Kansas Beats BYU in Big 12 Women’s Basketball Tournament
The Kansas Jayhawks improved their case for the NCAA Tournament with a 77-53 win over BYU in the second round of the Big 12 Women’s Basketball Tournament at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City on Friday.
Kansas, the No. 7 seed, will face Texas at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday in the quarterfinals.
The Jayhawks (19-11) have now won nine of their last 10 games since a 60-55 loss to Oklahoma in late January. With that streak, the Jayhawks have entered the 68-team Bracketology field per ESPN.
Entering the game the Jayhawks were a No. 9 seed, meaning they were solidly in the field.
This win should keep the Jayhawks on solid footing.
The game was close at halftime, as Kansas led by two points, 35-33. But their experience won out in the second half as they shot more than 60 percent as a team to distance themselves from the Cougars.
Five different Kansas players finished in double figures, led by Zakiyah Franklin, who had 20 points. Freshman S’mya Nichols scored 13, while Taiyanna Jackson scored 12 points and Holly Kersgieter added 11 points. Wyvette Mayberry also scored 14 points.
BYU (16-16) ends its first Big 12 season with a .500 record. While the Cougars aren’t going to the NCAA Tournament, there is a chance their overall record could interest the WNIT, which will select its field after the NCAA Tournament field is released next Sunday.
BYU ends the season losing five of their last six games.
While Lauren Gustin had a double-double for BYU with 10 points and 17 rebounds, the Jayhawks did a good job of limiting the effectiveness of her teammates. Gustin also got into foul trouble. Amari Whiting was the only other Cougar in double figures with 13 points.
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
