Off to a 5-1 start, Kansas University’s women’s basketball team is forcing opponents into an average of about 20 turnovers a game.

On the flip side, the Jayhawks are coughing the ball up about 19 times themselves — a bad sign considering KU led the Big 12 in turnovers last season.

Coach Bonnie Henrickson is still baffled why her players gave the ball away a glaring 28 times in Sunday’s 67-57 loss at Marquette.

“Absolutely,” Henrickson said. “And it was how we did it, because they just used a token press. We were so sloppy.”

Perhaps Western Illinois will help the Jayhawks cure their turnover blues. The Westerwinds (2-6) are coming off a 67-38 road loss to IUPUI.

Tipoff will be at 7 p.m. today in Allen Fieldhouse. Sunflower Broadband 6 will have a live telecast.

In Henrickson’s mind, the Jayhawks are fortunate the schedule allows them to get right back on the horse after being thrown off.

“It’s good for us to play right away,” she said.

Henrickson would particularly like to think Nicollette Smith’s performance against the Golden Eagles in Milwaukee was an anomaly.

Smith, who has started the last four games in place of ailing Krysten Boogaard, posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 boards, but also committed a team-high six turnovers.

Boogaard won’t play again tonight. She’s also questionable for Saturday’s road trip to Omaha, Neb., to meet Creighton. The 6-foot-5 sophomore is recovering for a stress reaction in her left femur.

One bright spot in the Marquette defeat was Rebecca Feickert, a 6-2 junior who has played sparingly the last two seasons. With Boogaard out and with Porscha Weddington in foul trouble, Feickert logged career highs in minutes (32), points (11) and rebounds (six). She’s also connected for her first three-point goal.

“She’s been our best post player the last two games,” Henrickson said of Feickert. “At least she competes and plays hard.”

Tonight’s game will be the last at home for the Jayhawks until they entertain Houston at 2 p.m. on New Year’s Eve.