Via Kansas Athletics
AMES, Iowa – S’Mya Nichols scored a team-high 22 points for her third-straight 20-point game but the Kansas Jayhawks suffered a 78-64 defeat to Iowa State on New Year’s Day at Hilton Coliseum.
As the Big 12’s second-leading scorer, Nichols topped the 20-point mark for the ninth time in 13 games this season as she hit 6-of-16 field goal attempts and 9-of-10 free throws to lead the way for Kansas. Elle Evans added 12 points, while Regan Williams and Laia Conesa had six apiece.
Kansas falls to 10-3 (0-2 Big 12) on the year, while Iowa State improves to 10-5 (1-1 Big 12).
“We did some really good things today. Their crowd is going to create momentum in here, this is a terrific environment,” Kansas coach Brandon Schneider said after the game. “There were times in the first half that they got up by 10 and we came back and cut it to three at halftime. What we didn’t do as well as I would like is communicate and execute in the second half. Those are things we will continue to get better at.”
Iowa State shot 60 percent from the field in the first quarter, but the Jayhawks stayed close with a balanced scoring attack that saw five different players make a field goal. The Jayhawks trailed by four to open the contest but managed to tie it up at 6-6. Iowa State led by as many as seven in the quarter and held a 19-13 advantage at the end of one.
The Cyclones pushed their advantage to 10 points on three separate occasions in the second, but KU continued to stay close led by Nichols and Evans, who combined for 11 out of KU’s 20 points in the quarter. The duo sparked a 7-1 run in the final 1:19 of the half to bring the Jayhawks back within three, 36-33, at the break.
After Iowa State scored on their first possession of the second half, Kansas scored the next five points and tied the game at 38-38 following a layup from Conesa. The game stayed within three points for the next three minutes until ISU used a 7-0 run to push its lead to 50-42 with just over five minutes remaining in the third. Nichols carried the Jayhawks offensively with seven points over the final half of the third quarter, but Kansas was unable to make up any ground and trailed 56-48 at the end of the period.
The final frame started with six-straight points by Iowa State as the Cyclones extended their lead to 62-48, forcing a Kansas timeout. ISU’s margin stayed in double figures throughout the rest of the game, ending at 14 as the Cyclones closed out the 78-64 victory.
Up Next
Conference play continues on Saturday, Jan. 3, with a trip to Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Oklahoma as Kansas meets Oklahoma State. That game will tip off at 2 p.m. CT on ESPN+. The game will also be available on Z-96.3 The Lake in North Central Kansas.
