LAWRENCE, Kan. – Jaliya Davis recorded her first career double-double with 28 points and 12 rebounds to lead Kansas to an 81-60 victory over BYU on Wednesday evening at Allen Fieldhouse.
Davis finished the game 11-of-14 from the field and hit 6-of-9 free throws, also pulling down a career-high 12 rebounds. She scored 23 points in the second half, helping Kansas break a 32-32 tie by outscoring BYU 49-28 after halftime. The game marked the 10th 20-point game of the season for Davis, who has won each of the last five Big 12 Freshman of the Week awards.
S’Mya Nichols added 17 points, five rebounds and four assists, hitting both of her three-point attempts and 7-of-8 free throws. Lilly Meister also got into double figures with 10 points, while also adding eight rebounds and three assists. Regan Williams chipped in eight points off the bench, leading the charge as KU’s reserves totaled 20 points.
With the win, Kansas improved to 14-10 (4-8 Big 12) on the year while dropping BYU to 16-7 (5-6 Big 12). The Jayhawks will again play at home on Saturday, Feb. 7, hosting Cincinnati in the back half of a doubleheader after the Kansas men’s basketball team faces Utah. That game is tentatively set to tip off at 4:30 p.m. CT and be broadcast on ESPN+.
“Jaliya’s intensity level out of the locker room at halftime was terrific and contagious,” Kansas head coach Brandon Schneider said following the game. “I thought that was a big key to us getting off to a really good start. We made some adjustments and had some points of emphasis to start off the second half, but the players deserve the credit because they’re the ones who go out and execute.”
BYU led 11-6 at the 4:39 mark of the opening quarter as they capped a 9-3 run with a three-pointer by Brinley Cannon. Kansas held the Cougars to just one field goal the rest of the quarter and outscored BYU 9-2, getting a pair of baskets from Williams to start the run. Nichols knocked down a pair of free throws in the closing minute as KU led 15-13 at the end of one.
The Cougars opened the second quarter with consecutive three-pointers and used a 5-0 run to extend their lead to 26-22 with 7:12 to play in the half. Nichols and Sania Copeland both scored baskets to tie the game at 26-26 and the teams were tied three more times, including a pair of Meister free throws that evened the score, 32-32, at halftime.
Kansas took control early in the third quarter, feeding the ball to Davis, who scored all seven of KU’s points in a 7-0 run that covered the first 2:44 of the half and forced BYU to call timeout with the Jayhawks leading 39-32. The run reached 13-1 as Davis scored four more points helping KU open up a 45-33 lead at the 4:54 mark. BYU scored the next six points, but a three-pointer from Evans lifted the lead back to double figures at 49-39. Meister scored the final five points of the third, including a tip-in at the buzzer to put Kansas up 57-45 to end the third.
The Jayhawks put the game away in the fourth quarter, hitting 7-of-11 shots from the field and 9-of-10 free throws to extend the final margin. KU’s lead never dipped below 10 and the Jayhawks outscored BYU 24-15, closing the game on an 11-1 run to secure the 21-point victory.
NOTES
- Kansas’ 38 defensive rebounds are the most in a game this season, while the Jayhawks’ 49 rebounds is the second most in a game this season (53 vs. Haskell).
- Kansas’ 23 made free throws are the second most in a game this season (26 vs. Colorado).
- Freshman Jaliya Davis scored 28 points on 11-for-14 shooting, and added 12 rebounds for her first career double-double. Her 12 rebounds are also a career high. She has scored at least 10 points in every game she has played this season, and her 10th 20-point game of the season. She also tied her career high in field goals made.
- Senior Elle Evans set a season high in assists with four, while also adding six points on two three-pointers.
- Junior S’Mya Nichols tallied 17 points, five rebounds and four assists. It is her 21st 10-point game this season, and 76th in her career.
- Senior Lilly Meister added 10 points and was second on the team with eight rebounds, marking her 10th 10-point game of the season.