Lawrence, Kan. – The Kansas Jayhawks put on a fantastic show, beating the Cincinnati Bearcats 80-71 at Allen Fieldhouse in front of a lively crowd of 6,171 fans. Freshman star Jaliya Davis led the charge with an impressive 28 points, marking her 11th game this season with 20 or more points. She has scored over 20 points in five of her last six games, showing her consistency and talent.
Davis wasn’t alone in the scoring frenzy. Junior S’Mya Nichols contributed 16 points, while seniors Lily Meister and Elle Evans added 14 and 12 points, respectively. This balanced attack helped the Jayhawks improve their record to 15-10 overall and 5-8 in Big 12 Conference play. After a solid win against BYU, they are gearing up for their next challenge.
The game started with Cincinnati taking an early lead. They were up 6-2 until Kansas found its rhythm. Nichols hit a three-pointer, and Davis followed with a layup, swinging the momentum. The first quarter saw both teams exchanging leads, but Cincinnati managed to edge ahead, finishing the quarter at 21-17.
In the second quarter, Davis took charge. With five quick points, she propelled Kansas into the lead at 22-21. As the game progressed, the Jayhawks pushed their advantage to 11 points by halftime, ending the period at 40-36.
The third quarter saw Kansas maintain control, building their lead to 12 points after an 8-2 run. However, Cincinnati wasn’t done yet. They fought back in the fourth quarter, going on an 11-0 run to tie the game at 66-66 with six minutes left. In a crucial moment, Nichols hit two free throws to give Kansas a narrow lead again at 74-70. In the final seconds, Davis sealed the victory with a contested jumper, wrapping up the game.
As they head to Lubbock, Texas, on February 10 for a matchup against No. 18 Texas Tech, the Jayhawks are looking to continue their winning momentum.
Some notable stats from the game include:
- Kansas had four players in double figures for scoring, a feat they’ve achieved in four games this season.
- S’Mya Nichols reached the milestone of scoring double digits in 22 games this season, a testament to her scoring ability.
- Elle Evans showed her marksmanship from beyond the arc, hitting 4 out of 6 three-pointers.
With young talent like Davis stepping up and experienced players like Nichols and Evans contributing consistently, Kansas is poised for an exciting finish to the season.
For more insights and statistics on college basketball, check out the NCAA’s official site here.
