Via Kansas Athletics
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Despite 24 points from S’Mya Nichols and 19 from Elle Evans, the Kansas Jayhawks fell to No. 11 TCU by a score of 80-73 Wednesday afternoon at Allen Fieldhouse.
Nichols scored more than 20 points for the fifth-straight game and 11th time this season, shooting 7-of-15 from the field while hitting 9-of-11 free throws. Evans had 19 points and six rebounds while playing all 40 minutes, and Laia Conesa added 12 points for the Jayhawks. Nadira Eltayeb led the Jayhawks with seven rebounds off the bench.
Kansas falls to 11-4 on the season and 1-3 in the Big 12 while TCU improves to 16-1 and 4-0 in conference play.
“I’ve coached well over 800 games in my career and I can’t recall too many times when we’ve shot 50 percent from the field with seven turnovers and lost,” Kansas coach Brandon Schneider said. “That’s a testament to TCU, they took advantage of every mistake we made. They’re very good, and I would think they will be a strong contender to win the league.”
To open the first quarter, Kansas and TCU traded baskets in a tightly contested start. At the first media timeout, Kansas trailed TCU, 8-7. The fast pace and efficient shot-making continued throughout the first frame as Kansas used a 4-0 run to close out the quarter for the lead at 19-18. Leading the way for Kansas was S’Mya Nichols, who chipped in seven points while shooting 50 percent from the floor.
Kansas and TCU continued to battle throughout the second quarter, but TCU pushed its lead to as much as eight at 29-21. Two consecutive Brittany Harshaw three-pointers late in the half cut the Horned Frogs lead to as little as three at 33-30 with under two minutes to go.
The Horned Frogs managed to stretch their advantage to six as Kansas trailed, 38-32, heading into the half. Nichols led the Jayhawks in scoring with 11, as Harshaw trailed behind with eight points of her own after the first 20 minutes.
To start the third quarter, Regan Williams drove for a layup, cutting the lead to four. TCU quickly responded with back-to-back buckets, extending its lead to 43-34. Evans knocked down a pair of three-pointers for the Jayhawks to bring KU within one possession at 43-40.
Kansas and TCU both finished the quarter with 20 points a piece, as the Horned Frogs maintained their six-point lead heading into the final frame, 58-52.
The tight battle continued throughout the fourth period as Kansas cut the TCU lead down to as few as three several times in the final frame with the help of a mid quarter 6-0 run. A late push that included seven made free throws guided the Horned Frogs past Kansas, as the Jayhawks fell by a final score of 80-73.
Up Next
Kansas hits the road again this weekend, visiting Big 12 returnee Colorado on Saturday, Jan. 11 in Boulder. That game will tip off at 2:00 p.m. CT and be streamed on ESPN+.
Postgame Notes
Team
- Kansas went 60.0% (9-15) from the field in the opening frame. This marks the second time this season KU has shot 60% or better in the first quarter and first since its 66.7% (10-15) performance against North Alabama on Nov. 17, 2024.
- S’Mya Nichols (24), Elle Evans (19) and Laia Conesa (12) combined for 55 out of KU’s 73 points.
- Kansas tied its season-high by shooting 50.0% (25-50) from the field. The Jayhawks previously shot 50.0% (31-62) in its 81-64 victory over North Alabama on Nov. 17, 2024.
Individual
- Sophomore S’Mya Nichols led Kansas with 24 points for her fifth-straight game with 20+ points. Nichols has scored 20 or more points 11 times in 15 games this season and now 20 times in her career.
- Senior Nadira Eltayeb led the team with seven rebounds, finishing one shy of her career high. This is the fourth-straight game for Eltayeb with at least four rebounds and the 11th time this season.
- Sophomore Brittany Harshaw nailed back-to-back three point attempts in the second quarter, marking the fourth time this season she has had multiple threes in a game this season, and the first time since vs. Kansas City on Dec. 11, 2024.
- Junior Elle Evans contributed 19 points, six rebounds and three steals, while hitting 2-of-5 three-pointers. This is the 12th time this season that Evans has scored in double figures and the 10th time she has made at least two three pointers.
- Sophomore Laia Conesa scored 12 points, finishing just one shy of tying her career high of 13, while adding one steal and one assist.
