Kansas started with a 16-2 run and finished with a 72-56 win over Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in women’s college basketball play at Allen Fieldhouse.

CoCo Moore / Photo by SIUE Sports Information

CoCo Moore led SIUE in scoring with 17 points and grabbed a team-leading three steals. Jessie Wendt was next in scoring with 16 points on 7-of-12 shooting.

SIUE Head Coach Paula Buscher said she was pleased with her team’s effort.

“We kept fighting until the end,” Buscher said. “Late in the game we were playing tough defense. We continued to battle until the end of the game. That’s why I’m proud of them. When you have a team that is going to continue to play hard until that final buzzer goes off, we’re going to find a lot of success this year.”

Kansas, 2-0, shot 24 of 55 from the field and was led in scoring by forward Chelsea Gardner with 19 points. Asia Boyd added 18 points, including four three-pointers. Guard Lamaria Cole provided eight points, five assists, and six steals.

SIUE found foul trouble in the opening 20 minutes. Both Moore and Tierny Austin were assessed three fouls in the first half.

Kansas took advantage of SIUE’s 26 turnovers and turned them into 31 points off those turnovers.

For the second straight game, the Cougars won the battle of the boards. The Cougars outrebounded the Jayhawks 43-32. SIUE freshman Micah Jones led all players with 10 rebounds.

“We rebounded very well, and they (Kansas) are a long, athletic team,” Buscher added. “KU is a very good rebounding team. We emphasized so much not giving up offensive boards and, for the most part, we did a job on that tonight.”

The Cougars, now 0-2, hope to move into the win column by heading home to the Vadalabene Center. SIUE welcomes Kansas City to the Vadalabene Center for a 4 p.m. contest Saturday.