Jack Weisenberger | @jackweisy05
Women’s basketball won its second straight conference game Saturday night against the Oklahoma State Cowgirls. The first victory came Wednesday night, as the 6’6” super-senior Taiyanna Jackson finished with a career-high 27 points, and 19 rebounds. She got into foul trouble early tonight, playing only four and a half minutes in the first half.
The Jayhawks’ goal was to, “Hold down the fort because we knew she was coming back,” according to senior starter Holly Kersgieter. Jackson ultimately finished with 6 points and 9 rebounds after playing all 20 minutes of the second half. She was forced to exit early in the first half due to foul trouble, but the rest of the starters ramped up the offense to take the victory Jayhawk 70-64 win at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence.
Kansas trailed the majority of the game, reaching an 11-point deficit at one point. The Jayhawks won the fourth quarter 25-12, where they tied and took the lead.
Senior guard Wyvette Mayberry found Kersgeiter for the game-tying three from the right wing with just under seven minutes to play in the fourth.
S’Mya Nichols, who is one of the highest-ranked recruits in program history, has been nothing but greatness for the Jayhawks. She helped lead the way tonight scoring 17 points in 26 minutes. Scoring in double figures in 13 of her first 16 games as a Jayhawk, the five star was also named Big 12 Freshman of the Week back in early December. The freshman has averaged 14.2 points per game so far in her debut in the Big 12 conference.
As for super-senior Holly Kersgieter coming off a 19-point outing in the win against Baylor, she followed that up with an efficient 16 points to help lead the Jayhawks back on top. Tonight was also a record setting night for Holly as she moved to 5th all time in total minutes played throughout her career as she passed fellow Jayhawks Lisa Braddy and Kay Kay Hart. Looking ahead, the Jayhawks next game will be Tuesday, January 16th at the #10 ranked University of Texas down in Austin.