Mike Vest Special Correspondent

Kansas center Nakia Sanford probably wishes tonight's exhibition game against Latvia-Riga counted in the record books. Sanford poured in a would-be career high 22 points on a perfect eight-of-eight shooting from the floor as the Jayhawks pounded the team from Lativa 95-61. "Nakia is finishing her shots. She's playing with a lot of confidence right now," head coach Marian Washington said. "Once she gets her hands on the ball inside, she will be tough to stop."

Junior All-American candidate Lynn Pride had a poor shooting night, going just 3-of-11 and 0-2 from three-point range. Pride had just four points at the break, all on free throws. She did not make a field goal until the 15:34 mark of the second half. Pride finished with 10 points, most of which came in mop-up time.

However, it didn't matter as four other Jayhawks finished in double-figures. Sophomore transfer Brooke Reves tossed in 11 and seniors Suzi Raymant and Shandy Robbins each chipped in 10 points.

Robbins provided a spark off the bench in the first half scoring all 10 of her points, including two three-pointers. Robbins played just seven minutes in the first half.

Latvia brought an undersized to Allen Fieldhouse and was outrebounded by a 46-30 margin. However, Latvia kept the game class for most of the first half by drilling six of its 15 three-point attempts. The Latvian team showed no fear in jacking up the long bombs, putting up 29 in the game.

At the break, Kansas led 46-31.

Unfortunately for Latvia, it lost its shooting touch in the second half connecting on only three of 14 three-point tries. The dropoff in their shooting percentage came thanks in part to the Jayhawk defense which picked up the tempo in the second half.

In fact, using a full-court trapping press, the Jayhawks made a 10-0 run to start the second half. Nearly three minutes passed before Latvia made its first field goal of the second half. At the 15:41 mark, the Jayhawks had a commanding 62-36 lead.

From that point, Kansas cruised and head coach Marian Washington got a look at many of her newcomers including four freshmen and one sophomore transfer, Brooke Reves.

Of the newcomers, Brooke Reves was most impressive scoring 10 points and grabbing four rebounds. Washington expects Reves to play either the No. 3 or No. 4 position for the Jayhawks this season.

In the team's first exhibition game last week, none of the freshman seen much playing time. Highly touted freshman point guard Selena Scott only played the game's final 22 seconds. Tonight was a different story as each of the freshman saw at least eight minutes.

Washington said that she is comfortable playing eight players in her regular rotation. Those would include the five starters (PG Jennifer Jackson, SG Suzi Raymant, SF Lynn Pride, PF Jaclyn Johnson, C Nakia Sanford) and three backups (Wing Shandy Robbins, guard Casey Pruitt).

Washington did not specify the third backup with whom she is more comfortable. However, I would speculate that she is thinking of sophomore forward Heather Fletcher who has made huge strides in the post since last season. The only other choice could be Reves.

The 11th-ranked Jayhawks take on the 10th-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels this Sunday (ESPN2, 1 p.m. CDT).

Scouting North Carolina...

Coach Washington called North Carolina one of the best teams in the country and said she hoped her team play an up-tempo game. Washington said that North Carolina is far more athletic than either of the exhibition teams the Jayhawks have played. Nonetheless, Kansas will try to press the Heels and they successfully did tonight against Latvia. Certainly Sunday's game will prove a tougher task.