Kansas completes two-game homestand with West Virginia

Beginning in August 2017, fans will be allowed to bring only one clear plastic bag no larger than 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches or a one-gallon, clear, resealable plastic storage bag per person inside Kansas athletics events.

Fans will also be allowed a small clutch purse not to exceed 5.5 inches by 8.5 inches.

More on new bag policy

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Kansas women’s basketball tipoffs against its second-straight ranked opponent, when No. 15 West Virginia  comes to town on Wednesday, Jan. 10 at 7 p.m., inside Allen Fieldhouse.

Fast Breaks

• The Jayhawks are 2-4 when facing the Mountaineers in Allen Fieldhouse and 4-8 overall against West Virginia.
• KU’s last win over WVU was a 65-59 victory in the 2014-15 season, its first win inside Allen Fieldhouse since the Mountaineers joined the Big 12.
• The Jayhawks’ last victory over a ranked opponent came in the 2014-15 season over then-No. 10 Cal. Kansas handed the Golden Bears their first loss of the season, 62-39.
• The last time Kansas beat a ranked Big 12 foe was in the 2013-14 season when the Jayhawks snapped then-No. 7 Baylor’s 53-game conference winning streak, 76-60. 
• A win over No. 11 West Virginia would give KU its first victory over a ranked opponent in the Brandon Schneider era.
• Kansas’ increase in winning percentage from last season’s 8-22 (.267) mark to 2017-18’s 11-4 (.733) record so far is fifth among Division I programs and second among autonomy conference teams.
• 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.
• KU ranks ninth in the nation for field goal percentage defense, holding its opponents to shooting 34.2 percent from the field. The Jayhawks trail only Baylor in the Big 12 who holds its opponents to 30.7 percent shooting.
• Junior guard Brianna Osorio has been an offensive presence for the Jayhawks since Big 12 play began, notching double-digit scoring efforts in three out of KU’s four league games thus far, including a career-high 19 points at Texas Tech (1/3/18).
• Junior guard Christalah Lyons leads the Jayhawks with 14.8 points and 4.1 assists per game. The Dallas, Texas native has netted 14 double-digit scoring efforts in KU’s 15 games thus far in the 2017-18 season.
• When Brandon Schneider-coached teams are leading with less than five minutes to play, his overall record is 366-14, and 21-2 at Kansas.

About the Jayhawks
In Kansas’ first of three-straight games against ranked opponents, the Jayhawks held No. 6 Baylor below its season averages in points per game and field goal percentage. KU held the Lady Bears to 83 points (91.3 ppg) and 44.0 percent (54.8 percent) in the 83-48 loss. Prior to KU’s loss to No. 6 Baylor, Kansas women’s basketball notched a Big 12 win away from Allen Fieldhouse at Texas Tech, 60-47 (1/3), which was the first Big 12 road win in the Brandon Schneider era.  The Jayhawks have matched their conference win total from the 2016-17 season in just the first four games of league play this season. After falling to Iowa State, 71-69, in overtime on Dec. 28, the Jayhawks bounced back to win back-to-back league games for the first time under Schneider.

The Jayhawks continue to make their presence known as one of the best defenses in the Big 12 and the nation. KU has held its opponents to just 59.9 points per game, ranking third in the conference in scoring defense. Additionally, the Jayhawks trail only Baylor in the league in field goal percentage defense, holding their opponents to 34.2 percent shooting from the field. Kansas’ field goal percentage defense ranks among the top defenses in the country, sitting at ninth in the nation in the category. The Jayhawks have held six opponents below a 32 percent shooting percentage, including a season low against Texas Southern (.250). Kansas has also limited its opponents to shooting 27.7 percent from long range which is second in the Big 12 behind Baylor.

Kansas is averaging 66.3 points per game and is shooting 40.1 percent from the field through 15 contests. Junior guards Christalah Lyons and Kylee Kopatich lead the Jayhawks offensively, averaging 14.8 and 14.7 points per game, respectively. Junior guard Brianna Osorio has started Big 12 play off strong, notching double figures in three of KU’s four conference games so far. Osorio is averaging 13.0 points per game in Big 12 Conference play.

