KU guards lead charge in victory

By Ryan Wood     Nov 18, 2002

Melissa Lacey/Journal-World Photo
Kansas' Leila Mengüç (21) passes around Fort Hays State's Shanell Watson in the second half. The Jayhawks won their exhibition finale, 73-56, Sunday at Allen Fieldhouse.

Kansas University’s women’s basketball team followed a radically different game plan in its 73-56 victory over Fort Hays State on Sunday than it did when it beat the Solna Vikings four days earlier.

On Wednesday, the inside game proved key. On Sunday, the guards were the difference.

Aquanita Burras scored 19 points, Leila Mengüç added 12 and the Jayhawks erased a halftime deficit to convincingly hand the Tigers a 17-point defeat to close out their exhibition schedule unbeaten.

“I was really pleased to see them take a major step in the second half,” KU coach Marian Washington said. “We talked about matching our opponent’s intensity level. Fort Hays State did a great job in the first half. I thought they really outworked us, but it was really good to see our young club come back that second half and take it up another notch.”

The Tigers went on a 6-0 run in the last 45 seconds of the first half to lead, 35-33, at intermission. The deficit could have sparked a sense of urgency in the KU locker room, but Washington claims that hardly was the case.

“What was good about it is the team was staying very positive,” Washington said. “I thought in the locker room, we tried to stay very encouraging because they are very young and they were doing some good things. But we did need to do a few more things to help ourselves.”

The Jayhawks did help themselves by letting the guard play generate the points. Burras scored 11 of her 19 points in the second half, including six points in a little more than minute to put the game out of reach.

“I think that’s one of my main focuses is driving to the basket,” Burras said. “We ran our lanes, and that’s what we were trying to get was those fast, easy points.”

In all, four Jayhawks posted double figures in scoring. Along with Burras and Mengüç, sophomore Blair Waltz had 11 points, while freshman Crystal Kemp added 10.

Tamara Ransburg grabbed 10 rebounds for the second straight game and added five blocked shots, but was held in check offensively and ended up with six points on 3-of-8 shooting.

“That shows that not only one or two players can be a threat,” Mengüç said. “We actually have a lot of people that got points. That’s neccesary for everyone to get the experience of it, because we’re sure going to need it later on.”

¢

Hallman to return: Freshman point guard Erica Hallman did not play on Sunday, still nursing an injured knee. Washington said Hallman is expected to see limited playing time next weekend.

“She told me I was a tease,” Washington said with a laugh. “I had her dress and warm up with the team, but we agreed she wasn’t going to play.”

¢

Up next: KU opens its regular season schedule next Sunday, against Texas El-Paso at Allen Fieldhouse. Tip-off is slated for 2:05 p.m.

PREV POST

KU Football Notebook

NEXT POST

2196KU guards lead charge in victory