Women’s basketball: Kansas holds off Washington State in Duel in the Desert matchup

LAS VEGAS – Jessica Washington tossed in 15 points and Austin Richardson and Kylee Kopatich scored 13 apiece to lead the Kansas Jayhawks to a 71-63 victory over the Washington State Cougars in the Duel in the Desert on Wednesday.

Chanelle Molina totaled 19 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the floor to pace the Cougars (4-6). Borislava Hristova scored 18 to reach double figures for a 10th straight game and Maria Kostourkova added a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

The Cougars, who hadn’t played for 10 days because of finals, dug a deep hole in the first quarter. WSU missed its first 10 shots and fell behind 16-6 by quarter’s end. The Cougars got within four points in the second quarter before the Jayhawks (8-1) went on a 15-4 run to close out the half with a 39-24 lead.

The loss drops the Cougars in to a 2:30 p.m. matchup with Wichita State on Thursday. Northwestern drubbed the Shockers 65-43 in the other game.