The Pittsburg State University women’s basketball team is set to take to the hardwood to play No. 20 Kansas at Lawrence in an exhibition game at 2 p.m. today.
The Gorillas posted a 20-9 overall record and narrowly missed qualifying for the NCAA Division II National Tournament in 2008-09.
Pitt State head coach Lane Lord, entering his third season, welcomes back a pair of starters and eight letter winners from last year's breakthrough squad, which posted a 14-6 mark in Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association play. Senior forward Nicole McCombs and senior guard DePrice Taylor return with All-MIAA honors.
Kansas, ranked No. 20 in the Associated Press preseason poll, will hit the court to begin the 2009-10 season returning eight letter winners, including four starters, from last season's 22-14 team that earned a spot in the WNIT Championship game.
Senior guard-forward Danielle McCray returns as the Jayhawks' leading scorer (21.6 ppg) and rebounder (7.7 rpg).
McCray, who was tabbed the Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year, earned Honorable Mention All-America honors and was an All-Big 12 First Team performer as a junior after scoring in double figures in 33-of-36 games.
Senior guard Sade Morris returns after averaging 12.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per game a year ago, while junior center Krysten Boogaard returns her 9.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game to the line up.
NOTES: KU defeated Pittsburg State, 90-65, on Nov. 6, 2005, in Bonnie Henrickson's second season as head coach. The Jayhawks also defeated PSU, 82-48, on Nov. 4, 2007 in Henrickson's fourth season as the head coach at Kansas. KU is 2-0 in preseason exhibition games against the Gorillas ... Kansas leads the regular season series with Pittsburg State, 4-1. The Jayhawks and Gorillas have not met during regular-season play since KU took a 91-57 win over PSU on Dec. 13, 1986. Pitt State's lone win in the series came in Pittsburg on March 8, 1969.
PITTSBURG —
