After being pushed and prodded by the Kansas University women’s basketball team for two quarters, sixth-ranked Baylor roared out of the locker room and opened the second half with a devastating run that separated the Bears from the Jayhawks for good during Wednesday’s 58-40 BU victory at Allen Fieldhouse.
KU, which fell to 5-9 overall, 0-3 in Big 12 play and lost for the fifth consecutive game, played inspired defense, did enough on offense and, at least temporarily, rose to meet the Bears (15-1, 2-1) on their level for a half. Baylor led Kansas just 30-22 at the break and that margin could have been closer had KU hit a few more free throws.
But BU opened the second half with a 16-2 run that featured a 6-of-6 shooting start and quickly put Kansas in a 20-point hole that the Jayhawks simply could not erase.
One of the more impressive parts about the Jayhawks’ strong first-half showing was that a good chunk of it came with leading scorer and floor general Lauren Aldridge sitting on the bench with two fouls.
Aldridge, who finished scoreless, played just eight minutes in the first half and missed all three shots she attempted while recording one steal.
That forced others to step up and Asia Robertson, Jayde Christopher and Kylee Kopatich did their best to carry the load for the KU guards while Caelynn Manning-Allen and Chayla Cheadle battled the Bears inside.
KU was outscored 20-8 in the third quarter, which proved to be more than enough for Baylor to cruise to victory.
Cheadle led KU with 12 points and 5 rebounds and Manning-Allen added nine points.
Next up, KU will travel to Ames, Iowa, for a 7 p.m. showdown Saturday with Iowa State.
