photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Sophomore guard Brittany Harshaw shoots the ball for two points against Sam Houston State on November 11, 2024 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Kansas was without Wyvette Mayberry for its second game in a row as it faced a scrappy Sam Houston team that forced 32 turnovers in its previous game against Seattle University.

The full-court press and defensive intensity following defensive rebounds caused Kansas some trouble in the backcourt. The Jayhawks were also called for an unusually high amount of offensive fouls, of which head coach Brandon Schneider did not agree with many. But Kansas was once again able to pull out a messy victory, winning 66-51 on the back of a solid fourth quarter and even scoring across the starters and bench.

“You can look over the last three years, and you can add this year into it, it’s not going to matter who’s playing for our team at Kansas — we’re going to have multiple people in double-figures because that’s how we play,” Schneider said. “We play the right way. We share the ball and there’s going to be opportunities for anybody, regardless of position, to have success on the offensive end if you play here.”

The game started with two missed free throws for S’Mya Nichols who would uncharacteristically shoot 3-for-8 from the line in the first half. She grabbed a layup on the next possession for Kansas’ first points of the game before the Jayhawks hit three straight three-pointers to start off perfect from behind the arc and spark an 11-4 run. A six-point run sandwiched around Sam Houston’s first three-pointer of the game gave Kansas a 19-11 advantage at the end of the quarter to make up for its six turnovers.

Nichols got into foul trouble early, picking up two in the first quarter, including a block that Schneider did not agree with.

The second quarter was marred by a barrage of turnovers on both sides, with the Jayhawks on the losing end with nine turnovers, a few of which came from moving screens and sloppy ball handling.

Sania Copeland started off the scoring with two more 3-pointers to give her a team-leading 11 points before the Jayhawks entered a five-minute run without a field goal, which included five turnovers and a couple of personal fouls. Nichols was the one to break the drought with a layup at around the two-minute mark, but the Bearkats also struggled shooting as the Jayhawks still led 29-20.

The Bearkats backed off the full-court press in the second but remained tough on defensive rebounds that the Jayhawks were trying to clear, as Nadira Eltayeb was elbowed by the eyebrow and was taken to the locker room by medical staff as she started bleeding immediately.

“I think we knew going into it that it was going to be really physical, so we prepped for that,” Eltayeb said. “They’re a tough team and they made playing tonight really difficult.”

Nichols finished off by getting one of her two free throws to fall to give Kansas a 30-22 lead at the break.

“I haven’t asked yet how many stitches she got, but she’s on the table getting stitches (at halftime) and I went in to check on her and she said ‘I’m good, I’ll be ready,'” Schneider said. “She’s just the kind of player that we’d all want the rest of the group… to model.”

While Kansas only allowed five field goals for the entirety of the third quarter, Sam Houston went to the line seven times and shot 11-for-13. Kansas’ highlight on the offensive end was an impressive full-court drive on a crafty floater before finishing the three-point play from the line as she took over point guard duties during Nichols’ time on the bench.

“Mayberry is really our second point guard, but since Wy’s been out, Laia (Conesa) has been getting more reps there, and I couldn’t be prouder of Laia. She reminded me of a quarterback that maybe threw a couple of picks in the first half… was having a rough night, but she just kept fighting,” Schneider said. “She had terrific mental fortitude and I thought played her best basketball when we needed her to… I liked what I saw in terms of her responding when things didn’t go her way early.”

The Jayhawks had similar production from the line, mostly on the part of Nichols, who made five of Kansas’ nine free throws in the quarter but were able to add on from the field while the Bearkats could not. After starting off 1-for-6 from the floor, the Jayhawks finished the quarter shooting 47%, as they took a 54-43 lead into the final period.

Kansas had its best defensive quarter in the fourth as Sam Houston shot 15% and scored only eight points. Nichols fouled out with three and a half minutes to go on a questionable charge, as Conesa was trusted at point for the rest of the game. She had another impressive drive where she drew contact and sunk the layup, after which she cheered from the ground before she finished up Kansas’ scoring with another layup to secure the 66-51 win.

Conesa’s career-high 13 points matched Copeland in her best performance as a Jayhawk while Harshaw added 14 points of her own and Nichols led the team with 16 points in just 20 minutes, eight of which came from the free throw line.

The Jayhawks made it through without Mayberry’s offensive prowess, but could still use her speed on the drive and defensive intensity. Schneider said after the game that he believes she will be back soon.

“It could be Omaha, but if not Omaha, then I would think there’s a pretty good chance for Sunday’s game.”

With or without Mayberry, the Jayhawks will have to face the Mavericks on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. for their third home game to start the year before rounding off the homestand against North Alabama on Sunday.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Sophomore guard Laia Conesa shoots for two-points in the final minutes of the Jayhawks’ game against Sam Houston State on November 11, 2024.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Sophomore guard Laia Conesa prepares for a two-point shot against Sam Houston on November 11, 2024.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Junior guard Elle Evans begins a play against Sam Houston State on November 11, 2024 at Allen Fieldhouse.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Sophomore guard S’Mya Nichols yells before starting a play against Sam Houston State on November 11, 2024 at Allen Fieldhouse.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Freshman Regan Williams follows through on a shot against Sam Houston State on November 11, 2024.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Sophomore guard S’Mya Nichols yells to help the Jayhawks make a play in the final period against Sam Houston State on November 11, 2024.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Junior guard Elle Evans attempts a three-point shot against Sam Houston State on November 11, 2024 at Allen Fieldhouse.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Sophomore guard Laia Conesa dribbles the ball in the second half of the Jayhawks’ game against Sam Houston State on November 11, 2024.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Sophomore guard S’Mya Nichols shoots the ball for two points against Sam Houston State on November 11, 2024 at Allen Fieldhouse.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Sophomore guard S’Mya Nichols prepares for a shot against Sam Houston State on November 11, 2024.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Sophomore guard Laia Conesa celebrates after the referees call a foul on Sam Houston State. The Kansas Jayhawks won 66-51 at Allen Fieldhouse.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Sophomore guard Laia Conesa dribbles the ball around a Sam Houston State player on November 11, 2024 at Allen Fieldhouse.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Junior guard Elle Evans shoots the ball for two points against Sam Houston State on November 11, 2024.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Sophomore guard S’Mya Nichols takes a shot against Sam Houston State on November 11, 2024. Nichols led the Jayhawks with 16 points.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Sophomore guard Brittany Harshaw dribbles the ball, passing a Sam Houston State player on November 11, 2024 at Allen Fieldhouse.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Sophomore guard Brittany Harshaw shoots the ball for two points against Sam Houston State on November 11, 2024 at Allen Fieldhouse.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Sophomore guard Laia Conesa dribbles around a Sam Houston State player on November 11, 2024 at Allen Fieldhouse.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Photo 7
Sophomore guard Brittany Harshaw searches for her opportunity to shoot the ball against Sam Houston State on November 11, 2024.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Junior guard Sania Copeland dribbles the ball during the KU Jayhawks game against Sam Houston State on November 11, 2024.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Sophomore guard S’Mya Nichols dribbles around a Sam Houston State player on November 11, 2024 at Allen Fieldhouse.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Junior guard Elle Evans scores against Sam Houston State on November 11, 2024.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Sophomore guard Brittany Harshaw maneuvers around Sam Houston State players on November 11, 2024 at Allen Fieldhouse.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal World

Sophomore guard S’Mya Nichols takes a shot against Sam Houston State on November 11, 2024. Nichols led the Jayhawks with 16 points.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

KU women’s basketball coach Brandon Schneider prepares for the team’s game against Sam Houston State on November 11, 2024 at Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks won 66-51.