Ames, Iowa ? Chelsea Gardner’s double-double of 23 points and 11 rebounds carried Kansas University’s women’s basketball team to a 61-56 victory over Iowa State on Wednesday.
It was KU’s third straight Big 12 victory, its first win in Ames since the 2005-06 season and the Cyclones’ first home loss this season.
“I’m just really, really proud,” KU coach Bonnie Henrickson said. “It was a gut-check, to be down eight on the road and to come back and find a way to win.”
Asia Boyd came off the bench to contribute 15 points for KU (12-9 overall, 3-5 Big 12), and Natalie Knight had 11 points.
She also made a key steal with 30 seconds left and Kansas nursing a one-point lead over the Cyclones (14-5, 5-3).
“I just couldn’t be more proud,” Henrickson said.
A key for Kansas was turnovers, normally a bugaboo for KU. The Jayhawks had just nine turnovers — and 17 assists — while forcing 20 ISU turnovers.
As a result, Kansas outscored Iowa State, 23-14, in points off turnovers.
“That’s the difference, really,” Henrickson said. “We were down seven or eight, and we get back in it defensively by bringing some pressure, bringing some heat.”
Seanna Johnson led ISU with 15 points, while Nikki Moody added 13 and Nicole Blaskowsky had 11.
Kansas will travel Sunday to Baylor, a team that, in Henrickson’s mind, started the Jayhawks on their current streak.
Though KU lost to the mighty Bears, 71-63, on Jan. 17 in Allen Fieldhouse, they played them close. And they haven’t lost since.
“How much do you go back to the Baylor game?” Henrickson asked. “We didn’t get the result we wanted, but I thought we got better.”