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

Kansas forward Jaliya Davis (25) helps up guard Anna Gooden during the Jayhawks' game against Drake on Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence.

It was an unusual game on Friday for the Kansas women’s basketball team as it took on the Drake Bulldogs in an 11 a.m. game at Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks took home a 74-49 victory and were led by sophomore forward Jaliya Davis, who finished one rebound shy of a double-double with 20 points and nine boards, along with two blocks.

“I told our team in the locker room: Her consistent energy was great today,” Kansas head coach Brandon Schneider said. “She’s displayed really positive poise and composure, I think that’s a great sign for her.”

With the early start due to a men’s basketball game scheduled for 8 p.m., the game was dubbed the “Kids Game” by Kansas, with schools from around the Lawrence area packing into the student sections for the morning contest.

“Everything was crazy today,” Davis said. “All those kids in there, they really brought the energy and helped us play a good game.”

“It was great,” Schneider said of the atmosphere. “I’m so happy with our marketing team and all the other individuals, I mentioned my wife obviously was heavily involved in doing some things throughout local communities. It was terrific and I hope all the young people had a good time.”

Senior guard Brittany Harshaw and sophomore guard Libby Fandel led Kansas in minutes played during the game, with both players logging over 30 minutes. Schneider said he expects both players to play bulk minutes until senior guard Mariyah Noel returns from a knee injury.

“Mariyah is a really important part of our team and as soon as she’s back, then we’ll be in a three-person rotation there consistently and that will help everybody,” Schneider said.

Sophomore transfer guard Anna Gooden recorded her best performance over the Jayhawks’ first four exhibition and regular-season games, finishing with a line of eight points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals. Gooden, touted as Kansas’ backup point guard behind senior S’Mya Nichols, had struggled to find her rhythm to begin the season.

“It’s critical,” Schneider said, “and this is not in any way a slight, it’s a compliment: Sometimes, you need your backup quarterback to go in and hand the ball off, throw the checkdown and just move the ball down the field and not try to hit home runs, just base hits and she’s really embracing that role and I think is playing exactly like we need her to play because of it.”

Drake drew first blood with an early layup before Kansas took control, scoring the next 14 points during a four-minute stretch. Freshman guard Mollie Ernstes scored the Jayhawks’ first 3-pointer of the season just over five minutes into the matchup. The Jayhawks had shot 0-for-11 from beyond the arc in Tuesday’s season-opening victory against Omaha.

The Bulldogs held Kansas scoreless for the next three minutes, adding three layups to draw within single digits. Senior guard S’Mya Nichols closed things out for the Jayhawks with a layup, and at the end of the first quarter, the Jayhawks held a 19-11 edge.

In the first minutes of the second quarter, Drake’s fast tempo and quick ball movement caught up to the Jayhawks. A flurry of points in the first three minutes brought the Bulldogs within five, but Kansas recovered with a layup from sophomore forward Tatyonna Brown.

Davis took control for the Jayhawks midway through the period, scoring six straight points to bring KU’s cushion to nine with just over three minutes to go. The Bulldogs would add one point courtesy of a free throw from freshman forward Karis Finley, but that was their only score in the final five minutes of the second half.

Senior guard Brittany Harshaw and sophomore guard Libby Fandel converted back-to-back 3-pointers 18 seconds apart, forcing a timeout from Drake head coach Allison Pohlman. Kansas eventually ended the half on a 16-1 run over the final 5:23 of the second quarter and took a 42-24 lead into the locker room.

Kansas controlled the pace to start the second half, trading blows with the Bulldogs and keeping the Jayhawk lead near 20. The teams combined for just 11 points over the first five minutes of the period, with Drake scoring six. Midway through the third quarter, Kansas led 47-30.

Freshman forward Brooklyn Renn notched her first 3-point bucket as a Jayhawk with 1:52 left in the third, and Kansas led 59-40 after 30 minutes of action.

The Jayhawks kept the momentum rolling in the final quarter of play. Nichols got things rolling with a layup and Davis followed up with two layups, her final points of the day. The Bulldogs continued to apply the pressure, outscoring Kansas 9-to-2 from 7:39 to 3:12.

Freshman forward Cydnee Bryant closed things out for the Jayhawks, scoring her first points wearing the crimson and blue with two free throws with 1:54 left. She added her first 3-pointer and another pair of free throws to bring her game total to seven points before the buzzer sounded and Kansas secured its 74-49 victory.

“Cydnee still only has three practices with us,” Schneider said. “She’s had some games, I think now that’s three that she’s been available to play in, but it’s lack of practice right now that’s been the reason that she’s not playing more minutes, so once she gets with us more consistently, she’s going to be a big, big part of our team, there’s no question about that.”

The Jayhawks will welcome in Oral Roberts on Tuesday for their final home game of November. That contest is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

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