photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World

Kansas senior Taiyanna Jackson celebrates her teammates during the game against Arkansas in the Great 8 round of the WNIT on Sunday, March 26, 2023. Kansas defeats Arkansas 78-64.

Senior center Taiyanna Jackson and senior guard Holly Kersgieter led the way for the Jayhawks with 47 combined points in the Jayhawks’ 78-64 victory over Arkansas on Sunday in the WNIT Great Eight at Allen Fieldhouse.

Sunday’s game was played in front of a season-high 4,806 fans, and the Jayhawks (23-11) now will play Washington at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in the WNIT semifinals at Allen Fieldhouse.

Kansas came out dominating on both ends of the floor, and had a defensive intensity that rattled the Razorbacks.

Arkansas (24-13) couldn’t get its shots to fall in the first quarter, especially from deep, draining just 1-of-7 3-pointers, good for 14% shooting. Kansas used that cold shooting to its advantage and extended its lead early with a 15-2 scoring run that spanned the first 7:42 of play.

Jackson carried the Jayhawks offensively to open the game, scoring 12 points on a perfect 6-of-6 shooting on the inside. She single-handedly tied the Razorbacks in first-quarter scoring with 12 points. The rest of the KU starters scored eight points.

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World

Kansas senior Taiyanna Jackson drives to the basket against Arkansas during the Great 8 round of the WNIT on Sunday, March 26, 2023. Kansas defeats Arkansas 78-64.

Shooting struggles continued in the second quarter for Arkansas. The Razorbacks went scoreless for the first 6:22, and Kansas tacked another 10 points to its lead with a 10-0 scoring run.

The Razorbacks made just two shots in the entire second quarter, shooting just 13% from the field and 0-of-5 from behind the arc. Kansas’ defensive intensity continued to pressure Arkansas, with the Jayhawks racking up four blocks in the final 1:18 of the quarter.

Jackson recorded her 100th block of the season with 1:01 left in the first half, becoming the first Kansas Jayhawk to reach 100 blocks in a single season. Jackson broke her single-season record of 95 blocks against the Missouri Tigers on Mar. 20 in the second round of the WNIT.

With the Jayhawks’ defense stepping up in the first half, Kansas held a 38-19 lead at halftime. KU never trailed in the first half and led by as many as 21 points.

“I think they’ve become very cohesive,” Arkansas head coach Mike Neighbors said. “Very, very difficult not only to score against but to keep from scoring. I think, from the beginning of the year, they’ve become more balanced.”

Arkansas was held to a dismal 24% shooting in the first half, while the Jayhawks made 47% of their shots and 40% of their 3-point attempts.

Jackson and Kersgieter combined for 26 of the Jayhawks’ 38 first-half points, shooting a combined 11-of-15 from the floor. Arkansas guard Makayla Daniels led the Razorbacks with 10 points at halftime and provided just over half of the team’s total points.

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World

Kansas senior Holly Kersgieter drives the ball against Arkansas during the Great 8 round of the WNIT on Sunday, March 26, 2023. Kansas defeats Arkansas 78-64.

KU’s defense sputtered in the third quarter with junior guard Chandler Prater picking up her third and fourth personal fouls of the game. With Prater only seeing two minutes of action in the quarter with foul trouble, the flood gates opened for Arkansas to score at will.

“Prater getting into foul trouble was big,” Neighbors said of Arkansas’ third quarter offensive production. “We went right at her the very first possession to try to get her out.”

The Razorbacks scored 31 points in the quarter after scoring only 19 points in the entire first half. Arkansas made 10-of-13 shots and made 4-of-4 attempts from deep, shooting 76.9% in the third quarter.

Kansas’ lead quickly dwindled to just 10 points headed into the fourth quarter after Arkansas’ offense seemingly couldn’t miss, but the Jayhawks still sported a 60-50 lead with one quarter remaining.

The Jayhawks opened the fourth quarter on a 7-0 scoring run to push their lead back to 17 points. The Razorbacks came back to cut the deficit to nine points with 2:36 remaining, but couldn’t close the gap and Kansas held on to secure the 78-64 victory to advance to the WNIT Fab 4. The Jayhawks will host Washington at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Allen Fieldhouse.

“We’re excited. It’s a privilege to be one of the teams still playing in the entire country,” Kersgieter said. “We’re still going and we’re still playing home games, so we’re pretty grateful.”

Jackson picked up her third double-double of the tournament with a monster day on both sides of the ball. Jackson racked up 22 points, 11 rebounds, four blocks and a steal.

Kersgieter tallied a game-high 25 points on the day with seven rebounds, a block and four steals in an all-around effort. Daniels led the Razorbacks with 21 points while three other starters scored in double-figures as well.

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World

Kansas senior Zakiyah Franklin makes a no look pass against Arkansas during the Great 8 round of the WNIT on Sunday, March 26, 2023. Kansas defeats Arkansas 78-64.

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly and former governor Kathleen Sebelius watch Kansas take on Arkansas during the Great 8 round of the WNIT on Sunday, March 26, 2023. Kansas defeats Arkansas 78-64.

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World

Kansas junior Wyvette Mayberry drives to the basket against Arkansas during the Great 8 round of the WNIT on Sunday, March 26, 2023. Kansas defeats Arkansas 78-64.

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World

Kansas sophomore Sanna Strom drives the ball against Arkansas during the Great 8 round of the WNIT on Sunday, March 26, 2023. Kansas defeats Arkansas 78-64.

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World

Kansas senior Taiyanna Jackson drives to the basket against Arkansas during the Great 8 round of the WNIT on Sunday, March 26, 2023. Kansas defeats Arkansas 78-64.

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World

Kansas junior Wyvette Mayberry drives to the basket against Arkansas during the Great 8 round of the WNIT on Sunday, March 26, 2023. Kansas defeats Arkansas 78-64.

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World

Kansas senior Taiyanna Jackson grabs a rebound against Arkansas during the Great 8 round of the WNIT on Sunday, March 26, 2023. Kansas defeats Arkansas 78-64.

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World

Kansas senior Zakiyah Franklin drives the ball against Arkansas during the Great 8 round of the WNIT on Sunday, March 26, 2023. Kansas defeats Arkansas 78-64.

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World

Kansas fans watch Kansas take on Arkansas during the Great 8 round of the WNIT on Sunday, March 26, 2023. Kansas defeats Arkansas 78-64.