<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/4154a3ee-65b3-49bc-9e38-8d0acb175c17?elinkdata=14288">Jun Murdock</a> has graduated from Kansas Wesleyan and taken the array of skills that made him a two-time NAIA All-American and the best point guard in the Kansas Conference the last three years.

Coyote coach <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/a18f2b39-c13e-4fe2-ab6d-d730fddfe10d?elinkdata=14288">Anthony Monson</a> is not whining or pining over his absence, though. Does he miss Murdock? Of course, but such is life in college basketball.

"I think a lot of times coaches are kind of stuck in their ways," he said. "If you've had a dominant point guard like we've had the past three years you put the ball in his hands.

"You look at the group now and you have to say 'we have this and this this year, how do we maximize that?' It's about trying to piece a puzzle together - about 50 percent new, 50 percent returns. Now we get to reinvent ourselves a little bit, we get to do some things a little differently than we've done in the past and for me that's exciting."

KWU has been plenty exciting the last three years compiling a 71-25 record, 52-16 in the KCAC, and three trips to the NAIA Opening Round. The Coyotes were 23-9 and 18-4 in the conference last season.

The excitement isn't expected to wane this winter. Three starters and several reserves return and are joined by a group of newcomers that is large in number and size.

It all starts with forward <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/2c0ea4e9-00fc-48da-a425-76597862fb4c?elinkdata=14288">Alex Littlejohn</a> who returns for his senior year and fourth season as a starter. He averaged 17.3 points, 11.7 rebounds and was a unanimous All-KCAC First Team selection a year ago.

"He has come back stronger, in better shape and he's been more vocal this year," Monson said. "He hasn't changed just one aspect, there are multiple aspects. He's taken the leadership mantle, it's his team and he knows it is.

"I know he'll never admit this but he wants to be the best player in the conference and he wants his team to go the (NAIA) national tournament."

Senior guards <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/73cf040e-2f4e-424c-b91d-14ed1facc97f?elinkdata=14288">Izaiah Hale</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/21e812d2-8182-4796-b537-6e57ae230b64?elinkdata=14288">Easton Hunter</a> also return are capable perimeter scorers. Hale averaged 10.2 points and Hunter 6.6 points a year ago.

"I think Izaiah has a chance to take another big step forward this year just from the scoring aspect," Monson said. "He probably scores the ball as well as any guard that we have on our program. Easton is a very good guard who can knock down shots and he has tons of experience."

Top reserves who saw frequent duty are guards <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/7d49fb07-701d-4638-b11e-19815ecf555b?elinkdata=14288">Caden Hale</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/f22c16d0-1084-48c0-b8b7-84d80c84f816?elinkdata=14288">Jameer Clemons</a> and forwards <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/f7ed9bb2-bcf7-40e4-a4a5-a43175d0a8e2?elinkdata=14288">Grant Dye</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/be908fbf-f0fa-4850-958d-2d2d5df5cbc0?elinkdata=14288">Gabe Phillips</a>. Hale was Murdock's backup and averaged 7.5 points, Dye 3.6 points, Phillips 3.2 and 2.7 rebounds and Clemons 2.2 points.

"Caden took a back seat to Jun, but he does a great job when he's on the floor. He's very vocal," Monson said. "Jameer has taken a big step forward. Grant's always going to be that shooter at the four, five spot for us. Gabe is always going to be a guy that we can throw in there to get rebounds, get defensive stops."

Returning guard <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/f30a8ce6-1196-4ad7-9911-e3277ec2860b?elinkdata=14288">DJ Hudspeth</a> has been a surprise in the preseason.

"DJ has led us in 3-point attempts in scrimmages and is shooting 48 percent from three," Monson said. "He's really taking the next step forward."

When deciding what needed to be done to improve this year's team Monson found inspiration in the Sooner State.

"You look at who's won our league the past couple years and it's Oklahoma Wesleyan," he said. "And what's the one thing that they have that nobody else has? It's a monster in the middle of the floor (Jaden Lietzke). We're not talking about a long, skinny one, we're talking about a guy who's built like a Mack truck. He's a difference maker for them."

So, Monson signed five transfers who are 6-feet-5 or taller. Toss in a 6-8 redshirt and the Coyotes are significantly bigger this year.

The headliner is <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/166838cd-5a64-4a6d-ac43-beffe3a11a86?elinkdata=14288">Evens Appolon</a>, a 6-8, 250-pound transfer from Central Methodist.

