KU women’s basketball team defeats Haskell 107-39 in first meeting since 1974
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- KU hosted Haskell at Allen Fieldhouse for first meeting since 1974, winning 107-39.
- Brittany Harshaw scored 26 and four KU players reached double figures in dominant win.
- Game gave Haskell guarantee money, community exposure and recognition for Native players.
For the first time since 1974, Kansas on Wednesday night invited its next-door neighbor, Haskell Indian Nations University, to play a women’s basketball game against the Jayhawks at Allen Fieldhouse.
Though there was plenty of goodwill between the schools — KU athletic department officials presented the Fighting Indians players and coaches with “785 Night” warmup shirts and recognized the visitors during timeouts and halftime — the Jayhawks ultimately wound up overwhelming the NAIA school (which is located on east 23rd Street) on the court.
Led by the 26-point performance of Brittany Harshaw, four KU players scored in double figures as the Jayhawks rolled 107-39. The crowd of 4,646 included a full section of HINU supporters in the lower-level section behind the visitors’ bench.
The game’s outcome tied for the sixth-largest margin of victory in KU women’s basketball history and gave KU a 5-1 all-time record against Haskell.
“Most of us coming from reservations as young little girls,” said Haskell senior Ivy Fox, who led her team with 10 points and four rebounds in 33 minutes. “We grew up watching Division I (hoops). We grew up watching the Big Ten, so to be able to play against them and be on the same floor as them was kind of a surreal feeling for all of us, I think, regardless of the score.”
“Being on a big stage like this shows us how we as indigenous women can be role models for our community, and it’s just a good feeling everyone showing up for us,” said Haskell senior Tierzah Penn, who had three points, three rebounds, three assists and three turnovers in 22 minutes.
Fifth-year Haskell coach Adam Strom, whose team fell to 5-14 this season, thanked KU for scheduling the game. The guarantee money provided is important to Haskell basketball.
“Coach Schneider (Brandon, KU) and I had some conversations, some text, and we talked about doing something for the community, due to the proximity and also the uniqueness of Haskell Indian Nations University,” Strom said. “And so it’s been since 1974 and we’re now 5-1, so I’ve got to go get another win on that 5-1, but yes, we’re just grateful for the opportunity.”
Haskell’s fans roared their approval as Tea Murray hit a 3 to tie the score at 3-3. Fox followed with a basket to give Haskell an early two-point advantage. By the end of the first quarter, KU led 27-10; after a 33-9 second quarter, it was 60-19.
“It was exciting especially for Tea, who is a late addition to the team this year,” Strom said. “To see the smile on her face again, I’ll refer back to my opening statement about memories and about putting on for your community. You guys (KU players, coaches and athletic department officials) proudly gave us and provided 785 shirts.
“We like to represent Indian country, and that is reservations throughout North America, throughout the U.S. And so that’s what you heard. You heard a lot of a lot of those indigenous voices and those Native American community (members) supporting that shot that coach called the play,” he added, smiling.
For KU, it was a tuneup before the start of conference play on Sunday at Iowa State. Harshaw, a shooting guard who hit a school-record eight 3’s in a game (against Iowa State) last year, entered this game having scored just six points all season. She scored her 26 points on 9-of-14 shooting (5-of-8 from 3) in just 18 minutes. She also was 3-of-3 from the line.
Forward Lilly Meister had 14 points and nine boards; guard Elle Evans 14 points and six rebounds and guard S’Mya Nichols 11 points, four rebounds and two assists. Guard Sania Copeland contributed five steals to go with nine points.
“We watch her get into the zone all the time in practice. If you watch her work out, I don’t think she misses a 3,” Meister said of Harshaw, a 6-1 junior from Andover, Kansas who started her career at Creighton. “Everyone was kind of. ‘Finally it’s showing.’ No one was surprised. We were all very, very happy.”
“It was definitely a huge relief because I did get off to a slow start, but I’m so happy and I’m glad that I was able to make shots,” Harshaw said. “I feel like second half we had a lot more ball movement, and we’re able to, get different teammates involved and get other people to score. So it was a good game overall,” she added.
The Jayhawks were enthused about hosting their neighbors Wednesday.
“I’m really happy for them and hopefully it really benefits their program,” Schneider said. He credited KU staff members for providing the T shirts as well as “the rest of the marketing staff in our department. I think they did a terrific job promoting the game and making it a community event. I couldn’t be happier with the support we got.”
Tipoff for KU-Iowa State willl be at noon Sunday in Ames with a telecast on ESPN2.
This story was originally published December 18, 2025 at 9:47 AM.
