Jan. 19, 2008

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LAWRENCE, Kan. - Sophomore Danielle McCray scored 15 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as the University of Kansas withstood a late rally by Missouri to defeat the Tigers, 66-60, Saturday afternoon in Lawrence.

The victory improved KU to 12-5 (1-3) while Mizzou fell to 8-9 (1-3).

McCray's impressive performance, which also included a career-high matching five steals, was the Olathe, Kan., native's second career double-double.  She has now scored in double-digits in all but two games this season.

Freshman Krysten Boogaard was key as the Jayhawks built a commanding first-half lead, sparking a 15-2 run which built KU a 15-point cushion midway through the half.  Boogaard, who finished 17 points, including 12 in the opening half, led a KU attack that scored 18 points in the paint and outrebounded MU, 20-10, in the first half while leading by as many as 16.

After taking a 38-25 lead into the break, senior Taylor McIntosh opened the second half with a basket to extend KU's lead back to 15, but Mizzou slowly began to claw back, cutting Kansas' lead to 50-44 at the 10:17 mark.  Missouri's defense spearheaded the comeback, holding McCray scoreless during the stretch.

However, a jumper by sophomore Sade Morris followed by a three-point play from Boogaard on Kansas' next two possessions gave the Jayhawks some breathing room.  McCray's three-pointer at the 6:29 mark extended KU's lead to 62-49 - it's largest since the first minute of the half - but the Tigers again rallied, going on a 9-2 run over the next five minutes to cut the margin to 64-60 with 37 seconds remaining.

McCray, though, as she done all season, came up big for KU, sinking two free throws on the Jayhawks' next possession to put the game out of reach.

Morris joined McCray and Boogaard in double-digits, finishing with 10 points along with a career-high seven assists.  Senior Ivana Catic, sophomore Porscha Weddington and freshman Nicollette Smith each added six points for KU.

Kansas shot 48.1-percent for the game - including 51.7 in the first half - and finished 11-of-14 from the free-throw line compared to just 5-of-14 shooting by MU from the stripe. 

The Jayhawks outrebounded Missouri, 36-28, and converted 18 Tiger turnovers into 16 points. 

Up next for KU is a trip to Big 12 foe Colorado on Jan. 22.  The contest, which is set to tip at 8 p.m., will be televised by FSN Rocky Mountain.