Who: Kansas vs. Oklahoma State, in Big 12 Tournament
When: 8:30 tonight
Where: Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City
Series: Oklahoma State leads, 34-32
Rubber match
The Kansas women’s basketball team has a chance to take the season series over Oklahoma State. The two teams split the two meetings this year, with each squad winning at home. The Jayhawks’ 67-49 victory on Feb. 8 snapped a 10-game losing streak to the Cowgirls. KU holds a 3-2 advantage over OSU when matched up in the Big 12 Tournament.
Identity theft
Despite finishing dead last in the conference, the Jayhawks flustered their opposition nearly every night. KU won just two games in this year’s double round-robin, but were still able to force 20-or-more turnovers in nine of those 18 contests. On Jan. 4, Texas coughed it up 31 times, setting a season-best mark. Kansas paced the league with an average of 18.7 turnovers created per game.
Streaking
Earlier this week, junior Jessica Washington was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. It marked the first time ever that a Jayhawk won the honor. Washington claimed the hardware by leading the Big 12 in scoring during league play with a mark of 19.3 points per game. She even led all scorers in 11 of her 18 conference outings this season.
Slumping
Sophomore wing Kylee Kopatich was held scoreless in the season finale at West Virginia. In the 73-54 loss, Kopatich missed all three shots that she took, including a pair of 3-pointers. It marked the first time all year that Kopatich had been held scoreless. In order for KU to win a game in the league tournament for the second straight year, Kopatich needs to be more involved on the offensive end.
Probable starters
Kansas
(8-21 overall, 2-16 Big 12)
G — Jayde Christopher, 5-8, so.
G — Jessica Washington, 5-8, jr.
G — Kylee Kopatich, 5-10, so.
G — Chayla Cheadle, 6-0, jr.
F — Sydney Umeri, 6-0, sr.
Oklahoma state
(16-13 overall, 6-12 Big 12)
G — Karli Wheeler, 5-8, so.
G — Diana Omozee, 5-11, sr.
F — Katelyn Loecker, 6-0, sr.
F — Mandy Coleman, 6-3, jr.
C — Kaylee Jensen, 6-4, jr.
Who: Kansas vs. Oklahoma State
When: 7 tonight
Where: Allen Fieldhouse
Series: Oklahoma State leads, 34-30
Head to head troubles
After losing the first matchup 74-70 on the road, Kansas has lost its last 10 meetings against Oklahoma State. The Jayhawks haven’t beat the Cowgirls since the 2012 season, and their last win in Allen Fieldhouse was in 2006.
Streaking
Junior Jessica Washington continued her stellar scoring in Big 12 play in Kansas’ loss to TCU on Sunday. She scored 27 points, which marks her seventh conference game with 20 points or more. Washington leads conference in scoring in Big 12-only games with 20.3 points per game, and is ranked second in the conference in all games with 17 points per game.
Slumping
Junior Chayla Cheadle scored two points on Sunday, and she’s only scored 11 points in her last six games. Even when she’s struggled to score, Cheadle has been consistent on the glass at 4.6 rebounds per game. But KU’s second leading rebounder on the season didn’t record a rebound on Sunday for only the second time this season.
Probable starters
KANSAS
(7-16 overall, 1-11 Big 12)
G — Jayde Christopher, 5-8, so.
G — Jessica Washington, 5-8, jr.
G — Kylee Kopatich, 5-10, so.
G — Chayla Cheadle, 6-0, jr.
F — Sydney Umeri, 6-0, sr.
OKLAHOMA STATE
(13-9 overall, 3-8 Big 12)
G — Karli Wheeler, 5-8, so.
G — Areanna Combs, 5-10, fr.
F — Mandy Coleman, 6-3, jr.
F — Jentry Holt, 6-3, so.
C — Kaylee Jensen, 6-4, jr.
Who: Kansas vs. Oklahoma State
When: 7 tonight
Where: Gallagher-Iba Arena, Stillwater, Oklahoma
Series: Kansas leads, 31-30
Another rematch
On a four-game losing skid that began with a home loss to Oklahoma State, KU faces OSU again tonight at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
The Jayhawks, alone in last place in the Big 12 with a 4-10 mark, haven’t exactly taken advantage of their previous rematches this season.
Kansas has dropped Round 2 versus: Texas, TCU, Baylor and West Virginia. The Jayhawks swept Texas Tech, and still have rematches with Kansas State, Oklahoma and Iowa State to come.
Streaking
OSU is one of the hottest teams in the Big 12, having won four straight and five of six, with the only loss coming to No. 3 Baylor (25-1 overall, 14-0 Big 12). Oklahoma State also has six straight wins against Kansas.
Slumping
Shooting 31.9 percent from behind the three-point line in Big 12 games, the Jayhawks haven’t been great this season. But they’ve had even less success on three-pointers in their current losing streak. KU has made five or more threes in each of its four most recent losses, but the Jayhawks have only connected on 23 of their 80 attempts — 28.8 percent.
Probable starters
Kansas
(13-14 overall, 4-10 Big 12)
G — Natalie Knight, 5-7, sr.
G — Lauren Aldridge, 5-7, fr.
G — Chayla Cheadle, 6-0, fr.
F — Jada Brown, 6-0, soph.
F — Chelsea Gardner, 6-3, sr.
OKLAHOMA STATE
(17-8, 7-7)
G — Brittney Martin, 6-0, jr.
G — Roshunda Johnson, 5-7, soph.
G — Roddricka Patton, 5-4, jr.
F — Liz Donohoe, 6-0, sr.
C — LaShawn Jones, 6-3, sr.
