Kansas University’s Crystal Kemp fell a point shy of a new career-high, scoring 27 points and grabbing nine rebounds in 40 minutes of action Sunday. Fellow senior Kaylee Brown did set a new career mark with 20 points. But neither of the Jayhawks’ big days could help Kansas from dropping its third straight game as KU fell, 78-64, to Texas A&M at Allen Fieldhouse.
The loss not only marks Kansas’ third-straight setback after starting the season with a program-best 12 straight wins, but is also KU’s first defeat at home this season.
In this league it’s a game of mistakes and we made a lot more than they did today,” said a disappointed KU coach Bonnie Henrickson, whose squad won’t play again until next Sunday when it takes on Oklahoma State at 1 p.m. in Allen Fieldhouse.
But Henrickson told KU fans that despite her team’s recent slump, the Jayhawks will work hard to bounce back.
“This is a very veteran team that has goals and will continue hard to achieve them,” she said.
The Aggies — who recorded their 12th win in the last 13 games now lead the Big 12 Conference with a 14-3 overall record and 3-1 league mark — used a combination of stifling defense and clutch free-throw shooting to hand the Jayhawks their first loss in Lawrence.
“I was telling the kids a couple days ago how far I think Texas A&M has come and how I think they are the most improved team in our conference,” Henrickson said. “They pressure the ball very well and when we pressured them they handled the ball very well.”
Texas A&M held KU to 42.6 percent shooting and connected on its final 12 free throws to deny a late charge by Kansas. Led by Morenike Atunrase’s career-high 29 points, the Aggies shot 54.7 percent and pressured the Jayhawks into a season-high 20 turnovers.
“I stepped up my game a lot because I knew this was a road game,” said Atunrase, who hit 9-of-15 shots from the field including five three-pointers. “I wasn’t hesitating on my shot. I am so proud of our team that we stepped up and hit those crucial free throws.”
Brown said the Jayhawks are eager to get back on the court next weekend.
“I definately think that that is going to help,” Brown said of the extra practice time. “I know that the coaches are going to start breaking things down for us a lot more. They will get us back into the swing of things. I have faith in them, and they have faith in us.
“So we just have to go out there and do the things that we’re told and execute. Play hard, play well.”
MADISON, WIS. ? Kansas University sophomore Caroline Smith scored twice to become the school’s all-time career goals leader, but the Jayhawks suffered their first loss of the season, 3-2, Sunday against Wisconsin.
After only 19 games, Smith, of Edina, Minn., has a total of 20 goals.
“We had some great chances, but we just didn’t make them work,” KU coach Mark Francis said of the loss, which dropped the Jayhawks’ record to 3-1. “We gave up two bad goals, allowing them to tie us up both times.”
Kansas took the first lead in the 23rd minute when Smith recorded her seventh goal of the season off an assist from junior Rachel Gilfillan.
Wisconsin (3-1) knotted the score two minutes later using a header off a corner kick.
Late in the first half, Smith again beat UW goalkeeper Stefani Szczechowski by heading in a pass from senior Lacey Woolf.
The Badgers answered again on Rachael Hansen’s goal with less than thirty seconds remaining in the first half.
“We made some mistakes and got punished for them,” Francis said. “We played well, but they are a good team, and you can’t make mistakes against a good team.”
KU took seven shots in the second half, but none got through. UW scored the game-winner in the 66th minute.
Kansas will travel Tuesday to Springfield, Mo., to face Southwest Missouri State.
Baldwin — Jason Belisle had a goal and an assist, and Pat McNamara recorded a shutout in goal as Baker, ranked No. 7 in the NAIA, blanked No. 19 Kansas Newman, 2-0, in college soccer Sunday.
Scott Appel added a goal, and Tyler Beeton had an assist for Baker.
The Wildcats (1-0-0) travel Tuesday to Park University.
Kansas University’s men’s soccer club team swept Kansas State and Wichita State during the weekend.
The Jayhawks defeated the Wildcats, 2-1, Sunday. Andy Nussbaum scored the first goal off an assist by Hans Broers. Oumar Seck scored the game-winner off a pass from Nussbaum.
Saturday, the Jayhawks knocked off the Shockers, 2-1, in Wichita. Dru Hummer scored first from Seck, and Sean Hughes netted the game-winning goal off a pass from Nussbaum.
KU, which improved to 3-0-1 and currently is ranked No. 10 in the nation, will play Rockhurst at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.
MADISON, WIS. ? Kansas University sophomore Caroline Smith scored twice to become the school’s all-time career goals leader, but the Jayhawks suffered their first loss of the season, 3-2, Sunday against Wisconsin.
After only 19 games, Smith, of Edina, Minn., has a total of 20 goals.
“We had some great chances, but we just didn’t make them work,” KU coach Mark Francis said of the loss, which dropped the Jayhawks’ record to 3-1. “We gave up two bad goals, allowing them to tie us up both times.”
Kansas took the first lead in the 23rd minute when Smith recorded her seventh goal of the season off an assist from junior Rachel Gilfillan.
Wisconsin (3-1) knotted the score two minutes later using a header off a corner kick.
Late in the first half, Smith again beat UW goalkeeper Stefani Szczechowski by heading in a pass from senior Lacey Woolf.
The Badgers answered again on Rachael Hansen’s goal with less than thirty seconds remaining in the first half.
“We made some mistakes and got punished for them,” Francis said. “We played well, but they are a good team, and you can’t make mistakes against a good team.”
KU took seven shots in the second half, but none got through. UW scored the game-winner in the 66th minute.
Kansas will travel Tuesday to Springfield, Mo., to face Southwest Missouri State.
Kansas University’s men’s soccer club team swept Kansas State and Wichita State during the weekend.
The Jayhawks defeated the Wildcats, 2-1, Sunday. Andy Nussbaum scored the first goal off an assist by Hans Broers. Oumar Seck scored the game-winner off a pass from Nussbaum.
Saturday, the Jayhawks knocked off the Shockers, 2-1, in Wichita. Dru Hummer scored first from Seck, and Sean Hughes netted the game-winning goal off a pass from Nussbaum.
KU, which improved to 3-0-1 and currently is ranked No. 10 in the nation, will play Rockhurst at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Creighton combined a stifling defense with clutch three-point baskets to drop Kansas to 5-3 on the season. Thirteen different Creighton women scored, as what was a close game for most of the contest became a blowout late.
Brooke Reves led Jayhawk scoring with 16 points. Jaclyn Johnson notched a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds, but did so on 4 for 16 shooting from the floor.
The Bluejays out-rebounded KU by a 47-32 margin, and scored 26 second-chance points to only 2 for the Jayhawks.
See tomorrow’s Lawrence Journal-World, and KUSports.com, for full coverage of today’s game.
