KU freshmen Carolyn Davis (21) and Monica Engelman (13) discuss strategy against Texas Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Practice makes perfect, the old adage goes, but not necessarily for Carolyn Davis.

Davis, a 6-foot-3 freshman, hasn’t practiced in nearly three weeks, yet has sparkled for Kansas University’s women’s basketball team.

“We’re going to go to Carolyn,” KU coach Bonnie Henrickson said, “because we’ve got to take advantage of our advantage.”

Despite her lack of practice time, Davis will be in the starting lineup tonight when the Jayhawks meet Illinois State in the WNIT’s Sweet 16.

Tipoff will be at 7:05 p.m. at Redbird Arena on the ISU campus in Normal, Ill.

Davis has been held out of practice as a precautionary move because she is still not fully recovered from a concussion suffered earlier this month.

“She’s been on the (stationary) bike and done some shooting,” Henrickson said, “because we want to eliminate the chance for her to be hurt again.”

In the two games Davis has played during her battle with concussion symptoms, she has been virtually unstoppable, making 21 of 23 shots while averaging 28.0 points and 11.5 rebounds.

“Our perimeter has done a good job of getting her the ball,” Henrickson said, “and she has the poise to finish.”

Illinois State (26-7) advanced to the WNIT third round with a 59-57 victory Sunday at Purdue as Nicolle Lewis, a 6-5 center, scored a career-high 21 points.

The Redbirds won the Missouri Valley Conference championship, but weren’t selected for the NCAA Tournament.

“We were surprised they didn’t make it,” Henrickson said, “especially because we’re aware of how good that league is.”

One thing is certain: The Redbirds can shoot free throws. They rank second nationally at 81 percent. Leading scorer Ashleen Bracey (15.6) is shooting over 90 percent at the foul line.

“I don’t remember a team ever averaging over 80 percent,” Henrickson said.

Kansas and Illinois State met in a WNIT semifinal last April 1 in Allen Fieldhouse. KU won, 75-72, behind 31 points from Danielle McCray, then a junior.

McCray, however, is no longer active. Her college career ended on Feb. 4 when she suffered a knee injury during practice.

Tonight’s winner will meet the winner of the Illinois-Missouri State game in the Elite Eight at a time and place to be determined.