TEMPE, Ariz. — Kansas endured another difficult night on the road Saturday, managing a season-low point total in a 67–51 loss to Arizona State at Desert Financial Arena.
The defeat marked the Jayhawks’ fourth consecutive loss and dropped Kansas to 11–8 overall and 1–6 in Big 12 play. Arizona State continued its strong season, improving to 16–3 and 4–2 in conference action.
Kansas struggled to find offensive rhythm throughout the game, shooting 38 percent from the field and just 4-for-20 from three-point range. The Jayhawks were perfect at the free-throw line, converting all nine attempts, but trips to the stripe were too infrequent to offset their shooting woes.
Jaliya Davis and Regan Williams paced Kansas with 11 points apiece. S’Mya Nichols added eight points in 21 minutes before leaving the game with an injury in the third quarter.
“We have to play with more discipline,” head coach Brandon Schneider said afterward. “When things aren’t going your way, there’s a competitive way to respond. Today, a lot of our fouling came from frustration, and that hurt us.”
The opening quarter featured a back-and-forth battle, with neither team able to seize control. Arizona State opened the scoring at the free-throw line, but Davis and Libby Fandel helped Kansas respond with a quick run. After multiple lead changes, the teams finished the period tied at 13–13.
Kansas briefly grabbed momentum early in the second quarter. Nichols converted a three-point play to break the tie, and a driving basket by Sania Copeland pushed the Jayhawks ahead 18–15. That advantage was short-lived, however, as Arizona State’s defense clamped down.
The Sun Devils held Kansas to just one field goal over a six-minute stretch, using a 19–3 run to open a double-digit lead. Late three-pointers from Nichols and Brittany Harshaw helped Kansas stop the bleeding, but Arizona State answered at the buzzer to take a 40–29 lead into halftime.
Davis scored Kansas’ first two baskets of the second half, briefly pulling the Jayhawks within single digits. Arizona State quickly responded with an 8–3 run, stretching the margin to 14. Williams tried to spark a comeback with six straight points, and Elle Evans added a basket, but Kansas still trailed 55–43 heading into the final quarter.
The Jayhawks made one last push midway through the fourth. Baskets from Evans, Williams and Lilly Meister fueled a 6–0 run that cut the deficit to 10 with just over four minutes remaining. That would be as close as Kansas would get.
Arizona State closed the game on a 6–0 run, while Kansas went scoreless down the stretch, sealing the 67–51 outcome.
Heloisa Carrera led the Sun Devils with a dominant performance, finishing with 22 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and two blocks. Gabby Elliott added 20 points and four boards.
Kansas will look to regroup as it concludes its road trip Tuesday with a matchup at Arizona. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT. Arizona State will travel to Morganstown on Wednesday to play the Mountaineers for a 7:00 PM start time.
