LUBBOCK, Texas – The Kansas Jayhawks remained winless against ranked opponents this season as they dropped a close, 70-65 decision to No. 16 Texas Tech on Tuesday night at United Supermarkets Arena.
S’Mya Nichols tied the game at 59-59 with a three-point play with 1:34 to play, but Texas Tech outscored the Jayhawks 11-6 from that point on to secure the victory. Nichols led the Jayhawks with 15 points, while Jaliya Davis had 14, Elle Evans had 11 and Regan Williams added 10.
Kansas shot 45.5 percent (20-44) from the field, but committed 20 turnovers, which allowed Texas Tech to have 16 more field goal attempts. KU held the Lady Raiders to 35.0 percent (21-60) shooting, but Tech hit 22-of-27 free throw attempts and outrebounded KU by two.
Kansas (15-11, 5-9 Big 12) is back home at Allen Fieldhouse on Saturday, Feb. 14 to host Houston for a matchup with tip off scheduled for 4 p.m. CT on ESPN+.
Davis scored KU’s first eight points of the game, hitting two of her first three field goal attempts and four free throws to give the Jayhawks an early 8-3 lead at the 5:55 mark of the first quarter. Tech scored the next two baskets, closing to within one before Kansas used a 7-0 run to take a 15-7 lead, forcing TTU to call a timeout with 2:31 to play in the quarter. Evans started the run with a three-pointer before Davis and Lilly Meister each added baskets of their own. Laia Conesa scored to make it a 10-point advantage, but Tech scored the final four points of the first to cut KU’s lead to 17-11 at the end of one.
Tech scored the first nine points of the second quarter, hitting a trio of three-pointers to regain the lead, 20-17, at the 6:23 mark. Davis broke KU’s scoreless streak with a basket at 5:38 and Evans tied the game at 21-21 with a driving basket at 4:21. Tech scored the next five points and maintained a five-point edge until Brittany Harshaw scored her first points of the game, sending the game to halftime with Tech leading 28-25.
Kansas used a 6-0 run to get within one at 32-31 early in the third quarter, but the Jayhawks were unable to take the lead. Tech went back on top by eight, using a 9-2 run to take a 41-33lead with 2:20 to play, but Evans answered once again with a three-pointer, cutting it back to five. Nichols hit a pair of free throws and Williams hit a layup on the final possession to get KU within five, 45-40, at the end of three.
Evans opened the fourth quarter with another three - her third of the night - as Kansas again got within two at 45-43. The next six Jayhawk points came from the free throw line before Harshaw again hit a driving jumper to get KU within two. Meister closed off a 5-0 run by hitting one of two from the stripe, making it 53-52 with 5:21 to play.
Kansas tied the game for the only time in the second half at 59-all after Nichols completed a traditional three-point play with 1:34 to play. Texas Tech scored 11 points - all free throws - from that point on. While KU got another three-pointer from Harshaw and a pair of free throws by Williams, Tech was able to hold on for the home win.
NOTES
- With 14 points, freshman Jaliya Davis has scored in double digits in all 17 games she has played in this season.
- Lilly Meister recorded her fourth multi-block game of the season with two.
- S’Mya Nichols’ 15 points tonight puts her at 1,529 in her career, moving her two spots on the all-time scoring list in the game. Nichols passed Angie Snider (1982-84) and Chelsea Gardner (2012-15) during the game to move up to 13th in program history.
- Elle Evans made three three-pointers, tabbing her 12th game of the season with three or more.
- Sania Copeland recorded a season high four rebounds, surpassing her previous mark of three against BYU on Feb. 4.