Kansas Defeats UMKC, 56-41, To Claim Best Start In 17 Years
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Sophomore Carolyn Davis scored 27 points and tied a career high with 14 rebounds to post record her second-straight double-double and lead Kansas women’s basketball to a 56-41 victory over in Allen Fieldhouse Monday night.
Kansas improved to 13-1 for the first time since the 1993-94 season, when the team started with a 16-1 record. KU also posted a perfect record in Allen Fieldhouse against non-conference opponents for the fourth-straight regular season and fifth time overall in head coach Bonnie Henrickson’s seven seasons at the helm of the Jayhawk program. fell to 5-10 with the loss.
Freshman Elise O’Connor led with nine points. Junior Brianna Eldridge led the Kangaroos with eight rebounds, while freshman Ashli Hill – a native of Lawrence, Kan. – had seven rebounds and a game-high six blocks for .
Early in the second half, Kansas used an 11-2 run in a four-minute stretch to gain a 40-24 lead with 13:45 remaining in the game. KU held the Kangaroos to only three points in the final five minutes to seal the victory.
Despite blocking a season-high 10 of KU’s shots, the Jayhawks shot 40.4 percent from the field while holding to 28.3 percent. Kansas also forced 15 Kangaroo turnovers while only committing 12 fouls in the game.
The Jayhawks started cold from the field, missing 12 of their first 14 shots, including four blocked by Hill and one blocked by O’Connor. With 12:54 remaining in the half, KU freshman guard Keena Mays made a layup to give KU an 8-5 lead. Kansas shot 45.0 percent for the rest of the opening period, taking a 26-16 advantage into halftime.
Davis led all players with 11 points and seven rebounds at the break. Junior forward Aishah Sutherland also had seven rebounds in the first half. UMKC’s Kaycie Boyles scored four points in only six minutes to lead the Kangaroos in scoring at the intermission, while Hill had all six of her blocks in the first 20 minutes.
Updated 01-04-2011
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