Four days ago, Texas A&M’s women’s basketball team dismantled Kansas State. Now it’s Kansas University’s turn to try to slow the surging Aggies.
“They’re tremendously athletic,” KU coach Bonnie Henrickson said.
Tipoff will be at 1:05 p.m. today in Allen Fieldhouse. Sunflower Broadband Channel 6 will carry a live telecast.
A&M battered K-State, 66-39, Wednesday night in College Station, Texas. It was the most decisive victory the Aggies ever have had in the Big 12 Conference and the fewest points K-State had scored in a Big 12 game.
“They’re forcing over 20 turnovers a game,” Henrickson said of the Aggies, “and if they don’t make the first shot, they go get the second and third.”
Kansas State coughed the ball up 27 times and surrendered 20 offensive boards in the lopsided loss in A&M’s Reed Arena.
The Aggies (13-3) are leading the Big 12 in scoring defense and are No. 19 in the NCAA at 54.8 points allowed per game. A&M also leads the league in steals, turnover margin and blocked shots.
Sophomore Morenike Atunrase, last year’s Big 12 freshman of the year, leads the Aggies’ balanced scoring attack at 12.5 points per game. Freshman Takia Starks is second at 11.4 ppg.
Kansas will be trying to protect its unbeaten record at home. The Jayhawks won their first dozen games — all in Allen Fieldhouse — but then dropped back-to-back decisions to Nebraska (73-61) and Colorado (74-65) on the road.
KU has surrendered more than 70 points only four times this season, and half those occurred in the last two games. Also, the 61 points against Nebraska were the fewest the Jayhawks (12-2) have compiled in a single game, while the 65 points against Colorado were the third fewest.
“We’ve got to be better defensively,” Henrickson said, “and continue to come with our offense.”
Notes: KU leads the Big 12 in three-point shooting percentage (39.4 percent). … One more victory will give KU its highest victory total in six years. The Jayhawks already have won as many games as they won all of last season. … Today’s game is the Jayhawks’ seventh Sunday outing. KU’s eighth — and last — scheduled Sunday game will be a week from today against Oklahoma State.