Via Kansas Athletics
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – S’Mya Nichols topped the 20-point mark for the 13th time this season, leading Kansas with 26 points as the Jayhawks suffered a 79-61 defeat to Utah on Wednesday in its first-ever trip to the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City.
Nichols scored 26 points on 10-of-14 shooting, matching a career-high with 10 field goals made. She hit 2-of-3 three-pointers and 4-of-5 free throws, while adding three rebounds, two assists and a steal. Nichols is now tied for sixth in program history with 13 20-point games this season, matching the previous mark of Zakiyah Franklin (2023-24), Jaclyn Johnson (2000-01) and Lynette Woodard (1978-79).
Laia Conesa set new career highs with three made three-pointers and eight rebounds, while finishing as KU’s second-leading scorer with 11 points.
Kansas falls to 12-7 on the year and 2-6 in Big 12 play, while Utah improves to 14-5 (5-3 Big 12).
“You should learn from every game, and should always learn a lot more from losses,” head coach Brandon Schneider said after the game. “This is a veteran Utah team that we played, and we’re a very youthful team. We should learn and know that’s how you’re supposed to play. How they played offensively is how we would like to play, whether it’s this year, next year, or 10 years from now, with the way the ball moves and the way that they share it.”
Utah scored the first 12 points of the game before Conesa got the Jayhawks on the board with a three-pointer at the 6:08 mark. Kansas managed just one more basket in the quarter, a layup by Sania Copeland, and trailed 21-5 after one quarter after the Utes hit five three-pointers.
Nichols scored KU’s first eight points of the second quarter and totaled 11 before halftime. The Jayhawks were 4-for-6 from long range and scored 20 points in the second frame, cutting the deficit to 13 at 34-21 on another Conesa three at the 5:18 mark. Utah outscored KU 9-4 the rest of the half to lead 43-25 at the break.
The third quarter was played to a draw as each team scored 23 points. Kansas shot the ball well, hitting 10-of-15 field goal attempts in the quarter, including two three-pointers made. The Jayhawks, however, were unable to make up any ground on the scoreboard after Utah also hit 10 field goals, including three more three-pointers.
Kansas opened the fourth quarter with a 9-3 spurt that featured seven points from Nichols and a pair of free throws from Elle Evans as the Jayhawks got within 12 at 69-57 with 6:44 to play. Utah answered with a 7-0 run, forcing a Kansas timeout as the lead grew to 76-57 with 4:37 to play. The Utes’ run reached 9-0 before KU received a pair of baskets from Danai Papadopoulou in the final minute to set the final margin at 79-61.
Up Next
Kansas closes out the week with a trip to Texas to face the Houston Cougars on Saturday, Jan. 25. That game will tip off at 2 p.m. CT and be broadcast on ESPN+.
