Via Kansas Athletics
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas women’s basketball won their sixth-straight game and improved to 10-1 on the season as the Jayhawks knocked off Penn State 68-65 inside Allen Fieldhouse on Sunday afternoon.
Kansas closed the game on a 13-4 run over the final 4:10 to seal the victory and remain undefeated at home this season.
S’Mya Nichols led the way with 26 points, including 13 points coming from the free throw line. Elle Evans added 13 points herself. The Jayhawks played suffocating defense as they forced season highs of 26 turnovers and 14 steals. Kansas also shot a season-high 87.0 percent (20-of-23) from the foul line.
“S’Mya Nichols, in situations late in the game, I thought showed a lot of trust and a lot of maturity in her teammates by just making the right play,” head coach Brandon Schneider said. “She drew two, she didn’t force it, and made the pass out, which led to the next pass for some big baskets in a couple different situations.”
With the win, Kansas closes out non-conference play with a 10-1 record, including a 7-0 record at Allen Fieldhouse. Penn State falls to 9-3 on the year.
Penn State opened the game with a three-pointer, but the Jayhawks quickly answered as Nichols drained a three of her own to spark a 7-0 run that spanned over four minutes. On the defensive end, the Jayhawks disrupted the Lady Lions’ offense, forcing six turnovers. Despite their strong defensive effort, Penn State stayed within striking distance, with Kansas holding a narrow 7-5 lead at the first media timeout. Both teams continued to trade points, but two baskets by Regan Williamspushed the Jayhawks lead to four at 18-14 heading into the second quarter.
Elle Evans started the second quarter by scoring a fast-break layup off an assist from Nichols for the largest lead of the half. Despite the early offensive start, Penn State closed in on the Jayhawk lead and eventually tied it at 22-22. Both teams endured a scoring drought of almost three minutes before Penn State hit one of its two free throws and Williams completed the layup from a Laia Conesa assist for a 24-23 KU advantage. Kansas trailed by one point going into the half, with the Lady Lions holding a 29-28 lead.
Penn State extended its lead to eight to start the second half. Despite the full-court pressure from the Lady Lions, Kansas narrowed the gap to just two points after a clutch three-pointer from Carla Osma, bringing the score to 36-34. Kansas found themselves down by 10 points with 1:45 remaining in the third quarter, but pairs of free throws from Osma and Nichols, combined with a strong defensive effort, helped the Jayhawks cut the deficit to 49-43. Penn State continued to hold their lead and entered the last quarter of play ahead 51-47.
A three-point jumper from Sania Copeland and two free throws from Danai Papadopoulouhelped the Jayhawks narrow the gap to just three points at 55-52 at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Kansas continued to fight hard and remained within striking distance of the Lady Lions, as a strongly contested layup by Evans tied the game at 61-61 with two minutes remaining in the fourth. With only 35 seconds left, Copeland drained a corner three to give Kansas its first lead of the second half at 64-63. The game came down to the wire as Penn State stayed within a basket at 66-65 with a late layup. After a pair of Kansas free throws stretched it to 68-65, the Lady Lions had one final chance to take the lead but the inbounds pass ended up in the hands of Kansas
