University of Washington
Kansas State
Huskies Fall In Season Opener At Kansas State
November 10, 2007 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 10, 2007
MANHATTEN, Kan. - Freshman guard Katelan Redmon scored a team-high 19 points and senior guard Emily Florence added a career-high 15, but it wasn't enough for the Huskies to hand first-year head coach Tia Jackson her first win, as Washington fell to Kansas State, 88-61, in both team's season opener at Bramlage Coliseum, Saturday.
Turnovers proved costly for Washington (0-1), which committed six in just over the first three minutes. Kansas State (1-0) was quick to take advantage, sprinting out to 10-0 run to open the game and the Huskies were never quite able to recover. UW trailed by as many as 18 points in the first half but came back to cut its halftime deficit to 13 (43-30).
The Huskies opened the second-half with a three-pointer from Florence to cut KSU's lead to 10 (43-33) and then matched K-State basket-for-basket until the Wildcats unloaded with a 23-6 spurt to go up by 29 with 13:20 remaining.
"Any where you go, it doesn't matter if we're at home or on the road, starting off with a 10-0 deficit is going to be tough," Jackson said following her first game as a head coach. "I think for the most part we went into halftime at a very, very good energetic level. We then came out, knocked down our first shot which enabled us to bring it within 10. But when you're at K-State, in the Big 12, in a very good conference, playing a very good team on their court - they just kept coming at us."
Washington committed 26 turnovers in the game, which Kansas State turned into 31 points - 23 coming in just the first half. But the Huskies finished the night with a 39-35 advantage in rebounding, led by a game-high eight boards from freshman center Jess McCormack.
Redmon was stellar in her collegiate debut for the Huskies, connecting on 8-of-14 shots from the field including a trio of three-pointers. She also grabbed six rebounds, dished three assists and made two steals. "We definitely can use about three or four Katelan Redmons on the team," Jackson said following the game. "She's just a great student of the game, always hungry, always asking questions. For her to come out and execute everything we wanted her to do not only offensively, but defensively - I look forward to seeing what she's going to do this season."
Redmon and McCormack made their debuts in the Huskies' young starting lineup that also included sophomore guard Sami Whitcomb, junior forward Heidi McNeill and Florence. It was the first career start for McNeill as well.
Florence went 5-of-9 from the field, including a 3-for-3 clip from three-point range. She also connected on both of her free-throw attempts. Florence bettered her previous career high of 13 points set three times previously.
Whitcomb was the third Husky to finish in double-figure scoring, sinking all 12 of her points in the first half. Whitcomb was 5-of-17 from the field and 2-of-9 from three-point range.
Point guard Shalee Lehning led the Wildcats with a double-double on 16 points (8-of-9 from the field) and 11 assists, despite getting into early foul trouble in the first half. Lehning also grabbed six rebounds and grabbed four steals. KSU guard Kimberly Dietz added 16 points, all coming in the first half.
The Huskies loss dropped them to 22-12 all-time in season openers, having now lost two straight. UW lost last year's season opener at Marquette, 61-78 (Nov. 14, 2006). The Huskies have opened their season on the road the last three straight years.
Washington will look to give Jackson her first win as a head coach when the Huskies continue their season-opening five-game road trip at Gonzaga, Monday, at 7 p.m.
