Pizza helped prompt Kansas University women's basketball player Crystal Kemp to get more physical Tuesday night.
But first-year Jayhawk coach Bonnie Henrickson didn't need to bribe the other nine KU players who were more than eager to show off the characteristics that are becoming known around Lawrence simply as "Bonnieball."
Henrickson's debut in crimson and blue and KU's season started off with a bang at Allen Fieldhouse as the Jayhawks blew out Fort Hays State, 88-49, in an exhibition game highlighted by Kansas' intense, physical and up-tempo style of play.
"She tells us that post players get pizza when they take charges," joked KU's Kemp, who led the Jayhawks with 22 points and 13 rebounds -- but more importantly said she would hold Henrickson to her promise of pizza because she also took two charges.
The former Virginia Tech coach laughed when informed of Kemp's joke, but said she might need to invest in a good pizza plan with a local company if the Jayhawks continue to wipe up the fieldhouse's floor at their current pace.
However, KU freshman Taylor McIntosh probably rather would have had a floor burn than the shiner she'll have today from taking a Tiger's knee to her cheek.
"I was very happy tonight with the offense that came from our defensive pressure," said Henrickson, whose squad's in-your-face defense forced Fort Hays State to commit 27 turnovers while limiting the Tigers to a frigid 26.6 field-goal percentage.
"Our ability to get up and down the court like we did tonight will help us come the regular season."
So, too, could the solid shooting the Jayhawks showed more than a few times against an undermanned Tigers team that KU tamed thanks in part to a 31-6 run to start the second half.
First-year Kansas University women's basketball coach Bonnie Henrickson congratulates Erica Hallman (23) as Hallman heads toward the bench during the Jayhawks' 88-49 rout of Fort Hays State. Henrickson and KU won their exhibition opener Tuesday at Allen Fieldhouse.
While Kansas -- which also gained separation via a 13-2 first-half spurt -- connected on 52 percent of its field goals in the first 20 minutes, the Jayhawks dialed in from downtown in the second half.
KU point guard Erica Hallman connected on three three-pointers, while Kaylee Brown, who scored a career-high 17 points, added two more trifectas in front of a crowd of 1,325 fans.
"I loved our unselfishness," said Henrickson, whose team finished with 21 assists. "I thought we got uncontested shots because we used screens and penetrated and then kicked it.
"That's what nice about this group, there's a pretty good mix of kids who can penetrate, but they'll get their head up and see if they got someone to play to and then kick it to them for an uncontested shot."
Senior guard Aquanita Burras added 15 points and seven rebounds, while Hallman tallied nine. Senior Blair Waltz scored eight points.
KU's Aquanita Burras (11) beats Fort Hays State's Katie Rhodes -- a Free State High graduate -- to the basket.
One of KU's few negatives Tuesday helped create a positive.
While there already is little room for error for an undersized KU squad that has only 10 players, Kemp played just five minutes in the first half because she collected three fouls.
But her departure opened the door for freshman Jamie Boyd.
Boyd, a 6-foot forward from Underwood, Iowa, may have helped her own campaign for moving into the other starting forward spot when she scored seven points and grabbed 11 rebounds.
6Sports video: KU takes step into future with exhibition win
Hear Bonnie: Fort Hays State postgame
Get the stats: KU vs. Fort Hays State box scoreIt was clear Tuesday night a KU team that endured the emotional departure of coaching legend Marian Washington last season was more than willing to welcome in a new era of women's basketball at Kansas.
"I thought it was a good night for her and for us," Burras said of Henrickson's first KU victory. "We needed to show even with a new coach we're behind her 100 percent. Just with all the effort we brought onto the court, I think we proved our point.
"She always says be competitive and compete. That's our main focus every game. We just have to bring the same intensity to every game."
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