Eight games over a four-week period without coach Marian Washington haven’t been kind to Kansas University’s women’s basketball team.
Two days after the Jan. 29 surprise announcement that Washington would take an indefinite leave for undisclosed medical reasons, KU crumpled Oklahoma State, 74-61.
Since then, the Jayhawks have dropped seven games in row. Can they stop the bleeding in today’s home finale against Nebraska?
“No question about it,” an upbeat interim coach Lynette Woodard said. “We have all the motivation in the world. We want to have a good memory of Allen Fieldhouse.”
Tipoff will be at 2:05 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on the Jayhawk Radio Network, including 1320 KLWN.
Washington, who announced her retirement Friday, will be honored prior to today’s game, and her first appearance in Allen Fieldhouse since she went on leave no doubt will provide an additional emotional lift for her players.
Whatever the future holds for Kansas women’s basketball, the lone certainty is the Jayhawks have two regular-season games — they’ll end at Iowa State Thursday — and at least one game remaining in the Big 12 Conference Tournament.
In Nebraska, KU will be facing a team also in a tailspin. The Cornhuskers, who won 14 of their first 17 games, have dropped three in a row and five of their last seven. One of the victories was a 59-48 decision over Kansas Feb. 7 in Lincoln, Neb.
“We know we can beat Nebraska,” Woodard said. “We were up by nine against them, and we let it slip away, but we’re home now.”
Kansas led 41-32 with 9:42 remaining in the first meeting, but the Jayhawks went into an eight-minute drought and were outscored 24-2. That sinking spell wasn’t unusual. Scoring droughts have been common for Kansas which ranks last in the league in three-point goals and free throws made.
Leila Mengüc, the only senior on the roster, will be honored before tipoff. Mengüc is a reserve guard from Stockholm, Sweden. … KU has won only five of its last 46 conference games … Woodard is undecided whether to start Lauren Ervin or Nichelle Roberts in place of Tamara Ransburg, whom she prefers to bring off the bench.
Manhattan ? If ever there was a time when Kansas University’s women’s basketball team needed Tamara Ransburg at her best, this is it.
The Jayhawks will meet No. 5-ranked Kansas State tonight.
“I would like to think,” KU coach Marian Washington said, “we are going to be more confident than we were the first time out.”
Tipoff will be at 7:05 p.m. at Bramlage Coliseum. The game will be broadcast on the Jayhawk Radio Network on tape delay following the KU-Texas A&M men’s game.
Kansas State won the first meeting, 88-49, Jan. 8 in Allen Fieldhouse.
Ransburg, a 6-foot-4 freshman, managed 13 points and 10 rebounds last time against K-State, despite playing just five minutes in the first half because of foul trouble.
“I love to play them,” Ransburg said. “Their team makes me a little better.”
Lately, Ransburg has been much, much better. In KU’s last three games, she has averaged 17.3 points and 10.3 rebounds. A similar effort would be pivotal in giving Kansas any chance tonight.
Ransburg will go against junior Nicole Ohlde, one of America’s premier post players. Ohlde is averaging 18.6 points and 8.9 rebounds, and is the reigning Big 12 Player of the Week.
Ransburg remains confident her hot hand and her team can compete with the best in the Big 12 Conference.
“Looking at them and looking at us,” Ransburg said, “I think we can compete with them.”
K-State (25-2 overall, 12-1 league) hasn’t missed a beat since slaughtering the Jayhawks seven weeks ago.
Despite losing sophomore sharp-shooter Laurie Koehn, whose nagging ankle injury finally took her out of action, the Wildcats have won seven straight, and have solidified their status as a potential NCAA Final Four team.
“It’s not going to be easy,” Washington said, “because of their confidence level and because they are playing at home.”
| When: 7:05 tonight.Where: Bramlage Coliseum.Radio: Jayhawk Network, including KLWN 1320 (following KU-Texas A&M men’s game).Records: Jayhawks (10-14 overall, 3-10 Big 12 Conference) vs. No. 5 Wildcats (25-2, 12-1). |
K-State’s last two games at Bramlage Coliseum, with a capacity of 13,466, have sold out. Tickets still remained late Tuesday for tonight’s game, but not many.
“I think we have been in situations now where places do a great job of getting numbers in the stands,” Washington said. “Our kids enjoy that setting.”
Kansas will travel Saturday night to Missouri before closing the regular season at home a week from tonight against Iowa State.
KANSAS (10-14, 3-10)
F — Blair Waltz, 6-0 Soph., 7.5 ppg
F — Crystal Kemp, 6-2 Fr., 10.9
C — Tamara Ransburg, 6-4 Fr., 10.8
G — Aquanita Burras, 5-9 Soph., 10.8
G — Leila Mengüç, 5-6 Jr., 2.8
F — Megan Mahoney, 6-0 Soph., 13.6 ppg
F — Amy Dutmer, 6-0 Soph., 4.4
F — Kendra Wecker, 5-11 Soph., 19.6
C — Nicole Ohlde, 6-4 Jr., 18.6
G — Chelsea Domenico, 5-7 Soph., 5.1
Tipoff: 7:05 tonight, Bramlage Coliseum, Manhattan.
Broadcast: Jayhawk Radio Network, including KLWN 1320 (following KU-Texas A&M men’s game).
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Career record
See the photos: Washington and Woodard