Via Kansas Athletics
LAWRENCE, Kan. –Elle Evans hit seven three-pointers and scored a season-high 28 points to lead the Kansas Jayhawks, who dropped a 84-76 contest to Colorado on Saturday at the CU Events Center.
Evans was 10-for-19 from the field and matched her career-high with the seven made threes, which is tied for No. 3 in a single-game in Kansas women’s basketball history. She is now the seventh Jayhawk to hit seven threes in a game and first since Jessica Washington at Kansas State on Jan. 11, 2017.
Regan Williams added 17 points, one off her career high, while S’Mya Nichols had 15 points and six assists.
Kansas falls to 11-5 (1-4 Big 12) on the year, while Colorado improves to 12-4 (3-2 Big 12).
“I thought Colorado was relentless on the boards, they set the tone with their energy level,” Kansas coach Brandon Schneider said after the game. “I think that’s the difference in the game. I mean, you’re just not giving yourself a real chance to win when you get out rebounded by 21. I was pleased with the production we got from Elle and Regan, those are two that we need to consistently produce for us to be successful.”
Kansas scored its first nine points of the game beyond the three-point line, as Sania Copeland, S’Mya Nichols and Elle Evans connected on threes to give the Jayhawks a 9-4 lead at the 6:52 mark of the first quarter. Colorado answered with a 9-0 run to flip the lead, and maintained it the rest of the quarter as the Buffs held a 21-15 advantage at the end of one.
Colorado’s lead grew to as many as eight on two occasions in the second quarter, including at 32-24 with 4:20 to play in the half. Nichols and Evans conducted an 11-4 run as the Jayhawks came within one at 36-35 after Evans hit her fourth three-pointer of the half. The Buffs scored the last five points of the half for a 41-35 lead entering the break.
After the Buffs scored the first four points of the second half, Evans knocked down her fifth three-pointer of the day, making it 45-38 just over a minute into the third. Colorado scored the next 11 points to lead by as many as 18 points at 56-38. Williams scored six-straight points to help the Jayhawks cut into the deficit, but a late basket allowed the Buffs to stay on top, 68-55, heading into the fourth quarter.
Williams added another six points during an 11-2 run by the Jayhawks to narrow the gap to six at 74-68 with 4:45 left. Colorado responded with the next six points and closed out the game while holding an advantage of at least eight points the rest of the way as Kansas fell 84-76.
Up Next
Kansas returns to Allen Fieldhouse for two games next weekend, welcoming in Big 12 newcomers Arizona State and Arizona. First up is the Sun Devils, who come to town Thursday, Jan. 16, for a 6:30 p.m. CT tipoff on ESPN+.
