Via Kansas Athletics
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Behind 20 points from S’Mya Nichols and 11 from Regan Williams, the Kansas Jayhawks claimed a 56-43 victory over Lindenwood on Wednesday night at Allen Fieldhouse.
The win makes 2024-25 the eighth-consecutive season started with a victory for the Jayhawks, who improve to 46-11 all-time in season openers.
“I think the game was a tale of two halves,” Kansas head coach Brandon Schneider said after the game. “I was pleased with what we did in the first half. They had some actions that we didn’t know they were going to run that we navigated pretty good. But then the second half, I just thought they were way more aggressive than us on both ends of the floor. The reason we won this game is we happened to make a few more shots than they did.”
Kansas opened the first quarter with strong defensive energy. After Lindenwood scored first to take a 2-0 lead, Kansas responded with a layup from Nichols to tie it at 2-2 at the 6:43 mark, sparking a momentum shift. Nichols then assisted Sania Copeland on a fast-break three-pointer, pushing Kansas ahead 5-2. Moments later, Copeland set up Brittany Harshaw for another three-pointer, which extended the lead to 8-2. The low-scoring quarter ended with Kansas on top 11-5.
In the second quarter, Kansas maintained its defensive intensity. The Jayhawks limited Lindenwood to 3-for-15 shooting in the second quarter and used a 15-0 run that spanned nearly six minutes to hold a 29-11 lead at halftime. The 11 points allowed in the first half marks the third-lowest scoring output in program history for a Kansas opponent in the first half of a game. It was also the fewest points by a KU opponent since Idaho State was held to 11 points in the first half of a contest on Nov. 11, 2002.
Lindenwood continued to give the Jayhawks problems in the second half, and outscored KU in both the third and fourth quarters. Kansas led by as much as 20 points in the game on four occasions, but Lindenwood cut the final deficit to 13 after outscoring KU 17-13 in the fourth quarter.
Nichols led the Jayhawks with 20 points and five assists, one off her career high. The sophomore was 7-of-11 from the field and hit 5-of-6 free throws in addition to knocking down one three-pointer. In her first official game action, Williams connected on 5-of-8 field goal attempts for 11 points, while adding five rebounds. Harshaw added nine points and and a team-high nine rebounds for the Jayhawks.
Kansas shot 43.1 percent (22-51) from the field and knocked down six three-pointers, while holding Lindenwood to 27.1 percent (16-59) shooting and just one made three. The Jayhawks outrebounded the Lions 38-to-37 and had 10 assists compared to three for LU.
Up Next
Kansas hosts Sam Houston State on Monday, Nov. 11, for its second of four-straight games played at Allen Fieldhouse to open the regular season. Tipoff is slated for 6:30 p.m. CT on and will be broadcasted on ESPN+.
Postgame Notes
– Kansas led 29-11 at halftime, which ties for the third-fewest points allowed in the first half of a game in program history.
1. 7 at Creighton, 12/2/81
2. 9, vs. Iowa State, 1/22/92
T3. 11, vs. Lindenwood, 11/6/24
T3. 11, vs. Idaho State, 11/11/02
– With the victory, Kansas improves to 46-11 all-time in season openers and 51-6 in home openers. Kansas is 9-1 in season openers during the Brandon Schneider era, including wins in each of the last eight.
– Four players made their first career starts at Kansas in the game as transfers Sania Copeland, Elle Evans and Brittany Harshaw were joined by freshman Regan Williams in the starting lineup. KU’s fifth starter was S’Mya Nichols, who has now started all 34 games in her career.
– Nichols finished with 20 points to lead the Jayhawks, marking the 10th 20-point game of her career, and 30th time scoring double-digits in 34 career games. Nichols has scored over 20 points in three of her past four games.
– Kansas joins 13 other Big 12 member teams who have collected a season opening win, with Baylor the only team left that hasn’t played a game this season.