"Extremely big human being," Monson said. "He's lefthanded, good around the basket. He's international (Haiti), he's got a big smile on his face all the time and works hard."

Stephen Spray, a 6-6 forward, played for NJCAA champion Barton Community College; <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/f4d5effc-60d3-478f-827a-2896884c5185?elinkdata=14288">Dreylin Kemp</a> is a 6-5 forward from Buter CC; <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/60298872-4324-40d4-a353-e656e0fa6851?elinkdata=14288">Miles Fant</a> a 6-6 forward from Iowa Central; and Lucas Wagler a 6-5 swingman from Hutchinson CC.

"Spray brings a winning mentality to us," Monson said. "Very good athlete, very strong, gets up and dunks with ease, runs the floor extremely well, good around the basket and just a tough, hard-nosed kid. Kemp can guard one through five, runs the four extremely well. A very good passer, very good offensive rebounder, just a high energy, high motor kid.

"Wagler can really shoot it. Quick release, doesn't have to set his feet. He's a strong kid so he's not going to get bullied and pushed around. Fant had (knee) surgery and is working himself back. He can step out and shoot it a little bit but he can go down low and bang."

Dan Morgan, a 6-8 forward, was a redshirt last year and is adept at blocking shots and dunking the ball.

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/d2c55bb1-f07b-43f0-8938-892da80866d8?elinkdata=14288">Caden Hale</a> is battling transfers <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/27753a37-a380-48f6-b21f-0bae1129110b?elinkdata=14288">Tucker Bowman</a> from Central Arkansas and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/30371d1b-a365-4a51-b3d2-d164af1e4548?elinkdata=14288">Sage Koelsch</a> from Pratt CC for the point guard job.

"Bowman is like a little badger - he's annoying and he is feisty," Monson said. "He's either going to play a lot of minutes or he's going to foul out in about three minutes, I'm not quite sure which one it is. Sage has done a really good job of knocking down shots and has a little toughness to him."

Newcomer <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c15d8303-722b-4fa3-b3c7-9e025125e621?elinkdata=14288">Carson Jones</a>, a 6-4 guard, has made an early impression.

"He is smooth and he has the confidence that Alex had when he was a freshman," Monson said. "It's the same look in his eyes, the same confidence. He doesn't get rattled."

Monson says the KCAC is better than ever.

"It has never been as good as it is now," he said. "There's more depth and we're getting respect at a national level. It makes for an unbelievable league and there are no easy nights.

"I think we're well prepared for life after Jun but we'll see how everything shakes out."

