Now that victory No. 550 is in the books, Kansas University women’s basketball coach Marian Washington can focus on the task at hand.
Not that the milestone win — last Wednesday’s 62-58 victory at Nebraska — was a problem to begin with.
“I’m happy about getting it,” Washington said, “but honest to goodness, I didn’t even realize I was there.”
Judging by Washington’s words, victory No. 551 might be just as significant. She would like for it to come today when Kansas battles Baylor.
Tipoff will be at 2:05 p.m. in Allen Fieldhouse. The game will be broadcast on the Jayhawk Radio Network, including KLWN 1320. A delayed telecast will be at 10:30 tonight on Sunflower Broadband Channel 6.
Kansas (10-13 overall, 3-9 Big 12 Conference) has doubled its win total from the dismal 5-25 season of a year ago. Lately, forward Tamara Ransburg has been the spark. The 6-foot-4 freshman has averaged 14.5 points, 11 rebounds and 3.5 blocked shots in the last two contests, including a 19-point, 12-rebound, four-swat effort Feb. 15 against Missouri, easily her best game in conference play.
Baylor (16-8, 5-7) has a strong inside game with sophomore Steffanie Blackmon (17.2 ppg, 8.4 rpg) and freshman Sophia Young (12.9, 9.6). Despite their sub-.500 league record, the Bears posted an 86-72 overtime win over No. 7 Texas Tech a week ago. Young had 26 points and 17 boards in that contest.
“They just come out and play,” Washington said of Baylor. “I think that they have won a lot of ballgames because they have been so intense and so very hard-nosed and physical.”
Kansas will be on the road next week with games at Kansas State (Wednesday) and Missouri (Saturday).
