photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World Photo

Kansas senior Holly Kersgieter defends the ball against Wichita State. Kansas won 72-52 on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022.

The Kansas women’s basketball team preserved its undefeated streak and wreaked havoc on the Wichita State Shockers on the way to a 72-52 victory Sunday night at Allen Fieldhouse.

The Jayhawks (9-0) pressured Wichita State on every possession, forcing the Shockers to take tough, contested shots from the midrange and beyond the arc. Kansas held the Shockers to a 30% shooting clip and 20% from downtown in the first half as nothing came easy in the low post.

KU’s pressure kept Wichita State on its heels throughout the entire first half, forcing nine turnovers in just the first 20 minutes of play. Kansas snatched the ball away seven times and blocked two shots, keeping the Shockers away from the paint.

“They’re a hungry team,” Kansas head coach Brandon Schneider said about his team. “They’re a team that defends and is trying to develop an identity as a team that defends and hangs their hat on that.”

Where the Jayhawks struggled, however, was converting on these first-half turnovers. Kansas also gave the ball up nine times, which helped Wichita State trim KU’s lead to eight points (31-23) at the half, despite the Shockers’ low shooting splits.

The defensive intensity continued into the second half with a big third-quarter outburst. The Jayhawks forced another six turnovers, five of those being steals, while forcing the Shockers to 25% shooting for the quarter.

KU was able to extend its lead, ballooning by 19 points heading into the fourth quarter after outscoring Wichita State 23-12 in the third.

Kansas coupled its impressive defensive performance against Wichita State with some hot shooting numbers, led by its senior guards Holly Kersgieter and Zakiyah Franklin. The Jayhawks finished the game shooting 42% from the field, with Franklin and Kersgieter at the forefront each tallying 16 points.

Senior center Taiyanna Jackson continued to showcase her defensive skill set in the paint. Jackson recorded a near double-double while adding five blocks and a steal to her stat line. Jackson’s ability to swat away shots and contest every attempt forced the Shockers into heavily-contested post shots.

“Everybody knows that Twin [Jackson] is like that. Even when her shots aren’t falling, she rebounds, blocks shots, steals. I mean, she can do so many different things and, honestly, I’m just blessed to have her on my team,” junior guard Wyvette Mayberry said.

“We’re just trying to be a team that’s hard to beat, and when she’s on the floor, we’re much harder to beat than when she’s not on the floor,” Schneider said. “Probably the best thing I can say about Taiyanna is: I’ve been doing this for 28 years and I don’t know if I’ve ever had a player improve more than her in a calendar year.”

Kansas racked up 15 steals as a team along with seven blocks against the Shockers, leading to 17 fastbreak points and 20 points off of 19 Wichita State turnovers. All of these turnovers helped the Jayhawks take down their in-state rival by a whopping 20 points, keeping their undefeated season alive after beating the Arizona Wildcats 77-50 a few days before.

“The last week has been great for us, but I would say we’re humble. It’s not changing the way we play, not changing the way we practice,” Jackson said. “We’re still demanding respect. It humbled us in the win over Arizona. It was a big win, but it humbled us.”

Next up for KU: a 7 p.m. match against Tulsa on Friday at Allen Fieldhouse.

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World Photo

Kansas junior Ioanna Chatzileonti shoots the ball against Wichita State. Kansas won 72-52 on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022.

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World Photo

Kansas senior Zakiyah Franklin shoots the ball against Wichita State. Kansas won 72-52 on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022.

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World Photo

The Kansas women’s basketball team walks onto the floor during the game against Wichita State. Kansas won 72-52 on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022.

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World Photo

Kansas senior Zakiyah Franklin dribbles the ball against Wichita State. Kansas won 72-52 on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022.

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World Photo

Kansas junior Chandler Prater drives to the hoop against Wichita State. Kansas won 72-52 on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022.

Kansas junior Ioanna Chatzileonti falls into the bench against Wichita State. Kansas won 72-52 on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022.

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World Photo

Kansas senior Taiyanna Jackson drives to the basket against Wichita State. Kansas won 72-52 on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022.

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World Photo

Kansas coach Brandon Schneider observes his team against Wichita State. Kansas won 72-52 on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022.

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World Photo

Kansas sophomore Sanna Strom shoots the ball against Wichita State. Kansas won 72-52 on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022.

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World Photo

Kansas junior Mia Vuksic shoots the ball against Wichita State. Kansas won 72-52 on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022.

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World Photo

Kansas junior Nadira Eltayeb is jubilant during the game against Wichita State. Kansas won 72-52 on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022.

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World Photo

Kansas senior Holly Kersgieter competes during the game against Wichita State. Kansas won 72-52 on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022.

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World Photo

Kansas junior Ioanna Chatzileonti shoots the ball against Wichita State. Kansas won 72-52 on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022.

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World Photo

Kansas senior Zakiyah Franklin shoots the ball against Wichita State. Kansas won 72-52 on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022.

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World Photo

The Kansas women’s basketball team walks onto the floor during the game against Wichita State. Kansas won 72-52 on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022.

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World Photo

Kansas senior Zakiyah Franklin dribbles the ball against Wichita State. Kansas won 72-52 on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022.

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World Photo

Kansas junior Chandler Prater drives to the hoop against Wichita State. Kansas won 72-52 on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022.

Kansas junior Ioanna Chatzileonti falls into the bench against Wichita State. Kansas won 72-52 on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022.

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World Photo

Kansas senior Taiyanna Jackson drives to the basket against Wichita State. Kansas won 72-52 on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022.

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World Photo

Kansas coach Brandon Schneider observes his team against Wichita State. Kansas won 72-52 on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022.

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World Photo

Kansas sophomore Sanna Strom shoots the ball against Wichita State. Kansas won 72-52 on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022.

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World Photo

Kansas junior Mia Vuksic shoots the ball against Wichita State. Kansas won 72-52 on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022.

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World Photo

Kansas junior Nadira Eltayeb is jubilant during the game against Wichita State. Kansas won 72-52 on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022.

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World Photo

Kansas senior Holly Kersgieter competes during the game against Wichita State. Kansas won 72-52 on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022.