Nobody can accuse Bonnie Henrickson of watering down her schedule.

Kansas University’s nonconference women’s basketball slate features three Big 10 schools, one from the Pac-10 and such other non-softies as Santa Clara and Xavier.

“We’re sensitive to our RPI and strength of schedule,” said Henrickson, now in her third season at KU, “and, in recruiting, kids want to play quality competition.”

No. 16 California, the Pac-10 foe, is next.

Tipoff will be at 2 p.m. today in Allen Fieldhouse. Sunflower Broadband Channel Six will carry a live telecast.

With half her roster composed of freshmen, Henrickson could have opted for an easier November and December schedule, but that isn’t the case.

“Sure, we’re young,” she said, “but that’s good for us. I’m not afraid of what we’ve done. This will help us prepare for the conference.”

Five of the Big 12 Conference schools are ranked in this week’s Associated Press poll, and that will add more potency to the Jayhawks’ RPI come NCAA reckoning time in March.

First things first, though, and Henrickson is still searching for scoring punch. The Jayhawks are shooting under 40 percent as a team – 26 percent from three-point range – and don’t have a single double-digit-average scorer.

“It’s glaring,” Henrickson said about the poor shooting. “Our timing is bad. We have people wide-open, and we’re missing them. I think we’re trying to run plays instead of just playing.”

Freshman LaChelda Jacobs came off the bench to score 17 points in Wednesday’s 53-48 loss to South Dakota State and will make her first start today against the Golden Bears.

“I’ve got to get the best kids on the floor,” Henrickson said. “LaChelda has played well, and she’s practiced well, and she keeps getting better.”

Jacobs’ ascension means three first-year players will answer the bell today. The other freshman starters are Sade Morris and Kelly Kohn, who scored a career-high 16 points in the loss to the Jackrabbits.