No. 2 Baylor sweeps 2017 series on Superhero Day
Video Link Highlights
Video Link Schneider Press Conference
Photo Gallery Link Photo GalleryStats Download Link Final Box (.pdf)
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas women’s basketball dropped its second game of the 2017 campaign to No. 2 Baylor, as the Lady Bears swept the 2017 series with a 92-43 victory on Sunday afternoon inside Allen Fieldhouse.
Nationally-ranked Baylor (16-1, 6-0 Big 12) continued to prove that it’s not only the top team in the Big 12, but one of the best teams in the nation, as the Lady Bears controlled the game both offensively and defensively throughout all four quarters. With the loss, Kansas (6-11, 0-6 Big 12) dropped its third-straight game to BU at home.
In five of the last six outings, redshirt junior guard Jessica Washington has led Kansas’ offense after netting a team-high 15 points. Washington has now recorded 10 double-digit scoring efforts of the season, the most of all the Jayhawks. Sophomore guard Kylee Kopatich also recorded a double-figure scoring performance with 11 points, her seventh time this season to reach double digits.
Senior Timeka O’Neal
The Lady Bears had six players in double figures in the second meeting of the season. Sophomore post Kalani Brown led Baylor’s offense with 16 points. Senior forward Nina Davis ended the afternoon with 15 points, while redshirt senior guard Alexis Prince added 12 points. Senior post Khadijiah Cave and junior guard Kristy Wallace rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
The Jayhawks fought to win the tipoff, but the first basket of the game went to the Lady Bears. Four minutes in, the Jayhawks remained scoreless, while Baylor opened with a 10-point run. Junior guard Chayla Cheadle sunk a free throw to put Kansas on the board and end BU’s run.
After five minutes of play, redshirt sophomore guard McKenzie Calvert made the Jayhawks first basket of the game from the floor. Washington added her first 3-pointer of the game with just two minutes remaining in the first quarter, as Kansas battled a slow start and cold-shooting effort form the floor. The following possession Cheadle took a charge, which sparked KU at the other end. Immediately after the defensive play, Kopatich added a 3-pointer, bringing the Jayhawks within 11 points of the Lady Bears. The Jayhawks’ defense held Baylor scoreless in the final three minutes of the quarter, but the Lady Bears had a 25-9 advantage.
Kopatich kicked off the second quarter with her second 3-point bucket of the day, Baylor responded with a 3-pointer from Prince. Washington hustled down the court to add a layup in the second minute, hoping to spark a much needed offensive charge for the Jayhawks. Despite the Jayhawks’ effort, Baylor’s offense controlled the quarter, extending the lead, 31-14.
Late in the first half, O’Neal sank her first 3-point basket of the day. Soon after that possession Kansas endured a four-minute scoring drought, while Baylor went on an 11-point run. Washington ended the drought with a basket from beyond the arc, but the Lady Bears managed to build up a 47-24 lead heading into the intermission.
The Lady Bears opened the third quarter with a 6-0 run, but Cheadle ended that run with a free throw. Washington extended KU’s run after finding Kopatich outside the 3-point arc. Kopatich netted five-straight points for Kansas and became the first Jayhawk to reach double figures. Baylor halted KU’s offensive momentum with a 3-pointer. Following Baylor’s shot from long range, KU endured another scoring drought, lasting nearly 4 minutes. While KU’s offense was held scoreless, the Lady Bears went on a 14-0 run. Once again, Washington put an end to the Jayhawks’ scoring drought with a free throw, joining Kopatich as the second scorer in double digits. Despite Washington and Kopatich’s efforts, the Jayhawks trailed Baylor, 73-35, after three periods.
Washington kicked off the final quarter with her third 3-pointer of the day. In the next four minutes, the Lady Bears scored 10 unanswered points extending their lead. Sophomore guard Jayde Christopher ended the run with her first basket of the afternoon, but it wasn’t long before another BU run was sparked. Baylor’s lead was too great for the Jayhawks to mount a fourth-quarter comeback, as the Lady Bears swept the 2017 series with a 92-43 victory.
UP NEXT
Kansas continues its two-game home stretch with No. 18 West Virginia on Wednesday, Jan. 18. Tipoff against the Mountaineers is slated for 7 p.m., on the Jayhawk Television Network/ESPN3 and the Jayhawk Radio Network.
KUAthletics.com: The official online source for Kansas Athletics, Williams Education Fund contributions, tickets, merchandise, multimedia, photos and much, much more.
