Tech silences KU

By Ryan Greene     Feb 17, 2005

Scott McClurg/Journal-World Photo
Kansas University's Crystal Kemp (40) shoots against Texas Tech's Cisti Greenwalt in the second half of the Jayhawks' 66-53 setback. Kemp scored the 1,000th point of her career in the loss Wednesday at Allen Fieldhouse.

Kansas University women’s basketball coach Bonnie Henrickson was worried that her team’s play Wednesday night against No. 15 Texas Tech would resemble Tuesday’s team practice: quiet, with little energy.

It did.

As a result, the Jayhawks (11-12 overall, 4-8 Big 12 Conference) fell hard to the Red Raiders, 66-53, at Allen Fieldhouse.

“I’m disappointed we didn’t match their intensity to begin the game,” Henrickson said. “I’m certainly proud that we played with some pride and competed in the second half, but you just can’t dig yourself such a big hole against a quality team like that.

“I’m sure for the kids it felt like climbing a mountain three inches at a time — a long way up.”

Scott McClurg/Journal-World Photo
Kansas' Kaylee Brown, center, fights her way through a pair of Texas Tech defenders. The Jayhawks fell to the Red Raiders, 66-53, on Wednesday at Allen Fieldhouse.

Tech (18-5, 9-3) gave KU a little bit of everything in the first 20 minutes. After jumping to an 11-2 lead, the Raiders clamped down on the Jayhawks defensively, forcing turnovers, cutting off passing lanes and executing perfectly in transition. Couple that with Kansas’ lack of energy and communication, and Tech got quality looks at the basket nearly each trip down the floor.

“You’re not going to beat Texas Tech giving them uncontested threes and layups,” Henrickson said. “As soon as they get possession, they run, and that’s where (Tech point guard) Erin Grant can run it down your throat and drop a pass for a layup.”

Grant, who entered the game as the Big 12’s leader in assists per game, had nine Wednesday.

It also didn’t help that Kansas hit only four of its first 18 field-goal attempts, while Tech came out at a blazing 13-of-16 clip.

Even when the Raiders hit the skids late in the first half with an 8:30 drought from the field, the Jayhawks were able to produce only two field goals.

Scott McClurg/Journal-World Photo
Kansas University's Erica Hallman, right, tries to get a shot off against Texas Tech. The Jayhawks lost, 66-53, Wednesday at Allen Fieldhouse.

The Red Raiders shot an astonishing 60 percent from the floor in the first half, while the Jayhawks struggled at 25-percent, and only had three players score. Leading the way was junior forward Crystal Kemp, who scored a game-high 19 points and in the process became the 18th Jayhawk to surpass the 1,000-point mark for her career.

Even though the milestone gave Kemp a reason to crack a smile after the game, it was lost in the mix of what had just transpired.

“They couldn’t miss. They were getting the ball in transition, and it seemed like we couldn’t keep up with them for the longest time,” she said. “We were rushing some shots, and especially myself, because I missed some easy ones.”

Kansas went 15-of-25 from the field in the second half, with Erica Hallman, Taylor McIntosh and Sharita Smith beginning to find their offensive grooves.

Even so, the dream of a comeback was never even close to reality, as Tech, which led by as many as 21 points in the first half, remained consistent on offense in the second half.

Henrickson had the premonition before the game that her team’s mentality could be a problem.

“I said yesterday, ‘I’m not talking you into playing poorly tomorrow, but this isn’t good,'” she said. “We’re not real good when it’s quiet in the gym. I don’t know what it is, and I don’t know if we’ll be able to figure it out or not.

“It’s gotta just be someone, three or four of them who start to recognize it and start jabbering. But we’ll be better on Sunday, I promise you that.”

KU will play host to Nebraska on Sunday. Tipoff is 2 p.m. at Allen Fieldhouse.

PREV POST

A Fresh Start

NEXT POST

7653Tech silences KU