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/4154a3ee-65b3-49bc-9e38-8d0acb175c17?elinkdata=14288">Jun Murdock</a> has graduated from Kansas Wesleyan and taken the array of skills that made him a two-time NAIA All-American and the best point guard in the Kansas Conference the last three years.Coyote coach <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/a18f2b39-c13e-4fe2-ab6d-d730fddfe10d?elinkdata=14288">Anthony Monson</a> is not whining or pining over his absence, though. Does he miss Murdock? Of course, but such is life in college basketball."I think a lot of times coaches are kind of stuck in their ways," he said. "If you've had a dominant point guard like we've had the past three years you put the ball in his hands."You look at the group now and you have to say 'we have this and this this year, how do we maximize that?' It's about trying to piece a puzzle together - about 50 percent new, 50 percent returns. Now we get to reinvent ourselves a little bit, we get to do some things a little differently than we've done in the past and for me that's exciting."KWU has been plenty exciting the last three years compiling a 71-25 record, 52-16 in the KCAC, and three trips to the NAIA Opening Round. The Coyotes were 23-9 and 18-4 in the conference last season.The excitement isn't expected to wane this winter. Three starters and several reserves return and are joined by a group of newcomers that is large in number and size.It all starts with forward <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/2c0ea4e9-00fc-48da-a425-76597862fb4c?elinkdata=14288">Alex Littlejohn</a> who returns for his senior year and fourth season as a starter. He averaged 17.3 points, 11.7 rebounds and was a unanimous All-KCAC First Team selection a year ago."He has come back stronger, in better shape and he's been more vocal this year," Monson said. "He hasn't changed just one aspect, there are multiple aspects. He's taken the leadership mantle, it's his team and he knows it is."I know he'll never admit this but he wants to be the best player in the conference and he wants his team to go the (NAIA) national tournament."Senior guards <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/73cf040e-2f4e-424c-b91d-14ed1facc97f?elinkdata=14288">Izaiah Hale</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/21e812d2-8182-4796-b537-6e57ae230b64?elinkdata=14288">Easton Hunter</a> also return are capable perimeter scorers. Hale averaged 10.2 points and Hunter 6.6 points a year ago."I think Izaiah has a chance to take another big step forward this year just from the scoring aspect," Monson said. "He probably scores the ball as well as any guard that we have on our program. Easton is a very good guard who can knock down shots and he has tons of experience."Top reserves who saw frequent duty are guards <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/7d49fb07-701d-4638-b11e-19815ecf555b?elinkdata=14288">Caden Hale</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/f22c16d0-1084-48c0-b8b7-84d80c84f816?elinkdata=14288">Jameer Clemons</a> and forwards <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/f7ed9bb2-bcf7-40e4-a4a5-a43175d0a8e2?elinkdata=14288">Grant Dye</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/be908fbf-f0fa-4850-958d-2d2d5df5cbc0?elinkdata=14288">Gabe Phillips</a>. Hale was Murdock's backup and averaged 7.5 points, Dye 3.6 points, Phillips 3.2 and 2.7 rebounds and Clemons 2.2 points."Caden took a back seat to Jun, but he does a great job when he's on the floor. He's very vocal," Monson said. "Jameer has taken a big step forward. Grant's always going to be that shooter at the four, five spot for us. Gabe is always going to be a guy that we can throw in there to get rebounds, get defensive stops."Returning guard <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/f30a8ce6-1196-4ad7-9911-e3277ec2860b?elinkdata=14288">DJ Hudspeth</a> has been a surprise in the preseason."DJ has led us in 3-point attempts in scrimmages and is shooting 48 percent from three," Monson said. "He's really taking the next step forward."When deciding what needed to be done to improve this year's team Monson found inspiration in the Sooner State."You look at who's won our league the past couple years and it's Oklahoma Wesleyan," he said. "And what's the one thing that they have that nobody else has? It's a monster in the middle of the floor (Jaden Lietzke). We're not talking about a long, skinny one, we're talking about a guy who's built like a Mack truck. He's a difference maker for them."So, Monson signed five transfers who are 6-feet-5 or taller. Toss in a 6-8 redshirt and the Coyotes are significantly bigger this year.The headliner is <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/166838cd-5a64-4a6d-ac43-beffe3a11a86?elinkdata=14288">Evens Appolon</a>, a 6-8, 250-pound transfer from Central Methodist."Extremely big human being," Monson said. "He's lefthanded, good around the basket. He's international (Haiti), he's got a big smile on his face all the time and works hard."Stephen Spray, a 6-6 forward, played for NJCAA champion Barton Community College; <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/f4d5effc-60d3-478f-827a-2896884c5185?elinkdata=14288">Dreylin Kemp</a> is a 6-5 forward from Buter CC; <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/60298872-4324-40d4-a353-e656e0fa6851?elinkdata=14288">Miles Fant</a> a 6-6 forward from Iowa Central; and Lucas Wagler a 6-5 swingman from Hutchinson CC."Spray brings a winning mentality to us," Monson said. "Very good athlete, very strong, gets up and dunks with ease, runs the floor extremely well, good around the basket and just a tough, hard-nosed kid. Kemp can guard one through five, runs the four extremely well. A very good passer, very good offensive rebounder, just a high energy, high motor kid."Wagler can really shoot it. Quick release, doesn't have to set his feet. He's a strong kid so he's not going to get bullied and pushed around. Fant had (knee) surgery and is working himself back. He can step out and shoot it a little bit but he can go down low and bang."Dan Morgan, a 6-8 forward, was a redshirt last year and is adept at blocking shots and dunking the ball.<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/d2c55bb1-f07b-43f0-8938-892da80866d8?elinkdata=14288">Caden Hale</a> is battling transfers <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/27753a37-a380-48f6-b21f-0bae1129110b?elinkdata=14288">Tucker Bowman</a> from Central Arkansas and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/30371d1b-a365-4a51-b3d2-d164af1e4548?elinkdata=14288">Sage Koelsch</a> from Pratt CC for the point guard job."Bowman is like a little badger - he's annoying and he is feisty," Monson said. "He's either going to play a lot of minutes or he's going to foul out in about three minutes, I'm not quite sure which one it is. Sage has done a really good job of knocking down shots and has a little toughness to him."Newcomer <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c15d8303-722b-4fa3-b3c7-9e025125e621?elinkdata=14288">Carson Jones</a>, a 6-4 guard, has made an early impression."He is smooth and he has the confidence that Alex had when he was a freshman," Monson said. "It's the same look in his eyes, the same confidence. He doesn't get rattled."Monson says the KCAC is better than ever."It has never been as good as it is now," he said. "There's more depth and we're getting respect at a national level. It makes for an unbelievable league and there are no easy nights."I think we're well prepared for life after Jun but we'll see how everything shakes out."

