Strong Shooting Propels Jayhawks Over Creighton, 74-66

Junior Asia Boyd scored a career-high 19 points in the Jayhawks, 74-66, win over Creighton Sunday night.
Kansas 74, Creighton 66
Allen Fieldhouse // Lawrence, Kan.
1st 2nd FInal
Creighton 33 33 66
Kansas 36 38 74

Box Score (.pdf)
Photo Gallery

Statistical Leaders
Kansas Creighton
Pts Gardner (24) Janning (22)
Rebs Gardner (8) Rollerson (5)
Asts Knight (4) Nelson (5)
Stls Gardner (4) Akin-Otiko (3)
Blks Gardner (3) Rollerson (2)
Stats at a Glance KU CU
FG Percentage 61.4 41.0
3-Point FG Percentage 33.3 36.8
FT Percentage 72.0 75.0
Offensive Rebounds 5 12
Defensive Rebounds 26 15
Total Rebounds 31 27
Turnovers 14 12
Points in the Paint 44 28
Points off Turnovers 11 15
Second Chance Points 9 13
Fast Break Points 14 2
Bench Points 13 14

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LAWRENCE, Kan. – Junior forward Chelsea Gardner scored 24 points to lead the Jayhawks to a 74-66 win over Creighton on Sunday evening inside historic Allen Fieldhouse.

The DeSoto, Texas native, made her first six shots and finished 8-of-15 from the field to go along with eight rebounds, three blocks and a season-best four steals as Kansas (3-0) topped Creighton (2-2) for the 11th-straight time. Gardner’s efforts helped Kansas shoot a sizzling 75 percent in the first half.

Sophomore guard Larmaria Cole set career highs in points (14), rebounds (four), field goals made (six), field goals attempted (11) and minutes played (30). Along with the efforts of Cole, junior guard Asia Boyd helped Kansas by chalking up a career-high 19 points and four rebounds. The Jayhawks shot 61 percent from field goal range and was quick in transition with 14 fast-break points.

Creighton was led by sophomore guard Marissa Janning who had 22 points, three rebounds and two steals in 39 minutes of action. In addition to Janning, freshman guard Sarah Nelson added 17 points, six of which were behind the arc, but the Bluejays shot just 41 percent from the field.

Creighton took an early 8-5 lead into the first media timeout, but after the break, junior guard Natalie Knight made a long pass to Boyd at the other end, who tossed in a lay-up and started a Kansas 9-2 run. Senior guard CeCe Harper knocked in two baskets in a row to put the Jayhawks ahead, 18-12 and forced Creighton to use its first timeout.

Kansas continued its offensive efforts out of the timeout and went on a 7-2 run, widening the lead to 24-14 with 8:26 left to play in the first half and a layup by Gardner resulted in another Bluejay timeout. Coming out of the break, the two teams traded baskets deep into the first half. A strong block by Gardner didn’t stop Janning from scoring a three-point basket that made the score 32-25 going in to the final media timeout. The Bluejays came back and went on an 8-2 run to end the half and pull within three, 36-33. In the first half, Kansas was led by Gardner’s 16 points and four rebounds. Creighton’s Janning was close behind her with 15 points and one rebound.

Early in the second half, Boyd kept the shot clock from expiring by knocking in last-second lay-up and sparked a 10-2 Jayhawk run. Cole stole the ball, broke away and went coast-to-coast for a lay-up at the other end, making the score 48-35 and forcing Creighton to use its third timeout with 15:47 left to play in the game.

Within the next minute, Nelson missed a jumper and Gardner grabbed the rebound and passed it off to Boyd who knocked in a lay-up. With the Jayhawk run now 14-2, Creighton called its fourth timeout of the game. Nelson came back and knocked in only the second Bluejay basket of the half and ended the Jayhawk run making the score 54-43 going into the next media timeout.

Creighton came back strong, answering Kansas at the other end. The Bluejays shortened the Kansas lead, 63-50, and forced Kansas to call its second timeout with 7:19 left to play. Out of the timeout, Creighton led Kansas with a 8-1 run and brought the score to 64-58. With 1:06 left in the Boyd knocked in a lay-up and brought the score to 72-61 and silenced any chance of a Bluejay comeback.

Sunday’s victory gives the Jayhawks their 11th straight win over the Bluejays, bringing the all-time series record to 25-12.

UP NEXT:
The Jayhawks will make their first road trip of the season as they travel to Minneapolis, Minn., to take on the University of Minnesota on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Game Notes
Kansas 74, Creighton 66
Nov. 17, 2013

KANSAS STARTERS (SEASON/CAREER): Jr. Asia Boyd (3-3), So. Lamaria Cole (3-3), Jr. Bunny Williams (3-8), Jr. Chelsea Gardner (3-32) and Jr. Natalie Knight (3-56)

KANSAS’ WIN…

  • Improves KU’s all-time non-conference record to 326-148 and 90-22 in non-conference play under head coach Bonnie Henrickson.
  • Makes Kansas 25-12 against Creighton and extends its winning streak over the Bluejays to 11-straight games.
  • Makes Henrickson 11-1 against Creighton.
  • Improves Henrickson’s record to 161-135 at KU and 319-197 overall.
  • Improves Kansas’ all-time record to 760-533.
  • Makes the Jayhawks 407-105 all-time in Allen Fieldhouse and 117-49 under Henrickson while playing at home.
  • Makes KU 47-23 when playing on Sunday and 42-25 during the month of November under Henrickson, including the last 21 straight in the year’s 11th month.

TEAM NOTES

  • Down 10-5 with 15:15 left in the first half, the Jayhawks used an 8-0 run, which lasted until the 12:19 mark, to regain the lead over the Bluejays.
  • After shooting 75 percent in the first half, KU continued its hot-streak to open up the second half, using a 16-2 run over the first 5:50 to extend its lead, 52-35, over the Bluejays.
  • The Jayhawks shot 75 percent (15-20) in the first half and 61.4 percent (27-44) for the game. The highest shooting percentage for a game in KU history, 72.1 (44-61), also came against Creighton on Feb. 7, 1981.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

  • Junior forward Bunny Williams scored her first bucket of the season on a turn-around jumper with 16:31 left in the first half. The Duncanville, Texas native, also added a rebound and an assist in her 17 minutes of action.
  • Junior forward Chelsea Gardner sank her first six shot attempts before missing a long jump shot with 5:34 left in the first half. The DeSoto, Texas native, finished the game with 24 points, eight rebounds, three blocks and a season-high four steals to eclipse her mark of three takeaways against SIU-Edwardsville (11/13).
  • Sophomore guard Lamaria Cole finished the game with career-highs in points (14), rebounds (four), field goals made (six), field goals attempted (11) and minutes played (30).
  • Senior guard Markisha Hawkins finished with a season-high three rebounds, eclipsing her previous mark set against SIU-Edwardsville (11/13).
  • Junior guard Asia Boyd recorded a career-high 19 points, to beat her previous mark of 18 against SIU-Edwardsville (11/13). The Detroit, Mich. native, also added four rebounds and a season-high three assists.