Not often does Krysten Boogaard face anyone nearly her size on a basketball floor. Not with the Kansas University sophomore standing 6-foot-5.

But Boogaard will be facing one of the best tall players in the country tonight when the Jayhawks open the regular season against Sacred Heart and 6-4 center Kaitlin Sowinski, who averaged 17.2 points and 7.4 rebounds last season.

“She’s impressive on film,” KU coach Bonnie Henrickson said of Sowinski. “Her numbers and her whole game are outstanding.”

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

Boogaard hasn’t always been consistent in her tour with the Jayhawks, but she was solid in Sunday’s 67-51 exhibition victory over Washburn in collecting 16 points and 10 boards.

Washburn, however, didn’t have any players like Sowinski, so Boogaard figures to be tested tonight.

“Krysten needs to be aggressive and not get into foul trouble,” Henrickson said.

Sacred Heart isn’t all Sowinski. The Fairfield, Conn., school is expected to be a Northeast Conference title contender, with five starters back from last year’s third-place NEC team, including Sowinski and 5-10 forward Stephanie Ryan, both preseason all-league picks.

Although most of Sacred Heart’s players are from the East Coast, the Pioneers have a player from Overland Park – Callan Taylor, a 6-foot freshman who prepped at Blue Valley North. Taylor, one of five freshmen on the SHU roster, is listed as a probable starter at forward.