It took a few tries, but Kansas women’s basketball coach Brandon Schneider achieved a major milestone on Sunday afternoon, winning the 500th game of his coaching career via a 66-57 KU win over visiting Oklahoma State.
Schneider, now in his eighth season in charge of the Jayhawks, picked up a lot of those wins at Emporia State and Stephen F. Austin before arriving at Kansas. Coincidentally, his next KU victory will be win No. 100 with the Jayhawks.
“From somebody who has been with this program for one of the longest on the team, it means a lot that we can represent coach Brandon in that way,” junior guard Chandler Prater said. “He works so hard for us, on our off days, on our practice days, game days, no matter what. He’s always the one who’s super locked in and bringing us together. It just means a lot that we could help him accomplish that, because he deserves it.”
The Jayhawks (17-10, 7-9 Big 12) attacked at the rim every chance they got, and the defense stifled the Cowgirls in the second half at Allen Fieldhouse.
“I think how we won is what’s most memorable,” Schneider said after the victory, which came complete with a water bottle show worthy of a New Year’s Eve party in the locker room after the game. “We’ve always believed very strongly in defense and rebounding. Today, I think we really guarded and took a lot of pride in it and rebounded the ball with toughness and aggression.”
Added Schneider of reaching the 500-win mark: “There’s a lot of folks out there who have taught me a lot and I’ve been fortunate to coach some incredible players who took a lot of pride in representing the three universities that we have been blessed to be a part of. We had to get this win today and our team knows that we have got to continue to add to our resumé. The work’s not over.”
Prater’s 18 points and Taiyanna Jackson’s 12-point, 21-rebound double-double went a long way in handing Kansas the win in the absence of third-leading scorer senior guard Holly Kersgieter. Kersgieter missed her second-straight game after suffering an injury in an 86-80 loss to No. 13 Oklahoma on Feb. 19.
Zakiyah Franklin and Jackson combined for nine of the Jayhawks’ 16 first-quarter points, with Jackson also grabbing four rebounds.
Both teams ran their offenses in the paint, attacking the rim every possession. KU and OSU each scored 12 points in the paint in the first quarter. Neither team found success from behind the arc, combining for 2-of-9 shooting from the three-point line.
Prater exploded in the second quarter, racking up nine points, along with two rebounds and an assist and sparked two 7-0 scoring runs to pull away from the Jayhawks. KU converted 2-of-4 attempts from downtown on shots from Prater and junior guard Mia Vuksic and went to halftime with a 38-33 lead.
Jackson ended the first half with six points and nine rebounds in 16 minutes of play. Prater led the half in scoring with 11 points. Oklahoma forward Taylen Collins was right behind with 10 points.
The Cowgirls (20-8, 10-6) had no answer for Jackson coming out of the halftime break. Jackson recorded six points and a staggering 10 rebounds, along with a steal and two blocks in the third quarter alone.
Junior guard Wyvette Mayberry and Franklin chipped in for 11 combined points, with the three players accounting for all 17 of Kansas’s third-quarter points. While KU’s offense had its way in the paint, it was the Jayhawks’ defense that held Oklahoma State in check.
OSU made just three baskets in the third quarter and shot a dismal 21% from the floor. The Cowgirls scored nine points as the Jayhawks extended their lead 55-42.
Prater continued her stellar performance in the fourth quarter. She racked up seven points and four rebounds while adding two steals.
Although Oklahoma State outscored the Jayhawks 15-11 in the quarter, it was Kansas who kept its lead to take the 66-57 victory.
Prater led the game in scoring with 18 points, nine rebounds and four steals, with Franklin and Mayberry each adding 15 points. Jackson ended her day with 21 rebounds, five blocks and a steal, tying her career-high in rebounds. She recorded her 18th double-double of the season, good for sixth in the country.
“Today, in my opinion, she was relentless on the boards,” Mayberry said. “Every time you thought the play was over, somehow she got the rebound and went back up. She gave everything she could for us.”
“I hope that those who are watching her understand how special she is,” Schneider said. “I think that she’s probably going to average a double-double for the season, and the last time anybody has done that in a Kansas women’s basketball uniform was 41 years ago. She’s a player that makes a significant impact on winning.”
Oklahoma State guard Naomie Alnatas led the Cowgirls with 12 points, while two others scored in double-figures. Collins ended her day with a 10-point, 12 rebound double-double as the Cowgirls dropped just their eighth game of the season.
The Jayhawks host Iowa State for Senior Night on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Kansas Athletics
