Everyone was depressed. That might be the best evidence that the Kansas University women’s basketball team is turning the corner as a program.
In past seasons, the Jayhawks might have been pleased with any victory.
On Friday, however, even a 72-50 drubbing of Birmingham-Southern was not enough to leave the players or coaches satisfied.
“I got after them pretty good in the locker room afterwards,” Kansas coach Bonnie Henrickson said. “I didn’t care we won, I didn’t care how much it was — it doesn’t matter. We’re just not going to settle for being mediocre and average, and I thought we played like that tonight.”
Though Kansas never was challenged and led by as many as 27 in the second half, the players reflected the disappointment of their coach after the game.
“It is a big win, but now we’re not settling for that,” KU guard Ivana Catic said. “We should have won by a lot more, because we should have played a lot better. This is a win, but it’s not what we want.”
Henrickson’s biggest concerns were her team’s turnovers and missed assignments on defense, calling her team’s play “sloppy” and “undisciplined.”
The Jayhawks committed 20 turnovers and allowed more open shots than the coach would have liked.
“I’m happy with the win,” Henrickson said, “but I just think now we can be better and we need to be better.”
KU pulled away from BSC thanks to hot outside shooting. Most of the bombs came from Erica Hallman, who made her first start and second appearance after serving a two-game suspension for academic reasons.
Though she complained of being “broke” in her first game back Sunday, the senior was anything but against Southern, canning a career-high six three-pointers in eight attempts.
“The shots were falling. It was just one of those nights,” Hallman said. “It felt like everything I was putting up was going in.”
The Jayhawks, who entered the game leading the conference in three-point efficiency at 42.9 percent, connected on nine of their 15 attempts from behind the arc.
Hallman’s first make, a guarded three from the wing, capped an 11-0 Kansas run that gave the Jayhawks an early 21-9 cushion.
The guard led Kansas with 19 points, while fellow seniors Crystal Kemp (12) and Kaylee Brown (10) both added double figures.
Kemp also posted her 600th career rebound, becoming on the ninth player in KU history to reach 1,000 points and 600 rebounds in a career.
Catic continued her string of solid performances from the point-guard position, contributing 10 assists. The freshman has had at least six assists in each game this year.
Kansas improved to 4-0 for the first time since the 2002-2003 season.
The Jayhawks will play New Orleans at 1 p.m. today at Allen Fieldhouse.
And, for the first time in awhile, a victory might not be enough to satisfy them.
“What I like about this team,” Henrickson said, “is they expect to be successful.”
