LAWRENCE, Kan. – Led by a team-high 15 points from sophomore Regan Williams and 13 points from freshman Jaliya Davis, the Kansas Jayhawks knocked off Rice, 62-55, on Sunday evening at Allen Fieldhouse.
Williams and Davis were joined in double digits scoring by junior S’Mya Nichols, who added 11 points. Senior Lilly Meister and junior Laia Conesa each led the Jayhawks with 10 rebounds, as Kansas outrebounded Rice 46-30.
“Getting one more game is really important to us,” Kansas head coach Brandon Schneider said after the game. “We want to play well, we want to advance in this tournament and we want to represent Kansas in the best fashion we can. I thought we rebounded well tonight and won the free throw battle.”
With the win, Kansas advances to the WBIT quarterfinals and will host San Diego State on Thursday, March 26, at 6:30 p.m. CT. Kansas improves to 21-13 this season, including a 14-4 mark at home, while Rice’s season ends at 29-6.
“Playing again at home on Thursday will be an opportunity for the community to really come out and support this group,” Schneider said. “I know when we’ve hosted tournament games in the past here, we’ve gotten some incredible crowds, so I hope that with school back in session, the students and the community will take advantage of the opportunity to come see this group play in the postseason.”
Davis and Williams combined to score 12 of the Jayhawks’ 16 points in the first quarter to help KU lead 16-12 after 10 minutes of play. Kansas hit 6-of-14 field goal attempts in the opening period, including a three-pointer by Libby Fandel, and led by as many as six before taking a four-point edge into the second.
Sania Copeland and Nichols hit back-to-back three-pointers to open the second quarter as KU’s lead reached double figures for the first time at the 8:24 mark, forcing Rice to call timeout. After Kansas extended its lead to 24-12, Rice answered with five straight points to pull within seven, 24-17, at the 5:05 mark. Kansas then scored seven straight, opening up a 31-17 lead before the Owls scored the final basket of the half as KU took a 31-19 advantage to the break.
The two teams traded baskets out of the break before Fandel knocked down back-to-back threes to extend the Jayhawk lead to 13, 39-26, with 7:12 to play. Rice responded with a made jumper and free throw before both teams’ defenses took over. With 3:08 to go in the quarter, Nichols knocked down a pair of free throws before Williams notched two layups to stretch the Kansas lead to 15, 48-33, with 1:01 to go. The Owls knocked down consecutive threes to help them close the half strong, but Kansas led 49-39 heading to the fourth.
Rice battled back to within single digits in the fourth quarter, however, Kansas was able to put away the Owls at the free throw line, with nine of Kansas’ 13 fourth quarter points coming from the charity stripe. The Jayhawks were able to close out the game down the stretch, securing the victory, 62-55.
NOTES:
- With its victory, Kansas advances to the quarterfinals of the WBIT after claiming the program’s eighth consecutive victory in a non-NCAA Tournament postseason event.
- Kansas is now 21-13 on the season, which gives KU 21+ wins for the third time in the past five seasons.
- The Jayhawks improve to 2-0 all-time against Rice and 2-0 all-time in the WBIT
- Kansas is now 14-4 at Allen Fieldhouse this season and 9-0 against non-conference foes. The win over Rice is KU’s 42nd consecutive home victory over a non-conference opponent.
- Jaliya Davis recorded 13 points on the way to the win, marking the 23rd time in 24 games this season she has recorded ten or more points.
- Libby Fandel made three three-pointers in the game, the sixth time this season she has recorded multiple triples.
- Fandel’s three three-pointers is the most she’s made since going 4-of-7 from deep at Iowa State on December 21st.
- With her 15 points, Regan Williams recorded 10 or more points for the 11th time this season and the first since February 25th against Texas Tech.
- Lilly Meister recorded 10 rebounds, the sixth time this season she’s pulled down double digit boards.
- Laia Conesa also secured 10 rebounds, marking the second straight game she’s had 10 or more rebounds, after recording 12 against Troy.
- With her six free throws, S’Mya Nichols passed Baylor’s Odyssey Sims for the third most free throws made in a season in Big 12 history with 233.
