jackson, Jaclyn Johnson, hope and prayer. The three seniors combined for 46 of the Jayhawks’ 64 points. The seven others who played counted 18.

“We have the same three players doing a good job,” Washington said. “It’s frustrating we can’t get a few more players to step up.”

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Washington brought in three junior college transfers to try to offset the losses of Lynn Pride and Suzi Raymant, last season’s top two scorers. But KC Hilgenkamp, Fernanda Bosi and Dalchon Brown have struggled at the higher level.

“As much as we hoped they’d come in and help us,” Washington said, “they haven’t been able to do it.”

Kansas started horribly against the No. 12-ranked Sooners (5-1, 14-4). The Jayhawks missed their first eight shots and 13 of their first 15. Meanwhile, OU drilled its first seven shots and 10 of its first 12 on the way to a 23-4 lead at the 11:47 mark.

“We faced a very fine ball club that’s playing with a lot of confidence,” Washington said.

Confidence is not a Kansas bedfellow.

“In those first 12 minutes we missed some layups and we missed some shots in the paint,” Washington said, “and things like that can hurt your confidence level.”

Kansas cut that 19-point hole to 10 (32-22) with five minutes remaining before the break, but the Sooners went on a 16-4 tear for a 48-26 halftime cushion that made the second half unnecessary. OU built leads of as many as 33 points in the academic final 20 minutes before coach Sherri Coale hooked her regulars.

“This is not something we’re used to,” Washington said. “In the last five years, we’ve been to the (NCAA) Sweet 16 twice. It is frustrating. And it’s very difficult for the seniors.”

Next for the Jayhawks is a trip to Manhattan where they’ll face the only team they’ve defeated in their last eight outings. KU tripped Kansas State, 78-67, on Jan. 13 in Allen Fieldhouse.

Tipoff will be 7 p.m. Saturday in Bramlage Coliseum.

“We can’t go to Manhattan with our heads down. No way,” Washington said. “We’ve got to bounce back. We have to do a better job in Manhattan.”

Notes

Oklahoma shot a sizzling 66 percent (33-50) and made 16 of its 19 free throws, but the Sooners’ ball-handling was atrocious. OU committed 34 turnovers.

KU’s 22-point home losses were to Creighton (76-54) on Dec. 16, 2000, and to Cal State Fullerton (81-59) on Dec. 29, 1982.

Kansas shot 34.8 percent (24-69) and committed 25 turnovers. The Jayhawks were outrebounded 39-28.

Only three OU players scored in double figures, but 11 Sooners tallied two or more points. OU had 36 points off the bench. Kansas had 13.