With four regular-season games left, the seven freshmen on the Kansas University women’s basketball team still play like newcomers, alternating displays of potential with maddening ineffectiveness.

Danielle McCray and Kelly Kohn combined for 32 points on 13-of-23 shooting during a 50-49 victory against Texas. One game later, the freshman duo went 4-of-19 for nine points during Wednesday’s 67-57 loss to Missouri.

“We’ve struggled with consistency from game to game, from player to player,” KU coach Bonnie Henrickson said. “It’s making me gray before my time.”

The rookies will need to perform at their best for the Jayhawks (8-17 overall, 2-10 Big 12) to buck a trend against Kansas State (16-9, 4-8) this afternoon in Allen Fieldhouse. The Wildcats have defeated the Jayhawks 12 consecutive times, including a 59-55 victory in Manhattan on Jan. 24.

Tipoff is 1:05 p.m., with a live telecast available on Fox Sports Midwest (Sunflower Broadband channel 36).

“It will be another tough game,” senior Shaquina Mosley said. “And we have to come prepared to play hard.”

KU will work at negating the perimeter attack of forward Claire Coggins (13.5 ppg) and guard Kimberly Dietz (12.9), but at least three players have scored in double figures during 21 of K-State’s 25 games.

“They’re balanced,” Henrickson said.

The Wildcats, though, will miss their key post presence today. Sophomore Marlies Gipson, who leads the team with 8.3 rebounds per game, injured her knee Jan. 17 at Nebraska, and Kansas State is 2-7 without her.

Early-game struggles have plagued the Jayhawks. During Wednesday’s contest, Kansas did not score for the first 4:38, starting 0-for-5 from the field with four turnovers.

In the earlier matchup against Kansas State, the Wildcats began with an 8-0 run and 36-29 halftime lead before KU narrowed the gap.

“We’ve got be more disciplined and play more aggressively with confidence out of the gate,” Henrickson said.

Expect Kansas State to come out firing from long distance. Coggins and Dietz have combined for 100 three-pointers on the year, and Kansas State shoots 32.9 percent as a team.

“They shoot the three very well,” Henrickson said. “That’s what they’ve always been able to do.”

The Jayhawks, however, limited the Wildcats to 2-of-11 shooting from behind the arc in the previous match.

KU’s proficiency on the boards during that game served as another positive. The Jayhawks outrebounded the Wildcats 54-31, including 12 from Porscha Weddington.

“I don’t know that it’s a tremendous advantage,” Henrickson said. “But we need to go ahead and make it one.”

The home crowd in Allen Fieldhouse could provide another boost. As part of the Lawrence Public Schools Elementary Challenge, all Lawrence Public School elementary students and staff will receive free admission to the game, and families of elementary students can receive discounted tickets.

“It’s a rivalry game,” Henrickson said. “Hopefully it’s a great crowd, and we get a bunch of blue in here.”