MBB Season Preview -- Taller Coyotes ready for new season and life after Murdock

The 2023-24 season was a success for the Kansas Wesleyan women's basketball team.

The Coyotes finished 17-13 and tied Evangel for fourth place in the Kansas Conference standings with a 14-8 record. They won seven of their last 10 games losing to eventual champion Tabor in the semifinals of the conference's postseason tournament.

Coach <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/48d85863-52e6-4ea8-9fe0-b498744a7e1f?elinkdata=14262">Ryan Showman</a> was not entirely thrilled, though.

"When you really dive into the numbers there's probably no reason we should have been in fourth place," he said. "We didn't shoot the ball very well, we didn't take care of it very well, we didn't rebound particularly well, we didn't shoot the 3-ball very well at all.

"I thought we were playing really good in January and February; we won some games that we needed to on the road. ... We went from seventh place to fourth place in the span of a month by winning road games against people above us. You've got a gritty team that just willed themselves to victory."

Four starters and several top reserves return but Showman worked hard during the offseason to make improvements.

"Our conversations in the spring and the summer were that we want to take that next step," he said. "We have to shoot the ball better, we have to defend better, we have to do those little things that add up in the win column. That's been our focus."

Point guard <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/64b34eee-ae75-4e9b-a706-307b6ac91ca8?elinkdata=14262">LaMyah Ricks</a> and shooting guard <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/d8c33b5b-d044-49e0-945b-db4d8c95531d?elinkdata=14262">Jill Stephens</a> headline the list of returning players. Both are fifth-year players - Ricks has been at KWU for five years and Stephens three. Ricks was named All-KCAC Second Team while Stephens was Honorable Mention. Stephens was the top scorer (11.3 points) and Ricks close behind (11.2).

"<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/f4cbc102-e664-44ab-aedf-76df4d1968c9?elinkdata=14262">LaMyah Ricks</a> is a very decorated point guard for us," Showman said. "She's helped us win a lot of games and I want to get her to a national tournament. There are a lot of seniors that have poured a lot into this program that I want to get to that next step, that pinnacle of what we're working for."

Six others who saw considerable duty also return. Senior guard <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/2f03bfa1-2d43-478d-9273-a9045e140273?elinkdata=14262">Catherine Bowman</a> (3.8 points per game) is back along with junior guards <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/87ab4f0d-5955-44be-af16-3a3a19afab1c?elinkdata=14262">Angel Lee</a> (9.6 ppg) and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/9e99211a-d789-4a50-9dfb-a7b7ed266831?elinkdata=14262">Hampton Williams</a> (6.9 ppg) and sophomore point guard <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/ab0760f4-32f4-45e9-a5cd-6436201f6d05?elinkdata=14262">Odessa Ozuna</a> (6.9 ppg).

Lee was superb late in the season and Bowman excelled on defense. Williams was slowed by an injury that forced her to miss 10 games while Ozuna was solid as Ricks' backup in her freshman year.

"Angel is finishing up nursing clinicals this year and played really well off the bench in January, February and finished a lot of games," Showman said. "Cat worked her tail off in the summertime on things she needed to. She is way better offensively.

"Hampton has come back in better shape and worked extremely hard over the summer. We're going to get her back to her normal four spot which is out on the perimeter. I expect her to have a really big year. Odessa absolutely took those steps we needed from freshmen to sophomore year. She looks really good."

Several other veterans also return in senior post players <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/6d2531be-4738-4dba-bf2f-a7569fae0e82?elinkdata=14262">Alexis Dixon</a> (4.8 ppg) and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/5c420402-44d8-4833-be7c-f21c786aa63e?elinkdata=14262">Skyler Evans</a> (3.3 ppg), who combined for 13 starts; senior guards <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/7c536041-f265-4b79-ad41-b169e11221b4?elinkdata=14262">Megan Foote</a> (1.5 ppg), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c71b94cc-2ce1-4d91-a81a-e2914a5329c8?elinkdata=14262">Kourtney Kaufman</a> (2.9 ppg), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/005cb947-ffe3-4288-9cce-d652842d105f?elinkdata=14262">Angel Roman</a> (1.7 ppg) and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/0999dd49-cee0-486d-918d-4c71761d48cc?elinkdata=14262">Jada Renner</a>; junior guards <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/0e950907-7dca-48ac-8e31-0aee1d2d87ec?elinkdata=14262">Madison Lambert</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/5ab0ff0d-1dec-4b0c-92a9-20ed2555ef7b?elinkdata=14262">Adriana DiPrima</a> (1.2) and sophomore center <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/e6650023-e22a-497e-9cb2-c82d7787b1b6?elinkdata=14262">Paige Chauncey</a>.

