All those irritating early morning practices might finally serve a purpose for Kansas University’s women’s basketball team.

An 11:30 a.m. tipoff today against Georgia State in the Feist Shootout at Kansas City, Mo., comes a bit early for a college athlete, who may prefer to slumber until noon during winter break and play ball at night.

But with the KU men playing UMKC at 2 p.m., and the Harlem Globetrotters stopping tonight at Kemper Arena, the women’s team will have to be awake and ready to go for the first of three games on Kemper’s court.

Not a problem, according to freshman Nichelle Roberts.

“It shouldn’t be,” said Roberts, a 6-foot-1 forward from Houston. “We’ve been having early practices to get ready for this.”

Kansas (6-4) has won two games in a row, and some of the credit must go to Roberts. In the last three games, Roberts is averaging 12.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per contest, all in a reserve role.

On Monday, she recorded her first collegiate double-double — 14 points and 10 boards — in KU’s 81-68 victory over Hampton.

“If I go in, I need to work hard,” Roberts said. “I’ve got to be ready to sub in for either post player.”

With Tamara Ransburg battling stress fractures, and Crystal Kemp sometimes forced to play nearly the whole game, Roberts’ emergence couldn’t have been more timely.

“I’m happy for Nichelle,” coach Marian Washington said. “She really helps us.

“We’re trying to encourage everyone to contribute.”

Georgia State won the Atlantic Sun Conference title and a berth in the NCAA Tournament last year but has stumbled to a 5-5 start.

Today’s game will be televised on the Jayhawk Network (channels 13 and 38) and will be the last tuneup for Kansas prior to the opening of Big 12 Conference play next Wednesday against No. 4-ranked Kansas State in Allen Fieldhouse.