EUGENE, ORE. ? After laying an egg in its season opener, Kansas University’s women’s basketball team hopes to jump on track this weekend in the Pacific Northwest.
Kansas and Oregon will tangle in a first-round game of the Oregon Classic at 10:30 CST tonight at the Ducks’ MacArthur Court.
Then Saturday, the Jayhawks will meet Sacramento State at 8 p.m. Both games will be broadcast on the Jayhawk Radio Network, including 1320 KLWN.
Marian Washington’s 31st season -the contest against the Ducks will mark the 900th game she’s coached — began a week ago when KU lost to Missouri-Kansas City, 63-50, at the Kangaroos’ Swinney Center.
“We have to look beyond the first game,” Washington said. “We feel this team is going to be good. We just have to learn how to play together.”
The only bright spot in the opener was a 14-point performance by freshman Lauren Ervin in just 16 minutes. Ervin made 5 of 6 field-goal attempts and all four of her free-throw attempts. The 6-foot-4 Californian also had two blocked shots.
“We didn’t expect Lauren to be this effective,” Washington said. “That’s something that’s very positive for us.”
Poor overall shooting doomed the Jayhawks, however. They shot only 33.9 percent, including 0-5 from three-point range.
Obviously, the Jayhawks will have to improve their shooting to knock off the No. 24-ranked Ducks. Oregon boosted its record to 3-0 Tuesday night with a 73-57 win at Gonzaga that featured a school-record-tying 14 assists by point guard Corrie Mizusawa.
Oregon also knocked off then-No. 9 Louisiana State, 76-67, Nov. 16.
“They are a very, very good ballclub,” Washington said. “They’re balanced on offense, and they showed with their upset of the Tigers that they can be really good.”
While Washington knows she can’t change the Jayhawks’ start, she hopes her team will remember the bitterness of the UMKC game.
“We were lacking a lot of intensity, especially on defense,” she said. “We need to just focus on our own gameplan, and challenge ourselves to get better. Everybody’s anxious to get back out there.”
Sacramento State (0-2) and North Carolina State will meet in tonight’s other game at 8 p.m. Then Oregon and N.C. State will collide at 10:30 p.m. Saturday following the KU-Sacramento State contest.
Kansas will make its home debut next weekend in the annual Jayhawk Classic. KU will meet Cal State Fullerton at 12:30 p.m. Dec. 6 and either UTEP or Alabama State Dec. 7.