"What I've seen in the second year is two players (Dixon and Evans) that are way more comfortable," Showman said. "They've bought into what we're doing different offensively because it centers around them in more of a different role and they're figuring that out.

"Foote had a tough junior year but she has a different mindset, a different outlook on things. We're trying to get (Kaufman) a little more consistent defensively but if she can continue to shoot like she has she's going to change how defenses play us. Lambert and DiPrima both worked really hard this summer."

Showman bolstered the roster with three transfers - junior college guards <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/3735ca4a-6de2-4ffb-9045-dd39dc4d944b?elinkdata=14262">Kelsey Koza</a> from Hesston and Abigail Lambardoni from Fort Fulton (N.Y.) and forward <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/17afd386-4f0c-4bc4-b1d1-d8ded33a7e70?elinkdata=14262">Jocelyn Hall</a> from Division II Illinois-Springfield.

"We've got to get better from the 3-point line," Showman said. "Kelsey shot 35 percent at Hesston, Abby 37 percent so those numbers translate. We can't rely on Jill, LaMyah and Odessa, we need fourth, fifth and sixth options.

"Hall is not as big and strong as Alexa or Skyler but she's long and athletic and provides a different look. She can get to the basket and use her length."

Showman believes the Coyotes are primed for a good season.

"There is depth at every position and now as head coach I need to figure out who's starting, I need to figure out our rotation," he said. "Practices have been really competitive and it's been quality reps by quality players."

Showman has two new assistant coaches. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/4b233744-baf3-41f4-adf4-09ae281eb81b?elinkdata=14262">Madelyne Denslow</a> is the full-time assistant after serving as a graduate assistant at Midwestern State. She played at Stephens College. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/190ff4f8-9c1d-4e78-a69d-f3bcf07ab864?elinkdata=14262">Peyton Crowe</a> is the graduate assistant and a former player at Columbia College.

"Both of them have a great energy, a great presence around the team, really good voice, they know their stuff," Showman said. "I'm thankful to have them."

Showman says the KCAC will be ultra-competitive.

"It's going to be a dog fight every night, there's experience top to bottom," he said. "I think the top six are going to be extremely tough, but I don't think you can sleep on the bottom eight. You better be ready to play on any given night."

