KU women make MU first conference victim

Kansas University women’s basketball coach Bonnie Henrickson would have liked to have had her first Big 12 Conference victory sooner.

But if she had to wait, getting it against Missouri would suffice.

Henrickson said she was excited for her players to defeat a conference foe — especially against the Tigers, their biggest rival — 63-61 on Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse.

“They’ve worked long and hard to get on the right end of one of these, and the emotion and energy in Allen Fieldhouse would indicate it wasn’t a better one than this one,” Henrickson said.

KU (8-8 overall, 1-4 Big 12) outlasted Missouri (7-10, 1-5) in an evenly played Border Showdown that featured 18 lead changes.

Guard Aquanita Burras broke a 61-all tie with just over a minute remaining when she intercepted a pass in KU’s defensive zone, tip-toed down the left sideline and drove for a lay-up to put the Jayhawks up by two.

It was all the scoring KU would need to stay ahead because its defense stopped Missouri on its last three possessions.

Guard Erica Hallman followed Burras’ example on the Tigers’ next trip up-court with a clean steal that Hallman said actually was an attempt to hack guard LaToya Bond and put her on the free-throw line.

“(Henrickson) told us to foul, so I was going to, but I tried to get a steal before I fouled,” Hallman said. “It was kind of a gamble, but it worked out.”

Kansas University's Crystal Kemp, left, shoots past Missouri's Christelle N'Garsanet. The Jayhawks beat the Tigers, 63-61, Saturday night at Allen Fieldhouse.

Hallman’s steal allowed KU to run several seconds off the clock before a Missouri trap coerced Hallman into a double-dribble.

Missouri then cycled the ball to guard Tiffany Brooks for an open three-point shot, which missed, and it was the last serious threat the Tigers could muster.

There were other standouts for the Jayhawks, especially forward Crystal Kemp. Kemp faced a daunting task against a bigger Missouri lineup.

Despite the size disadvantage, Kemp exploited Missouri’s forwards for 22 points, many of which came from second-chance points from her seven offensive rebounds.

Missouri coach Cindy Stein said her team couldn’t solve Kemp’s presence.

KU's Erica Hallman (23) drives past Missouri's Cherice Mack.

“She was incredible,” Stein said. “She has great hands. It is like she has suction cups on her hands for rebounds.”

But Kemp wasn’t after any compliments for her play. Instead, Kemp credited Hallman’s three-point shooting — she made four of seven attempts — for forcing Missouri’s defense to keep an eye on the perimeter and allowing her good shots and positions for rebounds.

“Once Erica started hitting the outside shot, it really opened it up for me,” Kemp said.

Henrickson said the victory was the result of her players treating the rivalry with Missouri as motivation to play harder and better in search of its first conference victory.

“We said, ‘The emotion and passion you feel from this rivalry, let it help you,'” Henrickson said. “Don’t turn a great rivalry into anything negative as you go through a 40 minute game.”

KU plays its next game Tuesday at Colorado.