photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas guard S'Mya Nichols drives in against Kansas City's Tierra Trotter during the Jayhawks' game on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence.

The Kansas women’s basketball team started the season off with a win on Wednesday night when it took down the Kansas City Roos by a score of 74-64.

The leading scorer for KU was junior guard S’Mya Nichols, who had 21 points and seven assists on the evening.

“There’s obviously things that we were looking for in terms of, you know, when you go back to our exhibition game, I thought our transition defense in the first half in that game was really poor,” Kansas head coach Brandon Schneider said after Wednesday’s victory. “We worked really hard on it and I thought there were times tonight (that) it was significantly better and then even transition offense, our outlets were much cleaner, they were deeper, we got a lot more in transition when we got stops.”

Kansas started the game slow, with a starting five that included three newcomers. The lineup was the same one that Schneider trotted out for the Jayhawks’ lone exhibition game versus Fort Hays State, and the starting five struggled during that game as well.

“A starting lineup this early is not in Sharpie,” Schneider said. “I think we’ve got to work through some things, try some different lineups, see what kind of lineup gets us off to the best start because (we had a) slow start tonight, slow start in the Hays game, and some of that probably was early foul troubles with Jaliya (Davis).”

That foul trouble for the Jayhawks’ uber-talented freshman kept her minutes limited to 16 as she scored just 10 points in the contest, but her teammates talked about how it’s something that happens.

“That is normal,” Nichols said postgame. “That wasn’t her game. She got a couple early fouls and we’ve all been in that position before and she’ll adjust for sure, she’s smart.”

With Davis struggling with foul trouble, Kansas turned to sophomore forward Regan Williams to step up, and she did, scoring 18 points in a team-leading 31 minutes of game action.

“Regan showed up and played out for her (Davis) and the team,” Nichols said.

The biggest problem for the Jayhawks was turnovers. Kansas had 18 turnovers during the game and struggled to find its footing to pull away from the Roos. The Jayhawks’ largest lead over their opponent was 16 late in the fourth quarter before Kansas City’s unsuccessful late push.

Another glaring issue occurred at the charity stripe. The Jayhawks shot just 9-for-21 from the free throw line, a stat that Nichols said will “probably never happen again.”

“We’ll shoot them much better than that,” Schneider said. “We work on it a lot and we have players that shot it really well all preseason so I think it was just a night that we didn’t make them.”

With 29 more regular season games and postseason play still ahead for the Jayhawks, Kansas isn’t stressing a rocky first 40 minutes of the campaign.

“It’s a lot of new players in their first game and you’ve just got to get out there and play and work your way through some ups and downs,” Schneider said.

The Jayhawks will be back in action on Sunday for a matinee when the Northwestern State Demons come to Lawrence. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. Central time.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas guard Libby Fandel watches as her shot travels towards the hoop during the Jayhawks’ game against Kansas City on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas forward Jaliya Davis shoots a free throw during the Jayhawks’ game against Kansas City on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas guard Keeley Parks races down the court for a layup during the Jayhawks’ game against Kansas City on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas forward Regan Williams goes up for a layup during the Jayhawks’ game against Kansas City on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas guard S’Mya Nichols passes down the court to a teammate during the Jayhawks’ game against Kansas City on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas forward Regan Williams (left) is helped off the floor by guard Elle Evans during the Jayhawks’ game against Kansas City on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas guard Elle Evans fights Kansas City’s Kelby Bannerman for a rebound during the Jayhawks’ game on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas guard Laia Conesa (6) brings the ball down the court as forward Nadira Eltayeb trails during the Jayhawks’ game against Kansas City on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas guard Brittany Harshaw fires a 3-pointer during the Jayhawks’ game against Kansas City on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas forward Tatyonna Brown goes up for a shot during the Jayhawks’ game against Kansas City on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas forward Jaliya Davis makes a strong move to the hoop against Kansas City’s Elauni Bennett during the Jayhawks’ game on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas guard S’Mya Nichols pushes the offense down the court during the Jayhawks’ game against Kansas City on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas forward Lilly Meister looks to get to the hoop during the Jayhawks’ game against Kansas City on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence.

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