Kansas to play two in California

Kansas University’s women’s basketball team will continue its rebuilding process today against an opponent that is also trying to move toward respectability.

The Jayhawks will play their first road game of the season at 4 p.m. today against Cal State Fullerton in Titan Gym.

The Titans were 4-24 overall and 2-14 in the West Coast Conference last season, and won just one game two years ago.

Kansas is already one-fifth of the way to last season’s victory total after Sunday’s 63-60 win against the University of Texas-El Paso. That victory gave the Jayhawks a lot of confidence and momentum.

“Right now, everybody’s really hyped,” sophomore guard Aquanita Burras said after Sunday’s victory.

“This first victory is a good one going into Cal State Fullerton and I think that momentum will just carry on to the next game.”

The Titans (1-1) lost 80-55 to New Mexico on Monday, a day after defeating Centenary, 74-61, in their season opener.

Senior forward Heather Hansen leads Cal State Fullerton with an average of 14 points per game, and junior center Rochelle Ortega is second in scoring and rebounding, averaging 12 points and six rebounds per game.

Hansen, 6-foot-1, and Ortega, 6-2, should provide Kansas freshman Crystal Kemp some competition down low. Kemp (6-2) scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in her college debut Sunday against a UTEP team with five players 6-foot or taller.

“I thought it was a good chance for me to work harder and see some of the big competition we’re going to face the rest of the season,” Kemp said.

Kansas blew an 11-point halftime lead against the Miners, but the Jayhawks, with three freshman and two sophomores on the court, ended the game on an 8-2 run.

When: 4 p.m. today.Where: Fullerton, Calif.Records: KU 1-0, Cal State Fullerton 1-1.

“As young as they are, they’re going to be a very fine ball club in the future here,” coach Marian Washington said. “So we’re going to go to California and see if we can get a couple more.”

The Jayhawks play at 9 p.m. Saturday at San Diego.