Nov. 29, 1997 IOWA CITY, Iowa. - The Washington women's basketball team jumped out to an early lead and never trailed in winning its first round game, 75-64, over previously unbeaten Kansas in front of 3,723 fans at Carver-Hawkeye Arena for the Prairie Lights/Hawkeye Classic. Washington improves to 2-0 for the season and will play the winner of the Cal State Northridge - Iowa matchup in the championship game at 1 p.m PST Sunday. The Jayhawks, who last week dropped out of the top 25 poll for the first time since 1993, fall to 2-1 on the season. KU had been ranked No. 24 the week of Nov. 17 and is currently at No. 26 in the standings. Husky junior Jamie Redd, recovering from knee surgery five weeks ago and playing only her third day of full court basketball, returned to her old form as she had a game-high 19 points, including three treys, to lead the Huskies before fouling out with 3:47 remaining in the contest. Amber Hall added 17 points and a game-high 14 rebounds for the Huskies, who start the year at 2-0 for the first time since the 1994-95 season. Jaclyn Johnson led the Jayhawks with 17 points and four rebounds. The Huskies used an early 10-0 run to establish their lead at 18-7 with 13:48 to go in the first half. The Jayhawks responded with a 6-0 run to pull within five, 25-20 at the eight minute mark and continued to chip away at the UW lead, pulling within one, 28-27 with 6:35 to go. The Huskies hit four of five free throws and Redd sank a three pointer in the next two minutes and the Huskies ended the half with a 10 point lead, 41-31. Hall ran off six straight points and Molly Hills added a layup to give the Huskies a 17 point lead, their largest of the game, at 8:34 in the second half. "We've been waiting a year for this rematch," UW coach June Daugherty said of the Kansas team that beat the Huskies, 76-61 in Lawrence last year. "Our team was anxious to play this game. We proved we could out-play and out-hustle them today. "At one point I looked on the floor and saw four freshmen out there," Daugherty continued. "I could feel myself go gray. But they kept their poise and kept our lead. We have to count on our freshman class in a big way this year. Jill Pimley did an outstanding job down the stretch. She kept her poise under pressure after Jamie (Redd) fouled out." Pimley sank a three pointer and followed it with two free throws to keep the Huskies' lead at 16 with 5:25 remaining in the game. The freshmen class combined to give the Huskies 24 points in the game, with eight coming from Pimley. Senior Gena Pelz, from nearby Charles City, Iowa, helped the Huskies outrebounded their opponent (50-41) for the second straight game as she pulled down six boards while playing in front a crowd of about 100 friends and family. |