The 2023-24 season was a success for the Kansas Wesleyan women's basketball team.The Coyotes finished 17-13 and tied Evangel for fourth place in the Kansas Conference standings with a 14-8 record. They won seven of their last 10 games losing to eventual champion Tabor in the semifinals of the conference's postseason tournament.Coach <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/48d85863-52e6-4ea8-9fe0-b498744a7e1f?elinkdata=14262">Ryan Showman</a> was not entirely thrilled, though."When you really dive into the numbers there's probably no reason we should have been in fourth place," he said. "We didn't shoot the ball very well, we didn't take care of it very well, we didn't rebound particularly well, we didn't shoot the 3-ball very well at all."I thought we were playing really good in January and February; we won some games that we needed to on the road. ... We went from seventh place to fourth place in the span of a month by winning road games against people above us. You've got a gritty team that just willed themselves to victory."Four starters and several top reserves return but Showman worked hard during the offseason to make improvements."Our conversations in the spring and the summer were that we want to take that next step," he said. "We have to shoot the ball better, we have to defend better, we have to do those little things that add up in the win column. That's been our focus."Point guard <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/64b34eee-ae75-4e9b-a706-307b6ac91ca8?elinkdata=14262">LaMyah Ricks</a> and shooting guard <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/d8c33b5b-d044-49e0-945b-db4d8c95531d?elinkdata=14262">Jill Stephens</a> headline the list of returning players. Both are fifth-year players - Ricks has been at KWU for five years and Stephens three. Ricks was named All-KCAC Second Team while Stephens was Honorable Mention. Stephens was the top scorer (11.3 points) and Ricks close behind (11.2)."<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/f4cbc102-e664-44ab-aedf-76df4d1968c9?elinkdata=14262">LaMyah Ricks</a> is a very decorated point guard for us," Showman said. "She's helped us win a lot of games and I want to get her to a national tournament. There are a lot of seniors that have poured a lot into this program that I want to get to that next step, that pinnacle of what we're working for."Six others who saw considerable duty also return. Senior guard <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/2f03bfa1-2d43-478d-9273-a9045e140273?elinkdata=14262">Catherine Bowman</a> (3.8 points per game) is back along with junior guards <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/87ab4f0d-5955-44be-af16-3a3a19afab1c?elinkdata=14262">Angel Lee</a> (9.6 ppg) and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/9e99211a-d789-4a50-9dfb-a7b7ed266831?elinkdata=14262">Hampton Williams</a> (6.9 ppg) and sophomore point guard <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/ab0760f4-32f4-45e9-a5cd-6436201f6d05?elinkdata=14262">Odessa Ozuna</a> (6.9 ppg).Lee was superb late in the season and Bowman excelled on defense. Williams was slowed by an injury that forced her to miss 10 games while Ozuna was solid as Ricks' backup in her freshman year."Angel is finishing up nursing clinicals this year and played really well off the bench in January, February and finished a lot of games," Showman said. "Cat worked her tail off in the summertime on things she needed to. She is way better offensively."Hampton has come back in better shape and worked extremely hard over the summer. We're going to get her back to her normal four spot which is out on the perimeter. I expect her to have a really big year. Odessa absolutely took those steps we needed from freshmen to sophomore year. She looks really good."Several other veterans also return in senior post players <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/6d2531be-4738-4dba-bf2f-a7569fae0e82?elinkdata=14262">Alexis Dixon</a> (4.8 ppg) and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/5c420402-44d8-4833-be7c-f21c786aa63e?elinkdata=14262">Skyler Evans</a> (3.3 ppg), who combined for 13 starts; senior guards <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/7c536041-f265-4b79-ad41-b169e11221b4?elinkdata=14262">Megan Foote</a> (1.5 ppg), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c71b94cc-2ce1-4d91-a81a-e2914a5329c8?elinkdata=14262">Kourtney Kaufman</a> (2.9 ppg), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/005cb947-ffe3-4288-9cce-d652842d105f?elinkdata=14262">Angel Roman</a> (1.7 ppg) and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/0999dd49-cee0-486d-918d-4c71761d48cc?elinkdata=14262">Jada Renner</a>; junior guards <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/0e950907-7dca-48ac-8e31-0aee1d2d87ec?elinkdata=14262">Madison Lambert</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/5ab0ff0d-1dec-4b0c-92a9-20ed2555ef7b?elinkdata=14262">Adriana DiPrima</a> (1.2) and sophomore center <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/e6650023-e22a-497e-9cb2-c82d7787b1b6?elinkdata=14262">Paige Chauncey</a>."What I've seen in the second year is two players (Dixon and Evans) that are way more comfortable," Showman said. "They've bought into what we're doing different offensively because it centers around them in more of a different role and they're figuring that out."Foote had a tough junior year but she has a different mindset, a different outlook on things. We're trying to get (Kaufman) a little more consistent defensively but if she can continue to shoot like she has she's going to change how defenses play us. Lambert and DiPrima both worked really hard this summer."Showman bolstered the roster with three transfers - junior college guards <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/3735ca4a-6de2-4ffb-9045-dd39dc4d944b?elinkdata=14262">Kelsey Koza</a> from Hesston and Abigail Lambardoni from Fort Fulton (N.Y.) and forward <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/17afd386-4f0c-4bc4-b1d1-d8ded33a7e70?elinkdata=14262">Jocelyn Hall</a> from Division II Illinois-Springfield."We've got to get better from the 3-point line," Showman said. "Kelsey shot 35 percent at Hesston, Abby 37 percent so those numbers translate. We can't rely on Jill, LaMyah and Odessa, we need fourth, fifth and sixth options."Hall is not as big and strong as Alexa or Skyler but she's long and athletic and provides a different look. She can get to the basket and use her length."Showman believes the Coyotes are primed for a good season."There is depth at every position and now as head coach I need to figure out who's starting, I need to figure out our rotation," he said. "Practices have been really competitive and it's been quality reps by quality players."Showman has two new assistant coaches. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/4b233744-baf3-41f4-adf4-09ae281eb81b?elinkdata=14262">Madelyne Denslow</a> is the full-time assistant after serving as a graduate assistant at Midwestern State. She played at Stephens College. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/190ff4f8-9c1d-4e78-a69d-f3bcf07ab864?elinkdata=14262">Peyton Crowe</a> is the graduate assistant and a former player at Columbia College."Both of them have a great energy, a great presence around the team, really good voice, they know their stuff," Showman said. "I'm thankful to have them."Showman says the KCAC will be ultra-competitive."It's going to be a dog fight every night, there's experience top to bottom," he said. "I think the top six are going to be extremely tough, but I don't think you can sleep on the bottom eight. You better be ready to play on any given night."

