Southern Methodist didn’t do Creighton any favors.
“We were ready to get over that loss,” Kansas University senior forward Taylor McIntosh said, “and make a statement.”
What a statement it was, too, as the Jayhawks pounded the Bluejays, 91-56, in women’s basketball on Tuesday night in Allen Fieldhouse.
This KU team bore little resemblance to the one that SMU clipped, 68-56, on Saturday night in Dallas, and the prescription for transformation was not two days of rest.
Coach Bonnie Henrickson conducted a pair of practices in the wake of that defeat, and they conveyed a clear message.
“Oh, definitely,” soph Sade Morris said. “She got on us for every little thing we did wrong, and that’s what we needed. It’s the little things that beat us in our last game.”
The Jayhawks did the little things Tuesday night – and the big things, like shooting – so well that they exploded to a 27-2 lead that featured a 21-0 sizz.
Creighton coach Jim Flanery called two timeouts during the first 71â2 minutes trying to slow the Jayhawks’ momentum, but to no avail.
“It started out bad, and it got worse,” Flanery said. “We just could not stop them at all during the first 15 minutes.”
Kansas led by as many as 28 points in the first half before going into the locker room with a 47-22 bulge.
The Jayhawks have been known to suffer second-half swoons, notably in the season opener against Hartford, but not this time.
“I challenged them not to let that happen,” Henrickson said.
Kansas was on fire after intermission, too. Following the break, the onslaught continued as the Jayhawks built a chasmatic 40-point cushion (85-45) with five minutes left.
“We came out like we should come out for every second half,” said Morris, who scored 16 points and shared team-high honors with Danielle McCray. “Hopefully, now people will expect this kind of play from us in the second half.”
Curiously, although losing by 35 points, the Bluejays owned a 43-41 edge in rebounds that included two dozen offensive boards. Nevertheless, that carom advantage couldn’t make up for their dreadful shooting.
Both teams attempted 67 shots. Kansas (4-1) made 38 for 56.7 percent, Creighton (4-2) just 18 for 26.9 percent.
“I think this is the most complete game we’ve played,” said McIntosh, who had 10 points, four boards, three blocks and two steals. “Everyone was knocking down shots tonight, which made it even better.”
Henrickson used 13 players and 11 of them scored. Soph Rebecca Feikert, who hasn’t played all season because of an injury, was the only KU player who didn’t log court time.
“I thought Bonnie had her team ready to go,” CU coach Flanery said. “They are a good dribble, jump-shooting team, and they’re hard to stay in front of on the dribble.”
Next for Kansas will be Saint Louis at 4 p.m. Sunday in Allen Fieldhouse.
Notes: KU’s 91 points were the most since scoring 100 against New Orleans two years ago. : KU outscored the Jays, 46-18, in the paint and 22-4 in fast-break points. : Kansas’ two-dozen assists were divided among nine players as were KU’s 17 steals. : The Jayhawks’ leading rebounder with seven was back-up point guard LaChelda Jacobs. : Creighton’s only other loss was to Rutgers, a Top 10 team.