OAKLAND, Calif. Senior Morgan R. scored 23 points on 10-of-13 shooting and added nine rebounds and four steals as Head-Royce beat College Prep 30-14 on Thursday. The Jayhawks improved to 8-2 and extended their winning streak to five games.
College Prep scored first on a free throw, and Morgan R. answered with a basket for a 2-1 Head-Royce lead. The visitors went back in front 4-2 on a 3-pointer, their largest lead of the game. Morgan R. tied the score with a second-chance basket, which started a 7-0 run. Kalia K. scored off a turnover on an assist from Elena K. to put the Jayhawks ahead 6-4. Morgan R. made a free throw and Emmy M. hit two more for a 9-4 lead. Head-Royce never trailed again.
After a College Prep free throw, Morgan R. scored the next two baskets, the second on a second-chance play, for a 13-5 lead. College Prep answered with a basket, but Morgan R. scored off a turnover and added a free throw to make it 16-7. A College Prep 3-pointer cut the lead to 16-10.
The Jayhawks then used a second 7-0 run to take control. Kalia K. made a free throw, Morgan R. scored off a turnover and followed with another basket, and Elena K. finished an assist from Morgan R. for a 23-10 lead. College Prep got no closer than 11 the rest of the way. Morgan R. scored Head-Royce's final seven points, including a basket off a turnover, and closed the scoring with a free throw for a 30-14 lead, the Jayhawks' largest of the game.
Morgan R. accounted for 23 of Head-Royce's 30 points. She made 3 of 6 free throws, grabbed three offensive rebounds and finished with a block and an assist. Kalia K. added three points and five rebounds. Emmy M. went 2-for-2 at the line and had two steals and a block, and Elena K. scored two points and had an assist.
The Jayhawks shot 46.2 percent (12 of 26) from the field and held College Prep to 21.7 percent (5 of 23). Head-Royce outrebounded the visitors 23-8, including 8-2 on the offensive glass, and had a 4-0 edge in second-chance points. The defense recorded nine steals and forced 12 turnovers, which led to an 8-2 edge in points off turnovers and made up for the Jayhawks' own 14 turnovers. Head-Royce went 0-for-4 from 3-point range and got no bench points. College Prep's No. 3 led the visitors with seven points and three steals.
Head-Royce (8-2) plays at St. Joseph Notre Dame on Tuesday, Jan. 14.
