LAWRENCE, Kan. – Vanderbilt ventured to Allen Fieldhouse for the second time in program history Sunday afternoon falling to Kansas 74-67.
The contest was a back-and-forth affair with eight lead changes and five ties. The Commodores’ (5-5) biggest lead came in the second period at nine points whereas the Jayhawk (7-1) lead reached 10 points in the fourth period.
Kansas struck first with an and-1 driving layup from Holly Kersgieter. Vandy responded quickly by mounting an 8-0 run thanks to contributions from Brinae Alexander and Demi Washington. A pair of free throws from Kansas’ Katrine Jessen put the home team ahead by three at 15-12.
The second period belonged to the Commodores, quadrupling the offensive output of the Jayhawks 16-4. Vandy was able to garner points from five different players heading into the halftime break with a 28-19 lead. Vanderbilt raised its shooting percentage to 44.4 in the second stanza while holding Kansas to 10 percent from the field.
With only 15 seconds gone off the game clock in the third quarter, Kansas’ Aniya Thomas drained a 3-pointer to pull the momentum in their favor. The Jayhawks began to creep into the Commodore lead, tying the game in less than six minutes at 33-all.
Neither team could mount a strong enough lead, both staying within 1-3 points of the opposition. Kansas concluded the period with a 46-43 lead heading into the fourth.
In the final stanza, Vandy was able to trim the home team lead to three on two occasions. Once, thanks to an Alexander fast break three-pointer, and again from Washington’s successful trip to the free throw line. With time ticking away, De’Mauri Flournoy was able to drain a second-chance 3 to bring the Commodores within five.
Zakiyah Franklin for Kansas was sent to the free throw line with six seconds remaining giving the Jayhawks a 74-67 victory.
The Commodores notched more second-chance points (15) and bench points (20) than the Jayhawks. Fast break points were tied for both teams at nine.
Vanderbilt was led by Alexander’s 23-point performance, one shy of her career-high. She added five rebounds, two assists and three steals. The Commodores had four in double figures including Alexander.
Kansas was led by Holly Kersgieter’s 16 points, four assists, three steals and two rebounds.
Vanderbilt returns home to face Albany (3-3) at 11 a.m. Wednesday for Education Day.
