Kansas UniversityâÂÂs womenâÂÂs basketball team followed a radically different game plan in its 73-56 victory over Fort Hays State on Sunday than it did when it beat the Solna Vikings four days earlier.

On Wednesday, the inside game proved key. On Sunday, the guards were the difference.

Aquanita Burras scored 19 points, Leila Mengà ¼à § added 12 and the Jayhawks erased a halftime deficit to convincingly hand the Tigers a 17-point defeat to close out their exhibition schedule unbeaten.

âÂÂI was really pleased to see them take a major step in the second half,â KU coach Marian Washington said. âÂÂWe talked about matching our opponentâÂÂs intensity level. Fort Hays State did a great job in the first half. I thought they really outworked us, but it was really good to see our young club come back that second half and take it up another notch.âÂÂ

The Tigers went on a 6-0 run in the last 45 seconds of the first half to lead, 35-33, at intermission. The deficit could have sparked a sense of urgency in the KU locker room, but Washington claims that hardly was the case.

âÂÂWhat was good about it is the team was staying very positive,â Washington said. âÂÂI thought in the locker room, we tried to stay very encouraging because they are very young and they were doing some good things. But we did need to do a few more things to help ourselves.âÂÂ

The Jayhawks did help themselves by letting the guard play generate the points. Burras scored 11 of her 19 points in the second half, including six points in a little more than minute to put the game out of reach.

âÂÂI think thatâÂÂs one of my main focuses is driving to the basket,â Burras said. âÂÂWe ran our lanes, and thatâÂÂs what we were trying to get was those fast, easy points.âÂÂ

In all, four Jayhawks posted double figures in scoring. Along with Burras and Mengà ¼à §, sophomore Blair Waltz had 11 points, while freshman Crystal Kemp added 10.

Tamara Ransburg grabbed 10 rebounds for the second straight game and added five blocked shots, but was held in check offensively and ended up with six points on 3-of-8 shooting.

âÂÂThat shows that not only one or two players can be a threat,â Mengà ¼à § said. âÂÂWe actually have a lot of people that got points. ThatâÂÂs neccesary for everyone to get the experience of it, because weâÂÂre sure going to need it later on.âÂÂ

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Hallman to return: Freshman point guard Erica Hallman did not play on Sunday, still nursing an injured knee. Washington said Hallman is expected to see limited playing time next weekend.

âÂÂShe told me I was a tease,â Washington said with a laugh. âÂÂI had her dress and warm up with the team, but we agreed she wasnâÂÂt going to play.âÂÂ

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Up next: KU opens its regular season schedule next Sunday, against Texas El-Paso at Allen Fieldhouse. Tip-off is slated for 2:05 p.m.