WBB Season Preview - Experienced Coyotes ready for 2024-25 season

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–&nbsp;(13/13) K-State used its only exhibition tune-up on Wednesday night at Bramlage Coliseum to stifle Washburn with an 89-36 win.

K-State featured four players in double figures led by senior Temira Poindexter with a perfect night of 14 points on 5-of-5 shooting, including 2-of-2 from three-point range and 2-of-2 from the foul line.

Senior Ayoka Lee added 11 points and seven rebounds in 12 minutes, while sophomore Zyanna Walker carded 11 points, five rebounds and five assists. Senior Kennedy Taylor came off the bench to notch 10 points, five rebounds, four steals and two blocks.

- K-State used a 15-2 run over a five-minute stretch in the first quarter to build a 21-9 lead after the opening frame. The Wildcats had six assists on its seven made field goals in the first 10 minutes and shot 58.3 percent (7-of-12) from the field, including 50.0 percent (4-of-8) from long range.

- The Wildcats used a 14-2 run over the first four minutes of the second quarter to build a 35-11 lead. Poindexter started the scoring with an acrobatic finish on a 3-point play with 8:57 remaining. Sundell followed with a 3-pointer that saw every Wildcat make one pass from one side of the floor to the other.

- Zyanna Walker added a layup, while Sundell cashed in a transition layup. Sundell connected on a lob to Poindexter with 6:18 left in the second quarter and Ayoka Lee ended the run with a layup.

- Washburn to pull to within 18, 37-19, with 2:23 remaining but a Taryn Sides 3-pointer with a minute left gave the Wildcats a 40-19 halftime lead.

- K-State shot 46.9 percent (15-of-32) in the first half, including 37.5 percent (6-of-16) from 3-point range. The Wildcats held the Ichabods to 29.2 percent (7-of-24) shooting, including 28.6 percent (2-of-7) from long range.

- Lee would score eight of K-State’s first 10 points of the third quarter to stake the Wildcats to a 51-21 lead and force a Washburn timeout with 6:44 to play.

- K-State ended the third quarter on a 17-2 run and held a 70-25 lead heading to the fourth quarter. The Wildcats outscored the Ichabods 30-6 in the third frame. K-State scored 30 or more points in a quarter twice last season, including a season-high of 36 in the third quarter against Missouri on Dec.9, 2023.

- The Wildcats ended the night shooting 48.5 percent (32-of-66) from the field, including 37.5 percent (9-of-24) from the 3-point line.

- Washburn was held to 23.2 percent shooting (13-of-56), including 15.8 percent (3-of-19) from long range. The Wildcats forced the Ichabods into 31 turnovers, which K-State turned into 36 points.

On what he looks for in an exhibition like this…

“I think that there'll be some things that we really like. I thought at times we played really unselfishly. I thought we saw [Temira] Poindexter do some good things out there. I thought Jae [Jaelyn Glenn] was really active defensively. I thought Serena had a pretty good pace to her. I bet we haven't spent 20 minutes live against the press. And so when they started pressing. I was like ‘oh, this will be interesting, this will be good practice for us.’ So what they did tonight, we haven’t spent a whole lot of time on, so it's really good for us in the sense that a lot of players had to play positions that we've only kind of shelled. We do five minutes three times a week on press break, but it's with no defense. It's kind of a warm up drill for spacing, but we really haven't spent any time in live practice. So I was pleased.Obviously, [Gisele] Sanchez struggled in the first half with the turnovers, but I thought she made a good adjustment in the second half and calmed down a little bit. Kennedy [Taylor] struggled a little bit in terms of the speed of the game. We wanted that center to be a finisher, but she made good corrections in the second half. I thought our defense got better as the game went on. I go into this game, and into every exhibition game and the minutes are already decided. It is way more important for me to get answers about our rotation, to see different lineups, to let a player play through a rough stretch, to see how they respond to that. And I thought there were some good things.”

