Cliff Grassmick/AP PhotoBoulder, Colo. ? Kansas University’s women’s basketball team claimed its second straight victory, a 65-60 decision over Colorado on Tuesday.
“We are excited that our kids finished the game like they did tonight,” Kansas coach Bonnie Henrickson said. “We got good play from our kids off the bench. It was a good team win tonight, and a lot of players stepped up when we needed them to.”
Juniors Crystal Kemp and Erica Hallman combined for 33 points for KU, which held Colorado to just 11-of -31 shooting in the second half.
Hallman led all scorers with 18 points and a game-high seven assists, while Kemp dominated the post with 15 points and a game-high 15 rebounds. Junior Kaylee Brown and sophomore Sharita Smith each added eight points, while senior Aquanita Burras and freshman Taylor McIntosh each chipped in six points.
Freshman Jackie McFarland and sophomore Jasmina Ilic led Colorado with 13 points each. McFarland grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds off the bench. Sophomore Anna Nedovic added 12 points and eight rebounds in the loss.
The Jayhawks improved to 9-8 overall and 2-4 in the Big 12 Conference.
KU will travel Saturday to Nebraska. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
Adam Buhler/Journal-World PhotoIt was fitting that Aquanita Burras and Tamara Ransburg were the last two Kansas University women’s basketball players to touch the ball in the waning seconds of the Jayhawks’ 70-55 victory Saturday night over Ball State at Allen Fieldhouse.
Kansas went on a 27-4 run to pull outs its fourth consecutive win, and it was largely because of the efforts of Burras and Ransburg.
Burras, a junior, posted a career-high 24 points, going 11-of-14 from the floor with four assists and three steals.
“Everything it seemed last year was layups,” Burras said. “I’m trying to have that outside threat.”
Ransburg, too, could make a strong argument for player-of-the game honors. The sophomore forward had 11 points, 12 rebounds and four steals for her first double-double of the season.
“I’m just looking to play defense to win the game,” Ransburg said. “That’s it.”
Kansas (4-2) opened by outscoring Ball State, 20-5. The Cardinals, known as a good perimeter-shooting team, rallied with jump shots, hitting four three-pointers out of 12 first-half attempts.
Kansas led, 31-24, at the half, but Ball State (4-5) started hitting from long range and led by as many as eight points before the Jayhawks went on the clinching run.
“It was an exciting ballgame,” Kansas coach Marian Washington said. “I thought we came out and did a pretty good job on both ends of the floor, and then obviously we fell in a slump.”
Washington said she was impressed with the Jayhawks’ fight.
“Even when we got down, it’s a great sign for this young club to be able to not give up,” she said.
The 952 fans on hand responded to the Jayhawks’ rally.
“That was a lot of fun,” Washington said. “When they started stomping and helping us on the defensive end, that’s what it’s all about.”
“It was a blessing,” Ransburg agreed. “We needed that. We weren’t nervous. We were ready to play, but the crowd was ready for us, so I think we stepped it up a lot.”
Ballyhooed KU freshman Lauren Ervin didn’t play until 3:33 remained in the first half.
The reason?
“Two days ago, I couldn’t even get out of bed,” said Ervin, who finished with seven points. “I was just extremely sick.”
She didn’t look a bit under the weather when she took to the court.
“I just think that people are starting to come around,” Ervin said. “We’re proving everybody wrong. We’re winning everybody’s respect right now.”
Kansas will take on Texas-Arlington Saturday at the University of Denver Tournament.
6Sports video: Back-to-back Big 12 wins for women
Get the stats: KU vs. Colorado box score