No, dropping nine straight games hasn’t made Lynette Woodard delirious.

Kansas University’s interim women’s basketball head coach really thinks the Jayhawks can win one more game.

“I believe we can do it,” Woodard said. “I’m going to keep believing we can do it to the end.”

If 12th-seeded KU doesn’t win today in its 2:30 p.m. Big 12 Conference tournament game against fifth-seeded Baylor at Reunion Arena in Dallas, then a tumultuous and disappointing season will conclude.

“It’s hard to forget,” KU point guard Erica Hallman said of the Jayhawks 9-18 season, which saw legendary Kansas coach Marian Washington take an indefinite leave of absence because of health reasons Jan. 29 and then retire Feb. 27.

“But we have to (forget) to be on an even playing field,” she added, “because right now we’re not.”

Indeed Kansas — which won only two conference games this year, marking the fourth straight season the Jayhawks have finished ninth or lower in the league — will have quite a challenge against No. 14 Baylor.

In their only meeting this season, the Bears blew out the Jayhawks, 85-66, despite Kansas coming out hot and holding a 40-37 halftime lead.

“The first half we were attacking like we were supposed to. Everything was going good,” KU’s leading scorer Crystal Kemp said. “Then they started a little streak that carried them to the end.”

That seems to be a common theme for a Kansas team that has hung around in many of their games against top teams this season but struggled against lower-ranked opponents.

Kansas University forward Blair Waltz (3) shoots over interim head coach Lynette Woodard. The Jayhawks practiced Monday in Dallas, and will play Baylor today in the first round of the Big 12 Conference tournament.

KU players said, though, everything that has happened in the past five months won’t matter much if they win today.

“It would be great,” Hallman said. “At least we would know that we peaked somewhere.

“Last year was kind of the same thing, and we went down there and wound up winning a game. Hopefully, it’s the same thing and we can upset Baylor and go out and play hard.”

Woodard said her team feels the pressure to win, but said KU players shouldn’t worry about playing for her today.

Washington’s departure allowed Woodard her first coaching opportunity. But, unlike her brilliant playing career at KU, the Jayhawks won only one of the 10 games she coached.

Kansas athletic director Lew Perkins said he will start his search for a new coach shortly after the season.

But Woodard said that has yet to happen, and as long as there are games to be played, the Jayhawks will fight.

“If there is any time to come together it is now. I believe this,” Woodard said emphatically, “and told them today that I thought it would be the Texas A&M game. I thought it was going to be the Nebraska game.

Baylor coach Kim Mulkey-Robertson passes the ball to forward Abiola Wabara (35) during practice in Dallas. Baylor will play Kansas University in the first round of the Big 12 Conference women's tournament today.

“I thought we could do something miraculous in Colorado. I thought we could do it at Iowa State. I believed all the way. There was no doubt in my mind.

“But if you were to ask me which one I would take now, I’d take Baylor over all of them.”