Jayhawks Handle Kansas State for Sunflower Showdown Victory

Sunday, January 25

Lawrence, Kan.

12 p.m. CT

University of Kansas

13-8,3-6Big 12

Kansas State

11-10,4-4Big 12

Kansas St.

Kansas

Jayhawks Handle Kansas State for Sunflower Showdown Victory

1/25/2026 3:08:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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LAWRENCE, Kan. – Four players scored in double figures as the Kansas Jayhawks defeated Kansas State, 83-61, Sunday in the Dillons Sunflower Showdown at Allen Fieldhouse.

Jaliya Davis led the Jayhawks with 22 points and eight rebounds, while Elle Evans hit four three-pointers and scored 14 points. Regan Williams and Lilly Meister added 12 points apiece to help Kansas win its second-straight game. The Jayhawks shot 53.8 percent (28-52) from the field and outrebounded KSU 38-31. KU also scored 32 points in the paint, compared to 12 for KSU, and the Jayhawk bench outscored the Wildcats 40-22.

With the win, Kansas improved to 13-8 (3-6 Big 12) on the year and won the Dillons Sunflower Showdown matchup for the fifth time in the past six meetings in Lawrence. The 22-point margin of victory is tied for KU's seventh-largest over Kansas State in series history, and is the first 20-point win over KSU since 1999.

"I think really believing in the power of togetherness and unity was the biggest thing today," Kansas head coach Brandon Schneider said after the game. "We've got to break the press together, we've got to execute offensively together, we've got to get back in transition and build a wall together, we've got to be assignment correct together defensively, and we've got to rebound together. There is a lot of evidence out there today that we really played as a unit."

A crowd of 6,129 spectators were on hand for the game, which was televised nationally on FS1.

"I was really proud of our students for showing up with the weather and the fact that they're just getting back into school," Schneider said. "I thank everyone for coming, but especially our students for showing up because they made a really big impact today, and hopefully we made them proud."

Kansas hits the road for a second-straight nationally-televised contest as the Jayhawks face No. 9 TCU on Thursday, Jan. 29, on ESPN. The Jayhawks then return to Allen Fieldhouse to take on Colorado on Sunday, Feb. 1.

In the first quarter, both teams opened with aggressive defense, but Kansas struck first, scoring the game's first six points on two Davis layups and a pair of free throws from Meister. Kansas State responded with an 11-0 run before an Evans three-pointer cut the deficit to two, at 11-9. The Wildcats rebuilt a 14-9 lead, but Evans answered with a jumper before Brittany Harshaw's three tied it at 14-14. The teams traded baskets, with KU keeping it close at 17-16 heading into the first media timeout.

Coming out of the break, KU turned a Wildcat's turnover into a Williams layup, but Kansas State answered with a jumper of its own. The Jayhawks tied it at 21 on another Evans three. With under five seconds left, Meister drew a charge to change possession, helping Kansas take a 24-23 lead into the second quarter.

Kansas opened the second quarter with a 6-0 run that extended to 14-2 as the Jayhawks took their first double-digit lead of the game at 38-25. KU continued to build the lead by hitting 9-of-11 field goal attempts in the quarter to outscore KSU 25-11 in the quarter to take a 49-34 lead into halftime. Evans hit two more threes and Sania Copeland added one as the Jayhawks went 3-for-3 from downtown in the second quarter.

The Jayhawks carried their momentum into the third quarter. Libby Fandel hit a three off an assist from S'Mya Nichols, and Copeland added a fast-break layup. Davis made two free throws to keep the lead at 58-38. Kansas State converted three straight free throws, but KU responded with five points, one from Nichols and four from Williams, taking a 63-44 lead into the media timeout. KU continued their free-throw success with two more from Williams, and a missed KSU shot led to a Meister jump shot. KU outscored Kansas State 9-8 over the final minutes of the quarter, building a comfortable 70-52 lead heading into the final frame.

Kansas controlled the fourth, with both Harshaw and Meister scoring layups and Harshaw hitting a fast-break three, with Williams helping the defense with a key block, pushing KU's lead to 77-54. The Jayhawks maintained control for the rest of the fourth quarter, securing an 83-61 victory. The win marked Kansas's first conference triumph at home and their second straight of the season.

NOTES

Kansas had four players score in double figures, Davis (22), Evans (14), Meister (12), Williams (12), for the fourth time this season.
Kansas scored a season high 40 points off the bench against Kansas State.
Senior guard Elle Evans scored 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field, marking her 10th game this season scoring in double figures, and 84th time in her career.
Evans tied a season high in threes made, and finished the game going 4-of-4 from beyond the arc.
Freshman forward Jaliya Davis scored 22 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the field, and has scored in double figures in all 11 games this season. Davis has scored 20 or more points in eight of 11 games she has played in this season.
Davis tied a season high in rebounds, after pulling down eight rebounds against Kansas State.
Sophomore forward Regan Williams notched 12 points, scoring in double figures for the seventh time this season, and 21st time in her career.
Williams went 6-of-6 from the free throw line, and set a new career high with six made free throws.
Senior forward Lilly Meister finished with 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the field, marking her ninth game in double figures this season, and 22nd time in her career.
Junior guard Brittany Harshaw finished with eight points on 3-of-4 shooting from the field. Harshaw knocked down two threes for the second time this season, and 14th time in her career.
With the win, the Jayhawks improved to 13-8 on the year and 3-6 in Big 12 play. Kansas also picked up its first home conference win of the season and second straight win in Big 12 play.
Kansas improved to 52-82 all-time against KSU and 30-34 against the Wildcats in Lawrence. The Jayhawks have five wins in their last six games against Kansas State at Allen Fieldhouse.