Who: Kansas vs. Kansas State
When: 2 p.m. today
Where: Allen Fieldhouse
Series: Kansas State leads 69-46
Senior Day
The Kansas women’s basketball team will honor seniors Sydney Umeri, Jada Brown, Timeka O’Neal, Lisa Blair and Caelynn Manning-Allen. The Jayhawks have a five-game losing streak to the Wildcats, and will look for their first win in the series since the 2014 Big 12 Tournament — and their first win against them in Allen Fieldhouse since January 2013.
Turnovers
Kansas ranks first in the Big 12 in turnovers forced per game (18.7) and second in steals per game (9.3). Its defense will be in for a challenge against Kansas State, which ranks fourth in the Big 12 with a 1.0 assist to turnover ratio. The Jayhawks only forced 13 turnovers in Manhattan, and they’re 0-5 this season when forcing 13 or fewer turnovers.
Streaking
Junior Jessica Washington scored a career-high 36 points in KU’s loss to Iowa State earlier in the week, which was the most points by a Kansas player since Carolyn Davis scored 36 against Nebraska in 2011. Washington’s previous career high was 31 points, which she set against Kansas State in January. She leads the Big 12 in scoring in conference play with 20.6 points per game, and she’s scored in double-figures in 15 of the Jayhawks’ 16 conference games.
Slumping
Sophomore Kylee Kopatich’s struggles continued earlier in the week as she scored five points in 2-of-6 shooting against the Cyclones. After a streak of four games with 10 or more points, Kopatich has only reached that mark once in the last four games, and she’s shot 33 percent or worse from the field in five straight games.
Probable starters
Kansas
(8-19 overall, 2-14 Big 12)
G — Timeka O’Neal, 5-4, sr.
F — Jada Brown, 6-0, sr.
F — Sydney Umeri, 6-0, sr.
F — Caelynn Manning-Allen, 6-4, sr.
C — Lisa Blair, 6-5, sr.
KANSAS STATE (20-8, 10-6)
G — Karyla Middlebrook, 5-7, jr.
G — Kindred Wesemann, 5-7, sr.
F — Shaelyn Martin, 6-1, sr.
F — Kylee Page, 6-3, jr.
C — Breanna Lewis, 6-5, sr.
