Kansas found itself in a large first-half deficit and had to scrap its original plan before KSC Szekszard finally wore down in the Jayhawk’s 69-50 win at Allen Fieldhouse.

Right from the start, Kansas was in trouble. Coach Marian Washington had not played her starting five together since practices started in mid-October. It showed in the early going.

“I knew they would be nervous,” Washington said. “But I kind of expected them to work through it quicker.”

Maybe it was because Lynn Pride, Kansas’ top scorer last year, was gone. Or because it was supposed to be a mundane preseason game. But Kansas looked flat and Szekszard, a club team from Hungary, looked … well, hungry.

Casey Wilson/Journal-World Photo

“We had a slow start,” Washington said. “Part of that was because most of them hadn’t played together. I hadn’t made a specific lineup.”

Whatever lineup Washington uses will be sure to include forward Jaclyn Johnson. The senior scored a game-high 21 points, which was especially important in the first half when Kansas couldn’t buy a bucket.

A 16-2 run put KSC ahead 26-10 with 7:05 left in the first half. But Johnson and 6-foot-6 center Kristin Geoffroy sparked a comeback that had KU only down three points, 38-35, at halftime.

Playing its first game without Pride, the Jayhawks knew they needed a go-to player. They may have found her in Johnson. Kansas looked as good as ever at spreading the ball around the court and waiting for the precise time to score.

“We’re not so dependent,” Geoffroy said after scoring 16 points. “People aren’t afraid to look for their own shots. Jaclyn stepped up in Lynn’s place.”

After the post players got Kansas back in the game, the Jayhawk’s guards made sure they would stay ahead. Jennifer Jackson and Selena Scott combined for only nine points, but their ferocious pressure defense forced some of KSC’s 27 turnovers. Newcomer KC Hilgenkamp added seven points and six assists.

The second half was an exact opposite. After making more than half of its first-half shots, SKC scored 12 points in the final period. Kansas took the lead for good with 13 minutes left on a Scott bucket that sparked a 10-0 KU run. Johnson had two layups in that spurt.

She averaged 11.5 points a game last year, but Johnson knows her role will increase this season.

Washington had hoped that Kansas could take control early so that her reserves could play more, but she admitted that philosophy was forced to take a seat after the sluggish start.

No matter, Johnson figures there’s no difference between the preseason and the regular season to start putting up numbers.

“I better start now,” Johnson said. “Shoot, I’m already here. I might as well start scoring.”