Defense and Double-Doubles Propel Jayhawks Past Houston

Saturday, January 25

Houston, Texas

2 p.m. CT

University of Kansas

13-7,3-6Big 12

Houston

5-15,1-8Big 12

Kansas

Houston

Photo by: Damon Young/Kansas Athletics

Defense and Double-Doubles Propel Jayhawks Past Houston

1/25/2025 4:10:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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HOUSTON, Texas – Laia Conesa and Regan Williams both recorded double-doubles as the Kansas Jayhawks picked up a 57-43 road win at Houston on Saturday at the Fertitta Center.

For Conesa, it was her first career double-double as she scored 11 points and pulled down a career-high 10 rebounds. Williams notched her third double-double of the season, also totaling 11 points and 10 rebounds on 5-of-9 shooting from the field.

S'Mya Nichols led the Jayhawks with 16 points, four rebounds and six assists while Elle Evans also reached double figures with 13 points, which included hitting three three-pointers.

With the win, Kansas improves to 13-7 on the year and 3-6 in league play, while Houston moves to 5-15 (1-8 Big 12).

"I thought our preparations really helped us for today. There were some corrections that we talked about prior to the game that we tried to make on this road trip through practice reps," Kansas head coach Brandon Schneider said after the game. "We defended and rebounded and that was the difference for us. Offensively, we weren't great, but on the road you need to rebound to give yourself a chance."

For Kansas, it marked the first time since March 23, 2023 that two players have recorded a double-double in the same game. On that date, it was Taiyanna Jackson (16 points, 12 rebounds) and Chandler Prater (14 points, 16 rebounds) recording double-doubles as KU defeated Nebraska 64-55 in the third round of the WNIT.

"Having two players get double-doubles is something that we've got to aspire to," Schneider added.

Kansas led 8-4 in the opening minutes after getting three-pointers from Evans and Nichols, then utilized a 9-0 run that spanned nearly four minutes of game time to build a 17-7 lead with 2:24 to play in the quarter. The Jayhawks were held scoreless the rest of the frame, while Houston finished with a 5-0 spurt, as KU led 17-12 at the end of one.

KU's advantage was cut to four at 18-14 early in the second, before Nichols and Conesa both hit three-pointers to jump start a 12-0 scoring run that lasted nearly four minutes. The Jayhawks led 30-14 at that point and took a 30-17 lead into the intermission.

Evans scored Kansas' first eight points of the second half as the lead ballooned to 18 at 38-20 with 5:30 to play in the third. After baskets from Nadira Eltayeb and Conesa made it 42-23 at the 4:39 mark, the Jayhawks were held scoreless the rest of the quarter while Houston scored five points to make it 42-28 with 10 minutes to play.

Williams and Nichols each added four a piece for the first eight Jayhawk points of the final frame to stretch KU's lead to 50-24 with just 3:38 to go. Copeland chipped in two free throws while Conesa scored a layup with 40 seconds left to bring her total to 11 points and record her first career double-double. Nichols rounded out KU's scoring as she knocked in a pair of free throws in the final 20 seconds as the Jayhawks went on to win 57-43.

Up Next
Kansas closes out January on Wednesday, Jan. 29, when the Jayhawks host Texas Tech. Tipoff from Allen Fieldhouse is set for 6:30 p.m. CT and the game will be streamed on ESPN+.