[ Kansas sophomore Sharonne Spencer's craziest... ]

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Nov 1, 2000 by AMANDA KASCHUBE Capital-Journal

By AMANDA KASCHUBE

The Capital-Journal

LAWRENCE --- Kansas sophomore Sharonne Spencer's craziest basketball ambition is to dunk, but the 6-foot-2 forward from Compton, Calif., will have to wait another year to test her aerial skills.

Spencer, who sat out last season as a partial qualifier, will have surgery in two weeks to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament and lateral meniscus, and a damaged medial collateral ligament in her right knee, all of which she suffered in practice Monday.

Assistant athletic trainer Mark Cairns said the minimum rehabilitation time for such an injury was six months, so Spencer will redshirt this season.

"We are very disappointed for Sharonne," KU coach Marian Washington said. "We were looking forward to her finally getting out on the floor after sitting out last year. Sharonne had been playing very well and we anticipated that she would contribute this season.

"She has been working very hard. This is a terrible situation."

Washington had planned to utilize Spencer's size and quickness at the two forward positions. During her senior season in high school, Spencer averaged 14 points, 13 rebounds, 4 steals and 4 blocks a game.

KU will have to plug Spencer's spot quickly as its first exhibition game, against the Basketball Travelers, is Nov. 8 at 7:05 p.m.

The Jayhawks were picked to finish fifth in the Big 12 coaches' preseason poll. Senior forward Jaclyn Johnson received votes for the preseason All-Big 12 first team.

"This is the hardest season we've ever had," she said. "But we've already shown a lot of chemistry and camaraderie. We've been stepping up to the challenge."

Notes

SOCCER--- Sophomore defender Pardis Brown, a transfer from Portland, was named to the All-Big 12 newcomer and second teams. Seniors Emma Di Cesare, Meghann Haven, Lindsey Horner, Johanna Larsson and Kathryn Lents, and sophomore Nikke Wahle made the academic all-conference team after earning grade-point averages of 3.2 or higher. KU plays No. 1 seed Nebraska on Sunday in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament in San Antonio, Texas.

VOLLEYBALL --- Kansas swept Iowa State 15-2, 15-4, 15-6 Tuesday night at the Horejsi Family Athletics Center. The Jayhawks had a .349 hitting percentage compared to .034 for the Cyclones. Senior outside hitter Nancy Bell led KU with a game-high 12 kills. Setter Molly LaMere had 34 assists and a game-high 11 digs. KU (13-10 overall, 4- 10 Big 12) plays host to Baylor at 2 p.m. Saturday.

WOMEN'S ROWING--- The Jayhawks won two silver medals at the Head of the Iowa Regatta on Sunday in Iowa City, Iowa. KU's A boat was second in the varsity four and the novice four competitions. KU faces Kansas State in the Sunflower Showdown at 10 a.m. Sunday at Lawrence's Burcham Park.