LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) – TCU took advantage of Kansas’ second-half offensive struggles to run away with a 70-44 victory on Wednesday night inside Allen Fieldhouse.
A 15 percent shooting performance in the third quarter and a scoreless streak that spanned over 10 minutes of game time allowed TCU to extend its lead from six points to 19 by the end of the period. The Horned Frogs (14-11, 6-8 Big 12) shot 46.3 percent from the field on the night, and never looked back after the third-quarter breakout.
Freshman guard Aisia Robertson led the Jayhawks (5-20, 0-14 Big 12) in scoring for the first time this season, finishing the night with a career-high 11 points. The San Francisco, California native filled her stat line with two rebounds, two assists and three steals. Junior forward Caelynn Manning-Allen pulled down seven boards for the eighth time this season, and posted six points and one block. For the second-straight game, Kansas recorded double digit assists and steals.
TCU saw double-figure scoring performances from three different Horned Frogs. Sophomore guard AJ Alix led all scorers after netting 15 points. Alix shot 6-of-10 from the field and 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. Senior guard Zahna Medley connected on 6-of-12 attempts for 13 points and dished out three assists, while senior forward Veja Hamilton sank all four of her free throw attempts on the way to a 12-point game.
After the two teams traded baskets to start the game, a steal and fast-break layup from Kopatich gave Kansas an early 8-4 lead. TCU pulled in front for the first time after a steal by Alix led to a three-pointer at the other end at just under the two-minute mark of the opening quarter. The Horned Frogs held the lead for the remainder of the period, capped off by a buzzer-beating triple to push the advantage to 18-14.
A steal by Robertson led to another run-out basket for Kansas’ first points of the second quarter at the 6:21 mark. The cold start, caused by 0-of-3 shooting and four turnovers, allowed the visitors to build an eight-point lead.
The margin hovered around eight points for much of the quarter, until stretching to double digits for the first time on a three-point play from Hamilton with 2:12 left in the half. A TCU layup with 30 seconds would be the final bucket of the second quarter, giving the Horned Frogs the 35-23 lead at the break.
After missing the mark on all six three-point attempts in the first half, it took the Jayhawks just 19 seconds to hit a triple in the third quarter. Less than two minutes later, another long-range basket, this time from sophomore guard Lauren Aldridge, cut the deficit to six points. The Horned Frogs responded with a 13-0 run, shutting Kansas down for the final seven minutes and 55 seconds of the third quarter. The Jayhawks shot 0-of-16 during the stretch to find themselves trailing 50-31 heading into the final quarter of play.
TCU connected on first four shot attempts of the fourth quarter, while Kansas continued to struggle to find the bottom of the bet. Freshman guard Kylee Kopatich knocked down a free throw at the 7:22 mark to end the scoring drought, and drained a jumper 41 seconds later, concluding the 11-minute stretch without a field goal.
The Jayhawks closed the game out strong, scoring the final eight points and holding TCU scoreless over the last three minutes of play, but the turnaround came too late. At the final buzzer, TCU emerged with the win, 70-44.
— KU Athletics —
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Royals are installing additional netting at Kauffman Stadium that extends toward the outfield end of each team’s dugout to improve the safety for fans sitting along the foul lines.
