Preview: Houston Cougars at Kansas Jayhawks LAWRENCE, Kan. (Interstat) — The Kansas women’s basketball team looks to solidify its postseason positioning when it hosts the Houston Cougars in a Big 12 Conference matchup on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, at Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks (15-11, 5-8 Big 12) enter on the fringe of the NCAA tournament conversation and aim to rebound from a tough 65-70 road loss at Texas Tech on Tuesday. Kansas has shown resilience at home this season, including decisive wins over Cincinnati and BYU earlier this month. Kansas will rely on guard S’Mya Nichols, who has been a consistent offensive force. She is averaging 17.4 points over her last five games, including a 22-point effort in an overtime loss to Colorado on Feb. 1. Her scoring punch will be central against a Houston defense that has struggled recently. The visiting Houston Cougars (7-17, 1-12) are mired in a difficult season, having lost eight of their last nine games. They are coming off a 63-73 home loss to Colorado on Wednesday. Defense has been a persistent issue; the Cougars have allowed an average of 78.6 points in their last seven contests. Houston’s bright spot is guard Briana Peguero, who is coming off a 21-point performance against Colorado. She leads the team in scoring during conference play and will need another standout effort to keep pace with Kansas’s attack. Historically, Allen Fieldhouse has provided a significant home-court advantage for Kansas. For Houston, which is 1-9 on the road this season, overcoming that environment presents a major challenge. A Kansas victory would keep the Jayhawks in the hunt for a winning season and bolster their postseason resume. For Houston, the game represents another opportunity to find traction in a demanding Big 12 schedule. Tip-off is set for Saturday afternoon. Kansas travels to face in-state rival Kansas State on Feb. 21, while Houston hosts TCU on Feb. 18.