Head-Royce forced 31 turnovers and Morgan R. posted a 23-point, 11-rebound double-double as the Jayhawks beat Bentley 44-31 on Wednesday for their 10th straight win. The victory improved Head-Royce to 13-2.
The Jayhawks scored the first eight points. Emmy M. opened the scoring on a feed from Abigail K., Elena K. made two free throws and then scored off a turnover on an assist from Morgan R., and Morgan R. added a second-chance basket for an 8-0 lead. Miri answered with a 3-pointer for Bentley, but Head-Royce followed with an 18-0 run that made it 26-3. Morgan R. scored 14 of the 18 points in that stretch, three of her baskets coming off turnovers or second chances, and Abigail K. added two field goals.
Bentley got baskets from Amrin and Daria, but Elena K. and Morgan R. each scored off turnovers, and Morgan R. finished a pass from Laila J. to make it 32-7. Marley scored the final two baskets of the half, and Head-Royce led 32-11 at the break. Morgan R. had 20 points by halftime.
Head-Royce opened the second half with an 8-0 run. Morgan R. scored off a turnover and made a free throw, and Kalia K. followed with a basket off a turnover on an assist from Emmy M. and a 3-pointer off a turnover on a pass from Morgan R. That made it 40-11, the Jayhawks' largest lead at 29 points. Kalia K. later scored on a feed from Vera W. for a 42-15 advantage. Bentley then put together a 13-0 run to pull within 42-28, with Marley scoring or assisting on 10 of those points. Freshman Kara W. ended the run with a basket on an assist from Ella S., and Head-Royce closed out a game in which it never trailed or was tied.
Morgan R. shot 11-of-15 from the field and added four assists, four steals and a blocked shot to go with her 23 points and 11 rebounds. Elena K. scored six points and led the team with five steals, and all four of her rebounds came on the offensive glass. Kalia K. scored all seven of her points in the second half off the bench, shooting 3-of-7 with a 3-pointer. Ella S. had three steals and two blocks, and Abigail K. added four points.
The defense decided the game. Head-Royce totaled 19 steals and turned Bentley's 31 turnovers into 19 points, while Bentley scored four points off turnovers. The Jayhawks shot 39.2 percent (20-of-51) and held Bentley to 29.5 percent (13-of-44). Head-Royce also won the rebounding battle 36-30, including 15 offensive rebounds, which offset its own 27 turnovers and 3-of-10 free throw shooting. Marley led Bentley with 12 points, eight rebounds and four assists but committed nine turnovers. Miri added six points.
Head-Royce (13-2) plays next at Encinal on Saturday, March 1.