Where there’s life, there’s hope, and life remains in Kansas University’s downtrodden women’s basketball team despite its dismal 5-19 record.

“We keep thinking we’re going to get an upset,” KU senior guard Selena Scott said. “We’re going to get one.”

Missouri is the next opportunity. The Jayhawks will try to snap their 11-game losing skid today in Columbia, Mo. Tipoff will be 3:05 p.m. at the Hearnes Center.

Missouri has labeled this one as its annual “Head to the Hearnes” contest. A similar promotion for the Kansas game last year lured a record 10,216 fans. The Tigers hope to eclipse that plateau today.

Long-time KU coach Marian Washington, who had never lost more than 17 games in 28 previous seasons as the Jayhawks’ head coach, is hopeful her team can avoid losing its 20th game today.

“I really feel we can surprise some teams if we can stay with it a little more,” Washington said. “I believe going into every game that we’re going to upset somebody. We’ll see what happens at Missouri.”

Kansas can’t win, though, if it doesn’t shake it’s frustrating habit of languishing into prolonged shooting slumps. For instance, the Jayhawks shot 40 percent in the first half, but only 19 percent in the second half during last Wednesday’s 75-50 home loss to Iowa State.

Even though Washington has five seniors, four of them starters, she is searching for leadership.

“I’m looking for someone to take charge when we need to get going,” she said.

During their 11-game slide, the Jayhawks have shot a paltry 34.2 percent from the floor, including 28 percent from three-point range. KU is also being outrebounded by an average of 10 boards a game and has accumulated 46 more turnovers than its foes.

“Our practices are great,” Washington said. “We just have to carry it over to the floor.”

After today, the Jayhawks will play three of their last four regular season games at home, starting next Wednesday night with Nebraska.

Missouri, 13-8 overall and 4-6 in the league, mauled the Jayhawks, 66-48, last month in Allen Fieldhouse.