Kansas Concludes Four-Game Homestand with Memphis

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas women’s basketball concludes its four-game homestand to start its 2015-16 campaign with Memphis on Thursday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m., inside Allen Fieldhouse. The Thursday night match-up is the final home game before the Jayhawks hit the road for three games. The contest will air on the Jayhawk Television Network/ESPN3 and the Jayhawk Radio Network. 
 
AROUND THE GYM
On Thursday, Jayhawk fans can get Coke floats for $1 when Kansas hosts Memphis.
 
KANSAS FAST BREAKS

• Kansas leads the all-time series against Memphis, 2-0. The Jayhawks and Tigers square off on the hardwood for the third time in program history and second time inside Allen Fieldhouse.
• KU’s new up-tempo and fast paced offense produced 73 field goal attempts against Texas Southern (11/15/15), which the most since shooting 74 times against Grambling State on Nov. 28, 2012.
• In 2014-15, Kansas led the Big 12 Conference in three-point field goal percentage at .356, and the Jayhawks picked up right where they left off last year after nailing 35 percent (7-of-20) of their tries against Texas Southern.
• The Jayhawks forced Texas Southern into 23 turnovers, the most since also forcing Texas Southern into 25 turnovers on Dec. 12, 2014.
• In the month of November, the Jayhawks have an overall mark of 120-31 (.793). Kansas has won 23 of the last 26 games played in November dating back to the start of the 2010 season.
• Kansas has a record of 407-166 (.715) in Allen Fieldhouse. Over the last five seasons, Kansas has posted a 62-29 mark on its home court.
• Three Jayhawks recorded career-high scoring efforts during the season opener against Texas Southern. Redshirt junior Timeka O’Neal returned from a season-ending knee injury to score 12 points behind a team-high four made three-pointers. Junior Caelynn Manning-Allen posted a career-best 12 points, while sophomore Lauren Aldridge led the team with a personal-best 17 points. 
• Manning-Allen jumped center for the Jayhawks in the first game of 2015-16. Kansas is 1-0 with Manning-Allen winning the opening tip.
• Kansas returns six letterwinners, including three starters, and welcomes nine newcomers to the squad in 2015-16.
• The Jayhawks’ roster features six local products that hail from Kansas or Missouri. Junior Sydney Benoit and freshmen Kylee Kopatich and Tyler Johnson are from the Sunflower State, while redshirt junior Timeka O’Neal and sophomores Lauren Aldridge and Chayla Cheadle are from the Show Me State.

 
ABOUT THE JAYHAWKS
Kansas began the Brandon Schneider era with a 72-65 victory over Texas Southern. KU extended it season-opening win streak to 11-straight victories and improved to 38-10 in season openers. All six returning Jayhawks hit the hardwood, along with four newcomers making their debut in the Crimson and Blue.
 
Three Jayhawks posted double-figure scoring efforts in the first game of the season. Sophomore guard Lauren Aldridge led KU’s offensive efforts with a career-high 17 points behind 66.7 percent shooting from the field. Redshirt junior Timeka O’Neal and junior Caelynn Manning-Allen contributed 12 points each. In their rookie debuts, Tyler Johnson swatted a team-best three blocks, while Kylee Kopatich grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.
 
KU recorded 72 points, while shooting 41.1 percent from the field and 35.0 percent from beyond the arc. Kansas tallied 36 rebounds, 12 assists, seven steals and five blocks.
 
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Memphis, who was selected by the American Athletic Conference coaches to finish league play in seventh place, got off to a fast 2-0 start to the 2015-16 campaign. The Tigers opened the year with a 70-55 win over Jacksonville State and followed that up with a 80-49 victory over Eastern Illinois.
 
Senior guard Ariel Hearn, a two-time Preseason All-AAC selection, leads the squad with 12.5 points per game behind 44 percent shooting from the three-point line. Sophomore forward Cheyenne Creighton and redshirt junior guard Mooriah Rowser round out the double-digit scorers for Memphis with 12.0 and 10.5 points per game, respectively.
 
The Tigers average 75.0 points per game, while shooting 45.6 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from beyond the arc. From the charity stripe, Memphis is connecting on 80.4 percent of its attempts. After two games in 2015-16, the Tigers average 15.5 turnovers per game while dishing out 16.5 assists. Defensively, Memphis has posted 33.5 rebounds, 13.5 steals and 3.0 blocks per game. 
 
SERIES BREAKDOWN
Record
Kansas leads the all-time series against Memphis, 2-0.
 
Overview
The Jayhawks and Tigers meet on the hardwood for the third time in program history and second time inside Allen Fieldhouse. The series began in 1969 with a 14-point win for KU.
 
Last Time Out
Six Jayhawks had double-figure scoring nights and two posted double-doubles in Kansas’ 90-58 victory over the Memphis Tigers on Nov. 27, 2010. Sophomore Carolyn Davis led the Jayhawks with 15 points, while junior Aishah Sutherland added 14 points and a team-high 11 rebounds for her fourth consecutive double-double. Junior Brittany Carter led the Tiger scoring attack with 17 points on 7-of-19 shooting. Junior Ramses Lonlack and sophomore Nicole Dickson contributed 14 and 12 points, respectively.
 
THE WEEK THAT WAS
Kansas women’s basketball opened the season with a 72-65 victory over Texas Southern Sunday afternoon inside Allen Fieldhouse to begin the Brandon Schneider coaching era.
 
The Jayhawks maintained the lead for much of the first 20 minutes of play, but the reigning Southwestern Athletic Conference champion, Texas Southern, fought back in the second half and forced the Jayhawks to earn the win. TSU outscored the Jayhawks by seven points in the third quarter, resulting in just a one-point Kansas lead. However, the Jayhawks played nearly flawless, draining their final five field goal attempts, to seal the victory in the final 10 minutes. Sophomore guard Lauren Aldridge led the scoring for Kansas with a career-high 17 points, paired with a game-high seven assists.
 
THIS DAY IN WOMEN’S BASKETBALL HISTORY
Record on Nov. 19: 1-0
Kansas women’s basketball will face off for a game on Nov. 19 for just the second time in program history. The first game on the 19th of November in 1983 resulted in a 74-73 victory over Northwestern State.
 
With two minutes and two seconds left in regulation, the Jayhawks came from behind to take control of the game and secure the win over Northwestern State. Kansas was led by Angie Snider with 25 points and 13 rebounds.
 
TOUGH AND TOGETHER
First-year head coach Brandon Schneider has brought a “tough and together” culture to Allen Fieldhouse and Kansas women’s basketball. The Jayhawks begin end every practice with t and t, which is short for tough and together. Schneider has vowed that his squads will compete and play together every day. Whether the Jayhawks are hitting the floor, flying over the scorers’ table or passing to a teammate, they will play tough and together.
 
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS
The Jayhawks are the only team in the Big 12 without a senior on their roster. In fact, Kansas will not face another team during the regular season that does not have at least one senior on its squad. The last time a Kansas roster did not include a senior was the 2002-03 season. The Jayhawks, along with West Virginia, boast the most underclassmen on their respective rosters with 10 each. 
 
UP NEXT
The Jayhawks hit the road for the first time in 2015-16, embarking on a three-game road swing. Kansas travels to Arizona on Monday, Nov. 23 for a match-up with the Wildcats. Tip off is slated for 11 a.m. CT.
 
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