March 30, 2009
Box Score | Postgame Press Conference 
In Rio Rancho, N.M., Danielle McCray scored 32 points to lead Kansas to a 78-69 victory over New Mexico in a quarterfinal game of the Women’s National Invitational Tournament. A crowd of 5,620 was on hand at the Santa Ana Star Center.
The Lobos finished the season at 25-11. Kansas improves to 21-13 and will take on Illinois State Wednesday in the WNIT semifinals. South Florida plays at Boston College in the other semifinal.
The Lobos trailed 41-31 with 17:26 left, but were able to trim the margin to two points on five occasions.
The athletic McCray nearly single-handedly thwarted every New Mexico rally in the second half.
UNM was down 50-48 after two free throws by Angela Hartill, but McCray knocked down consecutive 3s to push the Kansas lead back to 56-48.
A Sara Halasz follow closed the gap to 62-60 before McCray was fouled on a made 3-pointer. She hit the free throw for a 4-point play as KU increased its lead to 66-60.
New Mexico got it back to 69-66 following a layup by Georonika Jackson with 5:14 to go, but could never get any closer.
The Lobos were limited to just one free throw over the final 3:38.
Hartill and junior Amy Beggin led the Lobos with 15 points apiece. UNM was 21 of 24 from the free-throw line. Kansas shot 49% for the game, including 52% (13-25) in the second half.
Notes
– Attendance was 5,620…average attendance for 3 WNIT games at the Santa Ana Star Center was 4,959
– The Lobos played their school-record 36th game of the season
– UNM made its first three shots from the floor, then missed 14 of its next 16…the Lobos ended the game at 35% (22-63), but just 31% (11-35) after halftime
– New Mexico led 12-8 when senior Angela Hartill picked up her 2nd foul with 12:14 left in the 1st half…Hartill had 6 points when she departed and did not return the rest of the half…KU outscored the Lobos 28-19 the rest of the way before halftime
– Amy Beggin closes her junior season with 1,063 career points, ranking 11th all-time at UNM
– Sara Halasz scored 201 points, the 13th-highest season total for a Lobo freshman