Kansas University women’s basketball coach Bonnie Henrickson said her mother still had the button and wouldn’t let go of the phrase.

After Sunday’s first-half performance against Binghamton, perhaps she won’t have to.

It’s only the beginning of Year Two, but Henrickson started to see the beginning of something special in the first half of a 77-53 season-opening victory over Binghamton on Sunday at Allen Fieldhouse.

Maybe, just maybe, with her system in place and young players showing their potential, Bonnieball officially has made its way to Lawrence.

“Does it mean that we play disciplined, does it mean that we play aggressively, does it mean that we play unselfishly?” Henrickson said. “If that’s what it is, if that it looks like, and if that’s what my mom wants to call it, then that’s what we’ll call it.”

It sure looked a whole lot like that in the first half.

With pressure defense, a fast-paced offense and strong shooting to boot, the Jayhawks took control in the first 20 minutes, leading 48-22 at the break without the services of arguably their best player.

Before the game, senior Erica Hallman was suspended indefinitely for academic reasons. Though the guard is not ineligible to play, she was suspended by Henrickson and will not return until improvements are made.

“She’s the one that got herself put off the team, and she’ll be the one, with good decisions and work, will get herself back on,” Henrickson said.

The coach said the situation was day-to-day but that Hallman would not play against Detroit in Kansas’ next game – Tuesday.

“She has no wiggle room,” Henrickson said. “She has no room to mess up and try to give an excuse about why things aren’t done, and she’s better than that.”

Hallman started all 28 games a year ago, averaging 13.3 points and 5.1 assists.

Still, the Jayhawks showed hardly any effects from the absence, with the other two seniors, Kaylee Brown and Crystal Kemp, picking up their performances offensively.

Brown tied a career high with 19 points, 16 in the first half. The guard continued her impressive shooting this season, finishing a perfect 3-of-3 from behind the arc and 7-of-9 from the field.

“When she’s ready,” Henrickson said, “all of us are shocked when it doesn’t go in.”

Brown, a career 31-percent shooter from the floor, said she also felt increased confidence in her shot.

“That’s how good offensive players have to think when they shoot it – that the ball’s going in,” Brown said. “That’s the way I think when I shoot.”

Kemp provided a steady presence in the paint, posting 18 points and 10 rebounds.

It also helped that Kansas’ freshmen didn’t exhibit the jitters that might be expected in their first Div. I game.

Freshman Ivana Catic did a little bit of everything for the Jayhawks, scoring 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting with seven assists, five steals and only one turnover.

Junior-college transfer Shaquina Mosley – who took over Hallman’s spot in the starting lineup – contributed 10 points and eight assists in a team-high 31 minutes.

“Someone had to step up,” Henrickson said, “and I thought we had some young kids who did that today.”

Henrickson said she was pleased with how her team had responded to the adversity after learning about Hallman’s suspension two days earlier.

“They had a great practice, which gave me some hope,” Henrickson said. “I thought we’d play pretty good today or at least have a chance. I just respect their maturity to be able to come out and play with intensity.”

Kansas will have to show that same maturity Tuesday, having just one day to prepare for its second game against Detroit – and also its second without Hallman.

“Obviously it’s hard, but that’s definitely a learning block for all of us,” Brown said. “We’ve got to step up and fill her shoes.”