Crystal Kemp was punishing in the paint, then she painted the big picture.

Kemp’s 27 points – one off her career high – helped Kansas University pin pesky Pepperdine, 73-60, Wednesday night in Allen Fieldhouse.

The Jayhawks are now 10-0 and share the fastest start in KU women’s basketball history with the 1991-92 team.

“It means a lot,” Kemp, a 6-foot-2 senior, said of the record-tying performance, “but it doesn’t mean anything at all : not with the conference coming up.”

Big 12 Conference play won’t begin until Tuesday, when Texas comes to town. Before the Longhorns arrive, however, Kemp and Co. can make history if they can knock off LaSalle (3-6) on Friday night in Allen Fieldhouse.

“It matters that we beat LaSalle,” KU coach Bonnie Henrickson said, “and finish this thing right.”

The Jayhawks certainly finished the Pepperdine game right. The Waves, who had won only three of 11 starts, lagged by just three points (42-39) with about 10 minutes remaining.

Then the Jayhawks, who had been sluggish – especially shooting – caught fire. They reeled off 10 straight points during a six-minute stretch and never were threatened the rest of the way.

Kemp and freshman point guard Ivana Catic were the ringleaders. Kemp scored 10 of her 27 points in the last 10 minutes while Catic scored 10 of her 14 during that stretch.

In fact, before Catic finally found the range, she had posted more turnovers (7) than points (4).

“That was the freshman point guard most people think you get,” Henrickson said. “To struggled so much and look out of sorts, that was good what she did. She had the confidence to step up in the second half.”

• 6Sports video: Women advance to 10-0 start

Erica Hallman had 17 points and eight rebounds. She’s had eight or more boards in three of her last four games.

Pepperdine had no post presence, but the Waves were quick and athletic on the perimeter, causing Catic problems.

“I was making stupid mistakes,” Catic said. “I was supposed to get over that by now, but I was mad about it.”

Catic and the rest of the Jayhawks shot a miserable 30.3 percent (10 of 33) in the first half and settled for a 29-25 lead at the break.

“We expected some shots to fall, and they didn’t,” Catic said, “so we looked for different shots.”

Mostly, though, the Jayhawks pushed the ball inside to Kemp and, when they did, the Waves were helpless against her in the blocks.

“Kemp does a great job,” Pepperdine coach Julie Rousseau said. “She uses her ability to post up very well. She gets in deep, and it’s really hard to defend her.”

Kemp’s 27 points were the most she ever has scored in a regulation game. Her career-high 28 came earlier this month in a double-overtime victory over Wisconsin. Kemp missed a double-double by one, collecting nine rebounds.

“I was proud of our effort in the second half,” Henrickson said, “and our getting the ball into Crystal deep. She has to work to be a target inside, and our guards have to look for her.”

A season-high crowd of 3,622 watched as the Jayhawks’ fast start continued to collect curious customers.

“I’m excited about the enthusiasm and awareness for our program,” Henrickson said. “This is a good time for us. There’s a little bit of a buzz. That was the loudest it’s been since maybe the K-State game last year.”

¢ Notes: Taylor McIntosh’s 10 rebounds tied a season high. : KU has held seven of its 10 opponents to 60 points or less. : KU’s 29 points in the first half tied a season low. The 43 points in the second half were a season high.