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| Quick Stats |
Kansas |
Nebraska |
| Points |
57 |
49 |
| FG Made - Attempted |
25-66 |
20-61 |
| FG Percentage |
.379 |
.328 |
| 3PT Made - Attempted |
2-13 |
1-19 |
| 3PT Percentage |
.154 |
.053 |
| FT Made - Attempted |
5-10 |
8-9 |
| FT Percentage |
.500 |
.889 |
| Rebounds |
45 |
42 |
| Turnovers |
13 |
15 |
|
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| Statistical Leaders |
| Kansas |
Pts |
Rbs |
Asst |
St |
Blk |
| Angel Goodrich |
20 |
5 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
| Chelsea Gardner |
15 |
16 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Nebraska |
Pts |
Rbs |
Asst |
St |
Blk |
| Kaitlyn Burke |
14 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
| Emily Cady |
10 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
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By Wendell Barnhouse | wendell@big12sports.com
Big12Sports.com Correspondent
After enduring an 11-year wait to return to the NCAA Tournament, Kansas made
sure that it wouldn't be a short stay.
The 11th-seeded
Jayhawks, one of the last at-large teams placed in the 64-team bracket, proved
their worth with a 57-49 victory over former Big 12 Conference rival Sunday.
Kansas will face
No. 3 seed Delaware at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday in Little Rock in the second round of
the Des Moines Regional. The Blue Hens (31-1) defeated Arkansas-Little Rock
73-42 as Elena Delle Donne, the nation's leading scorer at 27.5 points per
game, scored 39 points with 11 rebounds.
When the Jayhawks lost
leading scorer Carolyn Davis to a knee injury on Feb. 12, it appeared making
the NCAA tourney for the first time since 2000 was a long shot. But, they made
the field and then won their first NCAA game since 1999.
"I've
been blessed by an administration that supports what we've been trying to
do," Henrickson said. "They recognize what we're trying to do and
that we're about to turn the corner. They believe in what we're doing and our
coaches, our players, our staff and our team."
Junior guard Angel Goodrich,
who has overcome two ACL injuries during her career, scored 20 points for
Kansas.
But freshman Chelsea Gardner,
whose playing time has increased after Davis was injured, had her first career
double-double with 15 points and 16 rebounds; both totals were career highs.
Her rebound total tied a KU record for an NCAA Tournament game. Gardner made
her eighth career start.
"I
came out and was just excited about this game," Gardner said.
Nebraska pulled to within 52-47
when Emily Cady made a 3-pointer - the only shot from behind the line in 19
attempts for the Huskers - with 1:28 on the clock. After the teams traded
turnovers, Goodrich scored on a drive with 39 seconds remaining to give KU a 54-47 lead. Goodrich
also made two free throws with 31.9 seconds remaining to give the Jayhawks a
56-47 edge.
Henrickson said it was a team
victory.
"We said, 'Raise your hand
if you made a play,'" Henrickson said, and everyone in the locker room
raised a hand. "That's what this time of year is about."
Nebraska's top two scorers,
Jordan Hooper and Lindsey Moore, combined for 23 points and missed 30 of 39
shots they attempted.
For the Big 12, it was
the second consecutive day with a victory over a former member. In the men's
NCAA Tournament Saturday Baylor defeated Colorado, like Nebraska a former
member of the Big 12.
(Here's what Mechelle Voeple of ESPN.com wrote about Kansas' first-round victory.)