NU makes bitter day worse

By Chuck Woodling     Feb 29, 2004

Adam Buhler/Journal-World Photo
Kansas University forward Crystal Kemp (40) shoots over Nebraska's defense. Kemp had 24 points and seven rebounds in the Jayhawks' 65-61 loss to the Huskers Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse.

A double whammy struck Kansas University’s women’s basketball players Saturday afternoon.

First, they learned longtime coach Marian Washington was retiring. Then they suffered a heart-wrenching 65-61 loss to Nebraska in Allen Fieldhouse.

“It does feel emotionally draining,” KU junior forward Blair Waltz said. “It has been emotional.”

Washington met with her players Friday for the first time since she had taken an undisclosed absence for unspecified medical reasons. However, Washington did not disclose then that she planned to retire.

“There were some hints, but she told us today before the game,” junior Aquanita Burras said. “We were in as much shock as anybody.”

Burras said she and Waltz fought tears during the pregame ceremony honoring Washington.

“Blair and I said this was a crying moment, but we can’t cry,” Burras said. “We can’t let our opponents see us cry.”

So there were no tears from Burras before the game or afterward, either, even though the Jayhawks lost a toughie and toppled for the eighth straight time.

Interim coach Lynette Woodard’s postgame words discouraged wet eyes.

“Coach Woodard said it’s a beautiful day, and that we fought hard,” Burras said.

Leila Mengüç, the Jayhawks’ lone senior, earned only her second start of the season, but it was bittersweet.

“It was very sad,” Mengüç said, “but she (Washington) would definitely be proud of us because we played hard.”

Washington did not watch the game and was unavailable to the media.

Crystal Kemp did everything she could to help the Jayhawks win one for her former coach.

“She had a brilliant day,” Woodard said. “She never got tired. She put her heart out there.”

Kemp, a 6-foot-2 sophomore, scored 24 points — 11 more than her average — while logging 35 minutes on the floor.

“We’ve been trying to stay strong throughout everything that’s happened to us,” Kemp said. “It was very emotional in the locker room.”

Two days after Washington had announced she would take a leave of absence, the Jayhawks knocked off Oklahoma State, 74-61, in Allen Fieldhouse. But the Jayhawks haven’t won since. They went 0-for-February.

Still, the eight straight losses seemed less important than Washington’s health.

“We were hoping she would be able to take care of herself and come back and put all her efforts into helping us,” Kemp said, “but she is the most important person in her life and she did what she had to do.”

Kansas came out of the blocks quickly, bolting to a 22-15 lead, but the last seven minutes of the first half were a nightmare as the Cornhuskers used a 14-2 run to grab a 29-24 lead at the break.

“It seems like that’s been a trend in all of our games,” Waltz said, referring to the seven-minute sinking spell.

KU lagged by as many as nine points in the second half before making a spirited run at the end. Twice in the last half-minute, the Jayhawks closed to within a point, but Nebraska thwarted each comeback by hitting six critical free throws.

Kansas outrebounded the Huskers, 42-32, despite Lauren Ervin, the Jayhawks’ second-leading rebounder, spending the entire game on the bench. Woodard wouldn’t say why Ervin, a 6-4 freshman, suited but didn’t play. “She just didn’t get the call,” Woodard said, adding that it was partly because Ervin had been ill last week.

¢

Notes: KU’s only three-point goal was by Erica Hallman with just :01.6 remaining. The Jayhawks had missed their first 10 three-point attempts. … KU shot 50 percent in the second half, but only 32.4 percent in the first half. … KU (9-17 overall, 2-13 Big 12 Conference) will close the regular season Thursday at Iowa State.

PREV POST

Two KU track records broken in first day of Big 12 Indoors

NEXT POST

5597NU makes bitter day worse