Kansas and Colorado universities have a lot in common.

Both Big 12 women’s basketball teams have a high-scoring forward, both have lost a point guard to injury and both turn the ball over at an alarming rate.

Of the two teams, however, Kansas is more desperate for a victory.

The Jayhawks will be trying to snap a four-game losing streak when they entertain the Buffaloes tonight.

“It’s huge,” KU coach Bonnie Henrickson said, “and it’s huge for them. It’s February. They’re all big.”

Tipoff will be at 7 p.m. in Allen Fieldhouse. Metro Sports (Sunflower Broadband 37) will carry a live telecast.

Coincidentally, both Kansas and Colorado turned the ball over 26 times in their last outings. But while Texas A&M made KU pay by posting a 73-60 victory, the Buffs were able to overcome their multiple gaffes and edge Nebraska, 75-73.

Kansas and Colorado are, in fact, running neck-and-neck for the unwanted Big 12 turnover lead. Colorado has 337 giveaways, and Kansas has 338.

“Both teams are concerned (about turnovers),” Henrickson said. “The key for us is to get more shots.”

While it’s impossible to tell, it’s likely preseason injuries to projected point guards have played a role in both schools’ penchants for wasted offensive possessions.

Colorado lost junior Whitney Houston to an ACL injury last September. A month later, Kansas freshman Angel Goodrich went down because of a similar knee injury.

Each school boasts a player ranked in the top five in Big 12 scoring. KU’s Danielle McCray is second in the league at 19.3 points a game, while CU’s Brittany Spears is third with an 18.2 average.

Both players can’t do it all, however. Both need help, and, for Kansas, there is a need for Nicollette Smith to shake off the chains. Smith has played 38 minutes in each of the last two games and has taken just six shots — five against Kansas State and one against Texas A&M.

“We’ve got to get her more shots,” Henrickson said. “She’s too good to get just one shot.”