Kansas women hope to halt skid at OU

? One lucky Oklahoma University women’s basketball fan will leave today’s game against Kansas University with a pair of diamond earrings.

Kansas would settle for leaving town with an elusive Big 12 Conference victory.

Tipoff will be at 4:05 p.m. at Lloyd Noble Center. The game will be broadcast on the Jayhawk Radio Network, including KLWN 1320, and televised live on Fox Sports Midwest (Sunflower Broadband Channel 51).

In conjunction with Valentine’s Day, a Norman jeweler will award the diamond earrings during a halftime contest. The Jayhawks (9-12 overall, 2-8 Big 12) would be happy to halt their three-game losing streak.

KU knocked off Oklahoma State two weeks ago, just two days after coach Marian Washington announced she was taking an indefinite leave of absence for undisclosed medical reasons.

However, under interim coach Lynette Woodard, the Jayhawks since have dropped successive games to Texas Tech, Nebraska and Kansas State.

Oklahoma (15-6, 5-5) is coming off one of the biggest wins in program history — a stunning 68-62 win over Texas Tech in Lubbock. The loss was the first for Tech on its home floor since a 70-67 setback to Texas in March.

“It’s a huge win for our program, for our season,” Oklahoma coach Sherri Coale said.

Kansas also played a top-10 team its last time out, bowing to No. 9-ranked K-State, 81-51, in Allen Fieldhouse.

“We’ve got to learn from one of these games,” said KU guard Erica Hallman, who led the Jayhawks with 14 points against Kansas State.

“We can’t dwell on it though. We have to play Oklahoma on their floor, and they’re a great team. We just have to get it together. Hopefully, by the time the conference is over and the tournament starts, we’ll be better.”

  • Notes: KU’s next game will be against Iowa State at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Allen Fieldhouse. … The Jayhawks’ game against Texas A&M a week from tonight has been moved back an hour to 8 p.m. so KU officials will have time to clear the fieldhouse following the 3 p.m. Kansas-Iowa State men’s game. … OU has won five straight in the series, including a 61-49 victory last year in Lawrence.