Jayhawks Return Home for In-State Matchup vs. Wichita State

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Fresh off claiming the Paradise Jam Island Division championship, the Kansas Jayhawks return home on Thursday, Dec. 5, to host in-state foe Wichita State for a non-conference matchup.

Tipoff from Allen Fieldhouse is set for 6:30 p.m. CT and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Josh Klingler (play-by-play) and Wayne Simien (analyst) on the call. Fans can also listen to the game on the Jayhawk Radio Network from Learfield, with Steven Davis and David Lawrence calling the action.

Kansas is 7-1 on the year and riding a three-game win streak entering the month of December. The Jayhawks went 3-0 at the Paradise Jam last week, with victories over Pittsburgh (59-53), Northern Iowa (76-73) and Auburn (61-60) to claim the tournament title.

S'Mya Nichols was named the Paradise Jam's Most Valuable Player after leading the Jayhawks with 24.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.0 steals per game at the event. Elle Evans also earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team after scoring 14.7 points per game while playing 116 of a possible 120 minutes of game action in the tournament.

A Preseason All-Big 12 selection, Nichols has continued the hot start to her sophomore season. She has scored at least 20 points in five-straight games, most recently going for a season-high 28 in KU's 61-60 win over Auburn. Nichols is the Big 12's leading scorer at 21.4 points per game, and she leads the nation in both free throws made (71) and attempted (91).

Evans had a streak of five-straight games scoring in double figures snapped when she was held to eight points against Auburn. She scored a season-high 22 points vs. Iowa on Nov. 20, then opened the Paradise Jam with 19 points vs. Pitt and 17 against UNI. Evans is KU's second-leading scorer at 13.0 points per game and she's hit multiple three-pointers in each of the past five games.

Kansas has won 12-consecutive games at Allen Fieldhouse, which ranks No. 12 among active streaks in the country. Since the start of last season, KU has a home record of 17-1 and the Jayhawks have won 25 of their last 26 home games dating back to late in the 2022-23 season.

Wichita State comes to Lawrence with a record of 3-5 following a 74-45 victory over Prairie View A&M on Dec. 2. The Shockers have previous victories over Oklahoma Christian and St. Thomas, but they've faced a tough non-conference schedule with losses to Oklahoma, Creighton and Missouri.

Kansas alum and former KU assistant coach Terry Nooner is in his second season leading the Shockers. Nooner played at Kansas from 1997-2000 and served two stints as an assistant, most recently from 2021-23. He helped the Jayhawks to two postseason appearances, including the 2023 WNIT Championship, before being hired for his first head coaching job at WSU.

Kansas and Wichita State have met 41 times all-time in women's basketball, dating back to the first meeting in 1970. Kansas leads the all-time series 34-7, including wins in each of the last four matchups. KU has faced the Shockers in each of the past three seasons, and the Jayhawks claimed a 76-56 win in Wichita last season.

Promotion
Teddy Bear Toss – Fans are encouraged to bring brand new teddy bears, or any plush toys, to throw onto James Naismith Court when instructed to do so during halftime. All the teddy bears and plush toys will be collected and donated to Toys for Tots to be distributed to children in the local community.

Up Next
Kansas will close out non-conference play with its next two games at home, beginning next Wednesday, Dec. 11, as the Jayhawks host Kansas City. Tipoff from Allen Fieldhouse is set for 6 p.m. CT and the game will be streamed on ESPN+.

Jayhawks Return Home for In-State Matchup vs. Wichita State

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Elle Evans

S'Mya Nichols

University of Kansas Athletics

Jayhawks Return Home for In-State Matchup vs. Wichita State

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Elle Evans

S'Mya Nichols

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