Via Kansas Athletics
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Five players scored in double figures as the Kansas Jayhawks opened exhibition play with a 90-43 victory over Northeastern State on Thursday evening at Allen Fieldhouse.
Jaliya Davis led the Jayhawks with 19 points and seven rebounds, hitting 5-of-6 field goal attempts and 9-of-11 free throws. Brittany Harshaw chipped in 18 points while Libby Fandel had 14 in the win. S’Mya Nichols added 15 points and five assists and freshman Mollie Ernstes scored 10 in her Kansas debut.
Kansas shot 54 percent (31-57) from the field and hit 20-of-23 free throw attempts in the win, while also knocking down eight three-pointers. The Jayhawks forced 28 turnovers with 20 steals, and scored 34 fast break points.
“I thought our activity level as a team defensively was good, and we did a nice job executing our assignments considering this was our first game,” Kansas head coach Brandon Schneider said after the contest. “Although we had some turnovers, playing with pace allowed us to get out in transition and push the ball from the start. As a team, we’ll continue to emphasize and improve our defense to reach our full potential.”
Kansas scored the first nine points of the game and held NSU without a field goal until the closing minute of the quarter as the Jayhawks built a 29-4 lead at the end of one. Davis led the way in scoring with 11 points in the quarter, while Fandel had seven and Nichols added six.
Northeastern State scored the first five points of the second quarter before KU’s defense limited the Riverhawks to just six points the rest of the half. The Jayhawks outscored NSU 25-11 in the period and closed the half on a 10-0 run to lead 54-15 at the break.
Scoring slowed in the second half as Kansas posted 14 points in the third quarter. The Jayhawks rebounded in the fourth and outscored NSU 22-17 to close out the game.
Kansas closes out exhibition play on Thursday, Oct. 29 with Late Night in the Phog and a matchup against Washburn. A variety of pregame festivities will take place prior to tipoff against the Ichabods at 6:30 p.m. CT from Allen Fieldhouse.
