When: 7 p.m. today
Where: Allen Fieldhouse
Who: UMKC
Series: KU leads, 15-3
Time to toughen up: After first-year Kansas University women’s basketball coach Brandon Schneider suffered his first home loss Sunday against St. John’s, he said one of the reasons the Jayhawks lost and gave up a season-high 86 points was there were too many times when SJU looked like the tougher team.
“Sometimes you’re not just talking about physical toughness. You can be mentally soft — doesn’t mean you’re a soft person — but when you’re not focused and situationally you’re not aware of what’s going on. That’s, in my opinion, being mentally soft,” Schneider said. “And we had too many possessions where I think you could’ve categorized us that way today.”
‘Roos for improvement: Tonight marks a good chance for the Jayhawks to get back on track after losing three of their past five games. UMKC comes to Lawrence with a 1-6 record, averaging only 55.9 points per game and shooting 38 percent from the field on the season.
Streaking: KU guard Kylee Kopatich has scored in double figures in each of her past four games. Kopatich, a three-point threat who has made 10 of 21 (47.6 percent) in that same stretch, has also attacked the glass, pulling down 20 rebounds in her past three games. On the season, the freshman from Olathe is averaging 10.6 points and 5.9 boards.
Slumping: Jada Brown hasn’t made a field goal in KU’s past three games. The Kansas junior forward hasn’t taken many shots in that stretch, though. Brown went 0-for-5 at SMU, 0-for-1 against Creighton and didn’t attempt a field goal versus St. John’s.
Probable starters
Kansas (4-3)
G — Lauren Aldridge, 5-7, so.
G — Aisia Robertson, 5-7, fr.
G — Kylee Kopatich, 5-10, fr.
G — Chayla Cheadle, 6-0, so.
F — Caelynn Manning-Allen, 6-4, jr.
UMKC (1-6)
G — Kelsey Barrett, 5-10, jr.
G — Aries Washington, 5-9, so.
F — Samantha Waldron, 6-0, so.
F — Taylor Leathers, 6-0, sr.
F — Kristen Moore, 6-0, fr.
