SEATTLE – Laurie Koehn could set an NCAA record tonight.
Laurie Koehn should set an NCAA record tonight.
Dare we say, Laurie Koehn will set an NCAA record tonight?
When the NCAA women’s basketball tournament resumes at the University of Washington’s Hec Edmundson Pavilion, all eyes will be on Koehn. The Kansas State senior is two 3-pointers from tying, and three from breaking, an NCAA record for 3s in a career.
Anyone who doubts that Koehn will share at least a part of that record at some point this evening might want to look at the KSU sharpshooter’s track record. Only once in the Wildcats’ past 19 games has Koehn failed to hit at least two 3-pointers in a game. She’s hit three or more 14 times in that span – including Saturday night, when she nailed six in a first-round win over Bowling Green.
For her career, Koehn has 389 field goals from behind the 3-point line. Only BYU’s Erin Thorn, who had 391 between 1999 and 2003, has more.
Yet setting a record wasn’t really on Koehn’s radar heading into the tournament.
“Honestly, not at all,” said Koehn, whose Wildcats face Vanderbilt at approximately 8:30 p.m. “This is the NCAA tournament. This is what you play for as a team all year long. This is the most exciting time of the year, and it’s all about your team and advancing as far as you can in this tournament. I think that is where everyone’s focus is.”
Record or not, part of Vanderbilt’s focus will be to limit the 5-foot-8 Koehn from getting open looks from long range.
“I’m aware of what she does,” Vanderbilt coach Melanie Balcomb said. “She’s a tremendous shooter. But it’s not just her; they have other tremendous shooters.”
Statistically, Koehn is among the best – not just on her team but in the history of women’s college basketball. She once hit 10 – yes, 10 – 3-pointers in a single game and has connected on 40 percent of her attempts this season.
Her accuracy is only part of the story. Just as impressive is Koehn’s range.
“You’ve got to guard her as soon as she gets off the bus,” Bowling Green coach Curt Miller said before she hit six 3s against his team in a 70-60 Kansas State win Saturday. “You can talk about her range, but until she hits that first 35-footer on you, it’s doesn’t really sink in.”
For Laurie Koehn, Kansas State’s outside shooting specialist, 3-pointers have been sinking in at an incredible pace. Within a matter of hours, that pace could put her in the record books.
It’s a pretty good bet she’ll make history tonight. When Koehn is on the floor, there’s no such thing as a long shot.
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