Norman, Okla. ? No team in Marian Washington’s 28 previous years as Kansas University women’s basketball coach has ever lost more than 17 games in a season.

That number will be in jeopardy today.

The 5-17 Jayhawks, losers of nine straight and 14 of their last 16, must tangle with the Big 12’s highest-ranked team, No. 4 Oklahoma.

Tipoff will be at 1:05 p.m. in Noble Arena. The game will be broadcast on the Jayhawk Network (KLWN, 1320) and telecast on Fox Sports Midwest.

Washington’s previous 17-game losers were last year’s 12-17 club and the 7-17 team of 1974-75.

Since the Big 12 began six years ago, no women’s basketball team has ever gone winless in conference play, but the Jayhawks have five ranked teams among the seven league games remaining on their schedule and face the possibility of going without a victory in 2002.

Kansas hasn’t won since thumping Morgan State, 88-53, Dec. 29.

Oklahoma, led by its high-scoring backcourt duo of LaNeisha Caufield (19.3 ppg.) and Stacey Dales (15.7) is 17-2 overall and 7-1 in league play. The Sooners are the highest scoring team in the Big 12 and the Jayhawks are the lowest.

KU is averaging only 49.3 points a game in conference play while shooting a frosty 34.3 percent from the field and 65.4 from the free-throw line.

The second-place Sooners will be trying to keep pace with Big 12 leader Kansas State. The ninth-ranked Wildcats (20-2, 8-1) play host to No. 16 Iowa State (16-5, 4-5) tonight.

Kansas will play host to Iowa State next Wednesday night. Tipoff will be 7:05 p.m. in Allen Fieldhouse. Starting with that game, the Jayhawks will have four of their last six contests at home after playing four of five on the road.