LAWRENCE, Kan. – Senior Brittany Boyd became California’s all-time steals leader after logging her 296th-career swipe against Kansas (7-1) on Sunday afternoon at Allen Fieldhouse, but the Jayhawks were able to run away with a 62-39 victory over the No. 10/12 California Golden Bears (7-1).
Boyd led the Bears with 12 points and added four rebounds and just as many assists, while senior Reshanda Gray joined her classmate in double figures with 11 points.
Chelsea Gardner set the pace for the Jayhawks, registering 22 points and eight boards.
The Bears tipped off the game by holding Kansas scoreless over the opening four minutes, but the Jayhawks held the lead at the first media timeout and never looked back. Cal chipped away at a double-digit deficit to come within six with 6:26 left in the first half, but Kansas closed out the half with a 16-point advantage, 36-20.
Boyd and Gray teamed up with back-to-back layups to open the second frame scoring, but the Jayhawks matched it with two buckets of their own. The teams exchanged baskets in the early goings of the half; however, Cal was unable trigger a run. Kansas held the Bears to just six points in the final seven minutes of the contest, sealing the deal, 62-39.
For the game, Cal shot 24 percent (15-62) from the field, 18 percent (2-11) from 3-point range and 70 percent (7-10) from the charity stripe. Kansas connected on 40 percent (18-45) of its shots, including 64 percent (7-11) from beyond the arc. The Jayhawks out-rebounded the Bears by a 45-30 margin and made 19-of-20 free throws (95 percent).
Cal closes out its two-game road tour when it heads to Long Beach, California, to take on Long Beach State on Saturday, Dec. 13. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m.
