OAKLAND, Calif. University pulled away in the third quarter and beat the Head-Royce girls varsity team 49-29 on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. The Jayhawks fell to 1-1. Head-Royce committed 27 turnovers, and University used them to take over a close game.
University scored the first six points. Margaux AR made a layup off a turnover, and Oliva S. added a basket and two free throws. Head-Royce answered with a 10-0 run. Morgan R. scored eight of those points, and Ella S. added a second-chance basket. The run gave the Jayhawks a 10-6 lead, their largest of the night. University came right back with an 11-0 run that included three 3-pointers, two of them off turnovers by Cassidy T. and Maya G., and led 17-10. Morgan R. then scored the next seven points herself to tie the game at 17. Anna B. and Margaux AR hit back-to-back 3-pointers for University, and Morgan R. added a second-chance basket and a free throw. University led 23-20 after one quarter.
Neither team scored in the second quarter, so University still led 23-20 at halftime.
The game turned in the third quarter. Margaux AR scored four straight points, including a second-chance 3-pointer, and University led 29-21. Head-Royce cut the lead to three when Morgan R. scored inside and Leila H. hit a 3-pointer on a pass from Elena K., making it 29-26. University then scored 13 straight points. Oliva S., Alana L. and Ava P. each scored off turnovers during the run, and Kate K. added two baskets, which pushed the lead to 42-26. Morgan R. scored three straight points to end the run, but University scored the last seven points of the quarter and led 49-29. Neither team scored in the fourth quarter.
Morgan R. finished with 23 points and 16 rebounds, five of them on the offensive glass. The senior made 10 of 22 shots from the field and added three steals and two blocks. She scored 23 of the Jayhawks' 29 points. Leila H. had three points, five rebounds and an assist. Ella S. made her only shot and finished with two points, four rebounds and two steals. Emmy M. grabbed four rebounds off the bench.
Head-Royce outrebounded University 41-23 and turned 13 offensive rebounds into 10 second-chance points, twice as many as University scored. The Jayhawks shot 31.6 percent from the field, about the same as University's 31 percent. The difference came from turnovers and 3-point shooting. University scored 14 points off turnovers to 8 for Head-Royce. University also made 6 of 20 attempts from 3-point range, while the Jayhawks made 1 of 13. The Head-Royce bench did not score. Margaux AR led University with nine points, Oliva S. added eight and Kate K. had seven points and five rebounds.
Head-Royce is now 1-1. The Jayhawks return to action on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, when they host Athenian.