Even so, Wells, in his fifth season as head coach, had just one message for his team after allowing over 50 percent shooting to Sinclair Community College in Saturday’s 91-63 setback.

“We just want to get playing better,” he said, noting the difficult schedule so far this season. “The teams we have been playing have been tough, but we just wanted to get out and get better defensively and that’s where it all started.”

But, despite falling 68-60 at the Physical Education Complex to the nationally ranked Vikings — tied for first in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association’s Division II coaches poll — Wells was pleased with the defensive improvement.

“I’m incredibly pleased with the effort,” he said. “We were able to get better defensively tonight — better than what we have been.”

The Jayhawks’ Abi Lisciandro wrestles with Winfield for a loose ball. P-J photo by Cameron Hurst

Jamestown CC held the Vikings in check early in the game, holding a 16-8 lead — its largest of the night — with 2:43 left in the first quarter, before finishing the game’s first 10 minutes with a four-point lead.

But, the Jayhawks could not contain Villa Maria junior Dakaylah Winfield, who dropped a season-high 29 points, draining three of her season-high six 3-pointers in the second quarter to help the Vikings take a 36-30 lead at halftime.

“We knew that she was their top scorer,” Wells said of Winfield’s performance. “I didn’t think she could shoot like that. She just lit it up.”

The Vikings never looked back and took their largest lead — 64-49 — with 5:53 left in the fourth quarter after another trey by Winfield.

The Jayhawks, however, refused to go away easily, cutting the deficit to 64-58 with 4:08 left in the game thanks in part to layups by sophomore Kayla Hohl and freshman Marisa Schuppenhauer, and clutch free throws by freshman Abi Lisciandro.

“I was extremely proud of the effort in the fourth quarter tonight,” Wells said of the Jayhawks’ ability to stay in the game. “We wanted to get it down to single digits and one stop at a time.”

But, foul shots over the final four minutes of the game sealed the victory for the Vikings, moving Villa Maria to 10-1 on the season and pushing Jamestown CC to 4-7.

Though the Vikings’ size limited Jamestown CC’s leading scorer Gabby Iuculano to just six field goals, the freshman still finished with 15 points and six rebounds. Wells was impressed with her ability to make plays even on a tough shooting night.

“She’s just really super quick and you don’t think she has something, but stuff always open ups for her,” Wells said of Iuculano’s ability to make plays. “It’s amazing the angles she gets.”

Villa Maria’s size also caused struggles from beyond the arc as the Jayhawks converted just two of 21 attempts — both makes coming from freshman Courtney Hemminger.

“We had some good lucks, but also had some tough looks,” Wells said. “Their size got us. We usually get a couple more makes than that.”

Overall, Wells was impressed with the Jayhawks ability to take a step forward Monday night.

“We can play when we really get our minds focused,” he said. “Our schedule has just been brutally tough. Hopefully, it’s paying dividends.”

VILLA MARIA COLLEGE (68)

Wright 1-5 0-0 3, Hall 0-2 0-0 0, Gary 3-6 3-5 6, Winfield 10-16 3-5 29, Anderson 3-9 0-3 6, Brown 2-8 0-0 6, Burgess 3-7 0-0 8, Adamson 2-6 0-0 4, Bush 2-5 2-5 6. Totals 26-64 5-13 68.

JAMESTOWN CC (60)

Iuculano 6-17 3-7 15, Lisciandro 2-6 4-5 8, Schuppenhauer 3-7 0-0 6, Jimerson 6-11 1-3 13, Zenns 0-5 1-3 1, Hohl 4-9 0-0 8, Fardink 0-4 0-0 0, DeMarco 0-0 0-0 0, Lundmark 0-1 1-2 1, Hemminger 3-7 0-0 8. Totals 24-67 10-19 60.

Villa Maria College 15 21 17 15 — 68

Jamestown CC 19 11 11 19 — 60

3-point goals–Villa Maria College 11-22 (Wright 1-3, Gary 0-2, Winfield, 6-7, Brown 2-6, Burgess, 2-3, Adamson 0-1), Jamestown CC 2-21 (Iuculano 0-4, Lisciandro 0-2, Schuppenhauer 0-1, Jimerson 0-2, Zenns 0-1, Hohl 0-2, Fardink 0-4, Lundmark 0-1, Hemminger 2-4). Total rebounds–Villa Maria College 48 (Anderson 10), Jamestown CC 48 (Schuppenhauer 8). Assists–Villa Maria College 16 (Wright 6), Jamestown CC (Lisciandro 2, Schuppenhauer 2, Zenns 2). Total fouls–Villa Maria 15, Jamestown CC 20. Fouled out–Lisciandro. Technical fouls–Hall.