Junior forward Danielle McCray grabbed the ball high out of the air and flipped it ahead to senior guard Ivana Catic, who quickly moved up the court. Soon after, Catic found junior guard Sade Morris streaking toward the basket for a transition layup.

Yes, that’s correct, a transition basket for a Kansas team that has often appeared to be moving at a slower-than-slow rate on offense this season.

But in the 79-64 against Creighton on Monday in the WNIT second round, Kansas shed its slow-paced, halfcourt offensive approach and pushed the ball up the court in a hurry on a consistent basis for the first time this season.

“It was something new that we needed to do, and we’re a good enough team to push the ball,” McCray said. “When you push the ball, you just create great things.”

But why now? Why, after a season filled with offensive possessions lasting until the end of the shot clock, did the Jayhawks suddenly look so eager to push the ball up the court?

The most obvious reason was that Kansas held a huge advantage in terms of team speed and athleticism, especially with McCray and Morris flying down the sides of the court.

“Most of the year, I don’t think we’ve been that aggressive throwing stuff over the top,” coach Bonnie Henrickson said.

With Catic feeding them on the break, McCray and Morris finished opportunity after opportunity against overmatched Creighton defenders

Perhaps more than any Jayhawk, Morris’ game is suited to a quicker tempo. She scored 21 points, including 14 in the first half, and many of those baskets came by way of transition surges up the court.

Morris noticed a change in Catic’s approach to the point guard position early and, along with McCray, the two took full advantage of it.

“I realized if Ivana was pushing it, we could both run instead of just coasting,” Morris said. “Tonight, she was running. And we were running right along with her, which helped.”

But, as has been the case this season, the Jayhawk’s defense triggered its offense. Only this time, instead of Catic’s walking the ball up the court, Kansas didn’t allow Creighton’s defense to set up.

“You know, it’s not really fun to just sit in halfcourt offense all night and just hope that your shot will fall,” Catic said. “It’s much easier when you get out. It takes the weight off your shoulders.”

Added Morris: “I mean, it’s just fun. And it’s so much easier, especially when we were struggling so much on offense.”

On many missed shots, and in favorable situations, Kansas beat Creighton down the court to get easy buckets. The Jayhawks’ 13 fast-break points were their most since they scored 15 on Dec. 10 against Western Illinois.

After running the length of the court the entire night, Morris took a seat in the media room to discuss the victory that sent Kansas to the third round of the WNIT. When asked whether Kansas had attacked in transition much this season, she smiled.

“No, not like this,” Morris said. “This was good. This was good for us.”

— — Edited by Andrew Wiebe