NORTHERN IOWA VS KANSAS

PHOTO BY: @billkiser / @vidaily.news

CHARLOTTE AMALIE, St. Thomas – S’Mya Nichols turned in an impressive 25-point, six-rebound, seven-assist performance, Elle Evans added 17 points and six rebounds, and Sania Copeland scored 11 points as the Kansas Jayhawks (6-1) held off a pesky Northern Iowa (3-3) squad Friday on day two of the Paradise Jam, winning 76-73. 

KU jumped ahead in a see-saw first quarter, taking a four-point (6-2) lead just under two minutes into the contest before UNI clawed back, leading by as many as four (13-9) with 3:16 to play, and taking a one-point (13-12) lead into the second quarter.

The Jayhawks took command in the second quarter, using a 3-pointer by Elle Evans to take the lead on the opening possession and pushing the lead to ten (26-16) at the 6:02 mark before UNI was able to narrow the gap to two points (28-26) with 2:38 to play. KU finished the half on a 6-0 run to go into the break with an eight-point (34-26) lead. 

KU extended its lead back into double digits with a second-chance 3-pointer by Evans, but UNI clawed back, pulling to within two points on three different occasions during the third quarter before the Jayhawks pushed back ahead by seven (58-51) entering the fourth. 

UNI cut the deficit back to one in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, but the Jayhawks would not relinquish the lead, jumping back ahead by as many as ten in the final minutes. UNI staged a furious rally down the stretch, pulling to within two with 12 seconds to play on a 3-pointer by Kayla Laube, but a potential game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer by Maya McDermott rimmed out at the buzzer.

Northern Iowa returns to action in the 1:30 game Saturday against Pitt, while Kansas faces Auburn in the 4 p.m. game.

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