Scouting the Mountaineers
The No. 11 Mountaineers enter Wednesday’s matchup with Kansas with just two losses on the season and an undefeated nonconference performance. West Virginia’s two losses came in back-to-back conference games at No. 8 Texas and to Kansas State. After starting Big 12 play off 1-2, the Mountaineers evened their conference record with a 57-49 victory against Iowa State.

West Virginia is tied with Kansas for fourth in the Big 12 league standings, each owning a 2-2 record. WVU leads the Big 12, snagging 178 steals through its first 16 games, placing them 17th in the nation for steals. The Mountaineers hold their opponents to 56.4 points per game, which is second in the Big 12 and 27th in the country. West Virginia’s field goal percentage defense also ranks among the best in the nation, holding its opponents to 34.5 percent from the field, which is 13th in the country and third in the Big 12 behind Baylor and Kansas.

Offensively, West Virginia is averaging 77.6 points per game and shooting 47.0 percent from the field. The Mountaineers have knocked in 101 long-range baskets thus far for a 33.7 3-point field goal percentage.

All five of the Mountaineers’ starters are averaging double digits, led by senior forward Teana Muldrow with 20.8 points per game. Muldrow is nearly averaging a double-double, while also leading WVU with 9.5 rebounds per game. Junior guard/forward Naomi Davenport is netting an average of 16.1 points per game, while junior guard Katrina Pardee and senior forward Kristina King are averaging 12.8 and 11.1 points, respectively. Senior guard Chania Ray is dishing out a team-best 5.4 assists per game, while knocking in 10.4 points per game. Ray’s 86 assists this season rank third in the Big 12.

This Day in Kansas Women’s Basketball History
Record on Jan. 10: 3-7
Kansas women’s basketball will play on the 10th day of January for the 11th time in program history. In 2004 on January 10, Kansas edged rival Missouri, 55-52, in Columbia. The Jayhawks were led by Crystal Kemp who netted 20 points and grabbed five rebounds. Aquanita Burras earned a double-double in the win, scoring 10 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.

Big 12 Bri
Junior guard Brianna Osorio has started Big 12 play off strong, netting three double-digit scoring efforts in Kansas’ four conference games thus far. The Las Vegas, Nevada native is averaging 13.0 points per game in conference play and is shooting 44.2 percent from the field against Big 12 foes. Osorio nailed four 3-pointers in KU’s road victory over Texas Tech (1/3), notching a career-high 19 points in the win, with 11 coming in the opening 10 minutes of action. In her first season donning the Crimson and Blue, Osorio has made 32.1 percent of her attempts from behind the 3-point line overall.

Around the League
The Jayhawks’ defense has ranked among the top in the Big 12 so far throughout the 2017-18 season. Kansas is third in scoring defense, holding its opponents to 59.9 points per game. KU’s field goal percentage defense and 3-point field goal percentage defense rank second in the league behind only Baylor in both categories. Overall, Kansas has kept its opponents to just 34.2 percent shooting from the field and 27.7 percent from long range. Individually, several Jayhawks rank in the top-15 across multiple categories in the Big 12. Junior guards Christalah Lyons and Kylee Kopatich rank 11th and 12th in scoring, notching 14.8 and 14.7 points per game, respectively. 

Floor general
In her first year with the Jayhawks, junior guard Christalah Lyons has taken full command of the Kansas offense. The Dallas, Texas native has had double-digit scoring efforts in 14 of KU’s 15 games, leading Kansas with 14.8 points per game. Additionally, Lyons has dished out a team-leading 62 assists (4.1 per game), which is tied for seventh in the Big 12.

Climbing up the Ranks
Junior guard Kylee Kopatich’s 34 long-range baskets sit fifth in the league, averaging 2.3 treys per game. The Olathe, Kansas native also has marks in the top-15 in 3-point field goal percentage, free throw percentage and steals. Kopatich has knocked in 36.6 percent (14th) of her long-range baskets, 71.7 percent (14th) of her shots from the charity stripe and is tied for sixth in steals, snagging 29 thus far in 2017-18.

Up Next
Kansas women’s basketball hits the road to face No. 8/8 Texas on Saturday, January 13 at 1 p.m., inside the Frank C. Erwin Jr. Special Events Center. The Jayhawks will face their third ranked opponent in three games. The game will be broadcast on the Longhorn Network and the Jayhawk Radio Network.