Manhattan ? If ever there was a time when Kansas University’s women’s basketball team needed Tamara Ransburg at her best, this is it.

The Jayhawks will meet No. 5-ranked Kansas State tonight.

“I would like to think,” KU coach Marian Washington said, “we are going to be more confident than we were the first time out.”

Tipoff will be at 7:05 p.m. at Bramlage Coliseum. The game will be broadcast on the Jayhawk Radio Network on tape delay following the KU-Texas A&M men’s game.

Kansas State won the first meeting, 88-49, Jan. 8 in Allen Fieldhouse.

Ransburg, a 6-foot-4 freshman, managed 13 points and 10 rebounds last time against K-State, despite playing just five minutes in the first half because of foul trouble.

“I love to play them,” Ransburg said. “Their team makes me a little better.”

Lately, Ransburg has been much, much better. In KU’s last three games, she has averaged 17.3 points and 10.3 rebounds. A similar effort would be pivotal in giving Kansas any chance tonight.

Ransburg will go against junior Nicole Ohlde, one of America’s premier post players. Ohlde is averaging 18.6 points and 8.9 rebounds, and is the reigning Big 12 Player of the Week.

Ransburg remains confident her hot hand and her team can compete with the best in the Big 12 Conference.

“Looking at them and looking at us,” Ransburg said, “I think we can compete with them.”

K-State (25-2 overall, 12-1 league) hasn’t missed a beat since slaughtering the Jayhawks seven weeks ago.

Despite losing sophomore sharp-shooter Laurie Koehn, whose nagging ankle injury finally took her out of action, the Wildcats have won seven straight, and have solidified their status as a potential NCAA Final Four team.

“It’s not going to be easy,” Washington said, “because of their confidence level and because they are playing at home.”

K-State’s last two games at Bramlage Coliseum, with a capacity of 13,466, have sold out. Tickets still remained late Tuesday for tonight’s game, but not many.

“I think we have been in situations now where places do a great job of getting numbers in the stands,” Washington said. “Our kids enjoy that setting.”

Kansas will travel Saturday night to Missouri before closing the regular season at home a week from tonight against Iowa State.

Probable Starters

KANSAS (10-14, 3-10)

F — Blair Waltz, 6-0 Soph., 7.5 ppg

F — Crystal Kemp, 6-2 Fr., 10.9

C — Tamara Ransburg, 6-4 Fr., 10.8

G — Aquanita Burras, 5-9 Soph., 10.8

G — Leila Mengüç, 5-6 Jr., 2.8

KANSAS STATE (25-2, 12-1)

F — Megan Mahoney, 6-0 Soph., 13.6 ppg

F — Amy Dutmer, 6-0 Soph., 4.4

F — Kendra Wecker, 5-11 Soph., 19.6

C — Nicole Ohlde, 6-4 Jr., 18.6

G — Chelsea Domenico, 5-7 Soph., 5.1

Tipoff: 7:05 tonight, Bramlage Coliseum, Manhattan.

Broadcast: Jayhawk Radio Network, including KLWN 1320 (following KU-Texas A&M men’s game).