Jayhawks open Big 12 Play at Iowa State

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Kansas continues its road stint with its 2018 Big 12 opener at Iowa State on Thursday, Dec. 28 at 6:30 p.m., inside Hilton Coliseum. The final contest of KU’s three-game road swing will air on cyclones.tv and the Jayhawk Radio Network.
 
Following the Jayhawks
Kansas’ Big 12 opener will be broadcast on the cyclones.tv and the Jayhawk Radio Network. Additionally, Jayhawk fans can follow all the action on twitter (@KUwbball) or live stats (cyclones.com).

Fast Breaks

• Kansas and Iowa State meet for the first time this season to open Big 12 play. The Jayhawks are 47-36 all-time against the Cyclones in a series that began in 1978.
• Since the inception of the Big 12 Conference in 1997, Kansas owns a 5-15 record in league openers, including a mark on the road. 
• The Jayhawks start Big 12 Conference play on Dec. 28, marking the earliest start to league action since the Big 12 was formed in 1997.
• KU opened the 2017-18 season with a seven-game winning streak, marking just the eighth time in program history to begin a season 7-0.
• The Jayhawks concluded nonconference play with a 9-2 mark, which is the best during head coach Brandon Schneider’s tenure at KU. 
• KU’s impressive defense throughout the season has placed Kansas 39th in the nation and third in the Big 12 for scoring defense, keeping its opponents to scoring an average of 56.5 points per game so far.
• The Jayhawks are fifth in the nation and second in the league for field goal percentage defense, holding their opponents to 32.4 percent shooting from the field. 
• When Brandon Schneider-coached teams are leading with less than five minutes to play, his overall record is 364-13, and 19-1 at Kansas.
• Junior guards Kylee Kopatich and Christalah Lyons rank among the top 16 in scoring in the Big 12 standings. Kopatich’s 15.4 points per game rank eighth, while Lyons’ 14.1 points per game round out the top 16. 
• Lyons has netted double-figure scoring efforts in 10 of KU’s first 11 games, including a career-high 22 points against UMKC (11/29).

About the Jayhawks
Kansas concluded nonconference action with a 9-2 mark, the best nonconference record during the Brandon Schneider era. The Jayhawks hit the road to begin Big 12 Conference play at Iowa State. For the third time in the last four seasons, KU will start league play on the road. The Jayhawks have won two of its last three games heading into their first game of conference action.

On the season, KU is holding its opponents to 56.5 points and 32.4 percent shooting from the floor, which is one of the best defenses in the nation and the Big 12. The Jayhawks have held six opponents to below a 32 percent shooting percentage, including a season low against Texas Southern (.250). Junior forward Austin Richardson has pulled down a team-leading 6.7 boards per game.

Offensively, KU is shooting 41.2 percent and averaging 66.5 points per game. Kansas’ offense is led by junior guard Kylee Kopatich’s 15.4 points per game. She is shooting 44.7 percent from the field and a team-best 37.3 percent from long range. Redshirt-sophomore center Tyler Johnson is connecting on a team-best 52.6 percent of her shots.  

Scouting the Cyclones
Iowa State ended its nonconference slate with three-straight victories and head into its Big 12 Conference opener with 6-5 record on the season. The Cyclones won three of their first four game before suffering a four-game losing skid. ISU owns a 5-1 record at home this season.

Junior guard Bridget Carlton is the lone Cyclone averaging double digits after netting 18.0 points per game. Carlton is connecting on 38.2 percent of her shots and 35.4 percent of her shots from beyond the arc. Iowa State is netting 72.2 points per game and shooting 41.7 percent from the field. ISU leads the Big 12 in 3-point field goals made with 104. 

Defensively, Iowa State is limiting its opponents to 65.0 points per game and a 38.3 percent shooting average. The Cyclones are pulling down 39.9 boards per game, while averaging 6.5 steals and 6.0 blocks. Freshman center Kristin Scott leads the team with 83 rebounds and 14 blocks on the year.

Series Breakdown
Record
Kansas leads the series against Iowa State with an over mark of 47-36.

Overview
Kansas’ series with Iowa State began in 1978 with a 67-63 Jayhawk victory. KU won 12 of the first 13 meetings with the Cyclones. The Jayhawks look to snap a four-game losing streak against ISU. Kansas’ last victory inside Hilton Coliseum was during the 2015 season. 

Last Time Out
Jessica Washington registered a career-high night with 36 points, but it wasn’t enough to slow Iowa State, as the Cyclones prevailed with a 90-75 victory over the Jayhawks inside Allen Fieldhouse in the second meeting of 2017.  

Iona Leftovers
Kansas’ fourth quarter run lifted the Jayhawks to their ninth victory of the season, 72-58, over Iona inside Hynes Athletics Center. After Iona’s 14-0 run in the third quarter to take a one-point lead, the Jayhawks (9-2) outscored the Gaels 17-8 in the final 10 minutes to end nonconference play on a good note. Kansas will head into its five-day break for the holidays having won nine of its first 11 games. Junior forward Austin Richardson netted 18 points (8-of-14) and grabbed 10 rebounds, earning her first career double-double and led all scorers on the night.

This Day in Kansas Women’s Basketball History
Record on Dec. 28: 12-3
Kansas plays on Dec. 28 for the 16th in program history on Thursday night. KU owns a 12-3 record when playing on the 28th day of December. In 1993, the Jayhawks defeated Georgia, 92-79, in the opening round of the Express Christmas Invitational. Kansas had five players contribute double-digit scoring efforts, including Charisse Sampson who recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. 

Up Next
Kansas returns home after a three-game road stint to host TCU on Sunday, Dec. 31, inside Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayahwks’ final game in 2017 will be broadcast on the Jayhawk Television Network/ESPN3 and the Jayhawk Radio Network.

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