A late season collapse ensured Kansas and coach Bonnie Henrickson wouldn’t play in their first NCAA Tournament since 2001. But rather than hang their heads and dwell on missed opportunities, Henrickson and the Jayhawks are relishing the chance to make their presence felt in the WNIT.

Monday night in Allen Fieldhouse Kansas demolished Evansville 82-60 in the second round of the WNIT to advance to a showdown with Michigan State in East Lansing on Thursday.

Photo Gallery

Kansas Women's Basketball vs. Evansville

Photo gallery of Kansas women's basketball game against Evansville in the opening round of the WNIT Monday evening at Allen Fieldhouse.

“This is our NCAA Tournament,” sophomore guard Sade Morris said.

The Jayhawks played like it, shooting 56 percent from the field while limiting the Co-Missouri Valley Champion Purple Aces to 30 percent for the game and 22 percent shooting in the first half. Four different Kansas players scored in double figures, led by sophomore guard Danielle McCray’s 20 points and seven rebounds on 9 of 16 shooting.

“Danielle had a quiet 20,” Henrickson said of Kansas’ leading scorer’s first 20 point game since February 12 against Colorado. “I was a little surprised when I looked and she had 20.”

McCray was joined in double figures by Morris, sophomore guard Kelly Kohn and freshman center Krysten Boogaard. Morris, Kohn and Boogaard combined for 36 points, shot 14 of 17 from the field and 5 of 5 from three point range. Overall, Kansas made 9 of 13 three point attempts while limiting Evansville to a 6 for 26 performance beyond the arc.

“It’s just giving different looks.” McCray said. “They can take away me, but then my teammates can do something.”

The Jayhawk’s ball movement and efficiency on the offensive end tore the Purple Aces’ defense apart. Though Evansville alternated between zone and man-to-man defense in the first half, Kansas recorded 14 assists on 18 field goals to go to the locker room with a 41-25 advantage. Henrickon’s team finished the same way they started, ending up with 22 assists while limiting themselves to 13 turnovers, more than six under their season average.

Junior guard Ivana Catic led Kansas with seven assists, and three others finished with more than three assists. Henrickson half-jokingly said she hadn’t thought her team would learn to protect the basketball all season.

“That has been a red light for us,” sophomore guard LaChelda Jacobs said. “Going into the WNIT, it was a clean slate. We just came in with the mind-set that we are not going to harp on the pass, and come out and get a win.”

The Purple Aces led only once after scoring the opening bucket of the game, but began chipping away at the Jayhawks lead in the second half. Though a 14-6 run brought Evansville within 13 at 56-43, Kansas responded with a 10-0 stretch of its own to effectively put the game out of reach. McCray scored seven of the Jayhawks’ 10 points.

Henrickson’s only complaint was her team’s complete inability to keep the undersized Purple Aces off the offensive glass. Evansville hauled down 24 offensive rebounds despite no starter measuring more than 6-foot-1. Although Evansville couldn’t take advantage of the extra opportunities, Michigan State won’t be so kind on Thursday.

The Spartans boast a formidable rebounding weapon in 6-foot-9 sophomore center Allyssa DeHaan. Henrickson said she was disappointed in her team’s effort on the boards and warned they wouldn’t advance against Michigan State with a repeat performance on the boards. But like her players, she said she was happy to have another two weeks of practice to work with and the opportunity to continue their postseason run.

“It’s great,” she said. “Survive and advance.”

Chest paint

For the first time this season, fans in Allen Fieldhouse painted their chests in support of their team. Surprisingly, it wasn’t the Jayhawk faithful who bared their fandom for all to see. That honor fell to a group of 15 traveling Evansville fans who created a human billboard in support of the Missouri Valley Co-Champions. The group was part of a busload of Purple Aces supporters who traveled to Lawrence for Monday night’s second round WNIT game.

Jacobs starts on bench

Sophomore guard LaChelda Jacobs’ streak of three consecutive starts was broken as junior guard Ivana Catic returned to coach Bonnie Henrickson’s starting five. Henrickson said attitude problems had relegated Jacobs to the bench.

Clearing the bench

With 2:22 remaining the second half, Henrickson went to a place she has rarely gone this season: the end of the Kansas bench. Sophomore forward Rebecca Feickert made her first appearance this season while junior Marija Zinic and Katie Smith made rare appearances.

—Edited by Sasha Roe