Record-breaking night not enough for Jayhawks against No. 2 Baylor
LAWRENCE, Kan. — A record-breaking night from beyond the arc wasn’t enough for Kansas to upset nationally-ranked Baylor as the Jayhawks fell, 94-68, to the No. 2 Lady Bears on Wednesday night inside Allen Fieldhouse.
The Jayhawks (11-4, 1-3) hit a single-game record 14 3-pointers on the night, 11 of which came from sixth year Jessica Washington and senior Kylee Kopatich. Both Jayhawks matched their season-high marks in 3-pointers made after Washington sank six treys and Kopatich added five makes from beyond the arc.
Washington led Kansas in scoring with 18 points, while Kopatich ended the game with 17 points. Sophomore Bailey Helgren and freshman Aniya Thomas each grabbed a team-high five rebounds for the Jayhawks, while senior guard Christalah Lyons led the team with four assists.
Baylor (14-1, 4-0) was led by fifth year Chloe Jackson’s 22 points, seven rebounds and eight assists. Senior Kalani Brown added 15 points, five rebounds and four blocks, while sophomore DiDi Richards tallied 14 points along with four rebounds and four assists.
Kansas used the 3-point line to its favor in the opening frame as the Jayhawks four made field goals all came from behind the 3-point line. Baylor used a 9-0 run to take an early 19-8 advantage. The Lady Bears shot a blistering 81 percent from the field in the first quarter and led 29-15 entering the second.
After shooting 23 percent from the field in the first quarter, Kansas responded with an impressive 53.8 percent in the second frame led by Washington, who hit two of the five Kansas triples in the quarter. Despite a closer period, Baylor still outscored the Jayhawks, 24-21, in the second quarter and took a 53-36 advantage into the halftime break.
Kansas fought back in the third period as Washington and Kopatich combined for 11 points, including nine from three-point range. The Jayhawks finished another close quarter and was outscored by just one possession, but still faced a double-digit deficit heading into the final 10 minutes.
Baylor maintained its lead and despite Kansas’ hot-shooting from long range, downed the Jayhawks, 94-68.
QUOTES
Head Coach Brandon Schneider
On relying on the 3-point shot the rest of the season:
“I think were a really good 3-point shooting team. We don’t want to rely on that, but it is a big part of how we play. Again, Baylor is different. They are so big that getting points in the paint, no matter who you are, is really difficult. Tonight, we shot 28 of them, but fortunately we did a good job, I think we shot 50 percent.”
On how KU forces teams to guard them and the positives of the game:
“I thought when we stuck to moving the ball side to side and made them defend multiple sides of the floor, we got some really good looks. You get so frustrated because they are so hard to guard, so it wears on you mentally. Offensively, we are a much-improved team.
Senior // Guard // Kylee Kopatich
On how big the 3-poniters were in the game:
“I didn’t even know. We just hit open shots and it came in our favor that way.”
On the confidence of the offense against the number two team in the country:
“It does. They are going to be up there in the National Championship. When we are watching, we’re going to say we were right up there with them. If we had the confidence we did in the first quarter, it would have been a completely different game.”
On the unpredictable Big 12:
“This is the most unpredictable I have seen in my four years. We have no idea what the rankings are going to be at this point. I think it is going to be great.”
Sixth Year // Guard // Jessica Washington
On how big the 3-poniters were in the game:
“My mentality was to let it fly. You’re not going to get many layups against a team like that.”
On the unpredictable Big 12:
“We are all in the mix right now. We are all competing.”
NOTABLES
- The Jayhawks shot 50 percent from the 3-point line against Baylor, marking the third time this season to connect on 50 percent or better from beyond the arc and the second time during Big 12 play.
- Kansas made a single-game record 14 3-pointers against the Lady Bears. Sixth year Jessica Washington and senior Kylee Kopatich combined for 11 of the Jayhawks’ 14 treys.
- For the fifth time this season, the Jayhawks made at least 11 treys in a game.
- Washington made a season-high six 3-pointers for the second time, going 6-of-9 from long range and finished the night with a team-high 18 points. Washington last made six treys against George Mason (11/21), where she scored 30 points.
- Kansas dished out 15 assists, marking the third time this season that KU has had at least 15 assists.
- Kopatich made five 3-pointers in a single game for the second time this season, going 5-of-7 from long range and ending with 17 points. The 5-10 guard last scored five treys against Northwestern (12/20) at the Duel in the Desert Tournament.
- KU’s 31 fouls are the most committed by the Jayhawks in a game this season.
- Senior Sara Boric dished out a career-best two assists and a career-high two points against the Lady Bears.
- Freshman Aniya Thomas grabbed a career-best five rebounds, which was tied for the most on the team against Baylor.
UP NEXT
The Jayhawks complete their two-game homestand with Oklahoma State on Saturday, Jan. 19 at 12 p.m. inside Allen Fieldhouse. The game will be broadcast on the Jayhawk Television Network/ESPN+ and the Jayhawk Radio Network.
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