Jayhawk Insider: Kersgeiter Shines In Jayhawk Debut, Leads Kansas To Season-Opening Win

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Jayhawks came up on top against the Sycamores of Indiana State, winning by a score of 84 to 72 to advance to 1-0 on the new campaign. While the win was a combined team effort, freshman Holly Kersgeiter played no small part in helping the Jayhawks come out on top.

Kersgeiter, a freshman hailing from Sand Springs, Oklahoma, led the Jayhawks in points, rebounds, and was tied for the team-high in assists. The Kansas newcomer was nothing short of spectacular in her debut, proving time and time again that she was ready to play at the Division I level.

Posting a double-double is quite an accomplishment in itself, with this being the first double-double by a Kansas player since Austin Richardson did so on January 19th of last season against Kansas State.

"It’s pretty crazy for my first game. I didn’t think that this would happen but we just went out and played hard and played as a team. "

Holly Kersgieter

The freshman also proved to be a valuable weapon behind the arc, leading Kansas with four three’s made on just seven attempts. It is clear that Kersgeiter has no fear shooting the jumper, which proved to be positive for the Jayhawks in the season-opener. Kersgeiter had this to say regarding her confidence shooting the three, “When you get in the flow like that it is nice to keep going, especially when they didn’t adjust, so why stop?” Her ability to shoot from long range proved valuable in the Jayhawks first win and will be an important piece of this team’s success going forward.

It is rare to see a true college freshman seem so comfortable in their first game, and while one game may be a small sample size, it seems Kersgeiter is ready for the spotlight.

Kansas will hope to secure the secure their second win of the season when they play the Flames out of the University of Illinois at Chicago Sunday, November 10th in Allen Fieldhouse.