On how well Zyanna Walker handled starting…

“I thought early on, she was pretty tentative, she was indecisive, but I thought as the game wore on, you really saw her play well. She has been the hardest worker since spring, in the gym all the time. As you guys have heard me say before, I talk about coaching players who do the right thing. What I mean by that is, if I come up to the office at nine o'clock at night and the music's playing, if I come in there at five in the morning before a lovely early morning flight out of Manhattan, I've caught Zyanna doing a lot of good things, so I like what she gives us. Defensively, she has the ability to really be active there, and then offensively, I think her game continues to grow.”

On Temira Poindexter’s performance…

“I was really pleased with her unselfishness in stretches. I'd like to see her be more aggressive against the press, but when you've never practiced against the press, you're working on 5, 6, 7, 8, passes. I thought she had an opportunity to just get it and go. But to her credit, she didn't force things. She didn't do too many crazy things, she played within herself, but I think you'll see her make more plays as the season goes along.”

On Kennedy Taylor’s performance…

“I think she's had good practices, we've been really pleased with her practices recently, I think she had some nerves tonight, I think a Kansas kid coming home had some nerves early. But I thought she played better, and I thought she did some really good things, particularly her third and fourth rotations back in the game. I thought she played well.”

On adapting to K-State after transferring…

“It's been good. I feel like I've integrated into the team pretty well. They’ve all been so welcoming and so supportive. I feel like we played good tonight, I feel like it was good practice, we still have a lot of stuff we obviously need to work on, but overall, it was like a good practice game for us.”

On adapting to becoming a starter…

“I would say I'm pretty comfortable. We've really gained a lot of chemistry throughout the summer and throughout the preseason, so everything's kind of coming together for this team, and the sky's the limit.”

On expectations for this year’s team…

“I'm so excited to see where we end up. I think it can be a really long season for us, so that'll be really exciting. And I just can't wait to play in front of these great fans we have in Bramlage this season.”

On her reaction to being the only non-senior in the starting 5…

“I actually did not know that, and I didn't really think about that until you said that. But I guess that's an honor to just play with the veterans and people who have so much experience.”

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–&nbsp;(13/13) K-State used its only exhibition tune-up on Wednesday night at Bramlage Coliseum to stifle Washburn with an 89-36 win.K-State featured four players in double figures led by senior Temira Poindexter with a perfect night of 14 points on 5-of-5 shooting, including 2-of-2 from three-point range and 2-of-2 from the foul line.Senior Ayoka Lee added 11 points and seven rebounds in 12 minutes, while sophomore Zyanna Walker carded 11 points, five rebounds and five assists. Senior Kennedy Taylor came off the bench to notch 10 points, five rebounds, four steals and two blocks.HOW IT HAPPENED- K-State used a 15-2 run over a five-minute stretch in the first quarter to build a 21-9 lead after the opening frame. The Wildcats had six assists on its seven made field goals in the first 10 minutes and shot 58.3 percent (7-of-12) from the field, including 50.0 percent (4-of-8) from long range.- The Wildcats used a 14-2 run over the first four minutes of the second quarter to build a 35-11 lead. Poindexter started the scoring with an acrobatic finish on a 3-point play with 8:57 remaining. Sundell followed with a 3-pointer that saw every Wildcat make one pass from one side of the floor to the other.- Zyanna Walker added a layup, while Sundell cashed in a transition layup. Sundell connected on a lob to Poindexter with 6:18 left in the second quarter and Ayoka Lee ended the run with a layup.- Washburn to pull to within 18, 37-19, with 2:23 remaining but a Taryn Sides 3-pointer with a minute left gave the Wildcats a 40-19 halftime lead.- K-State shot 46.9 percent (15-of-32) in the first half, including 37.5 percent (6-of-16) from 3-point range. The Wildcats held the Ichabods to 29.2 percent (7-of-24) shooting, including 28.6 percent (2-of-7) from long range.- Lee would score eight of K-State’s first 10 points of the third quarter to stake the Wildcats to a 51-21 lead and force a Washburn timeout with 6:44 to play.- K-State ended the third quarter on a 17-2 run and held a 70-25 lead heading to the fourth quarter. The Wildcats outscored the Ichabods 30-6 in the third frame. K-State scored 30 or more points in a quarter twice last season, including a season-high of 36 in the third quarter against Missouri on Dec.9, 2023.- K-State won the fourth quarter, 19-11.- The Wildcats ended the night shooting 48.5 percent (32-of-66) from the field, including 37.5 percent (9-of-24) from the 3-point line.- Washburn was held to 23.2 percent shooting (13-of-56), including 15.8 percent (3-of-19) from long range. The Wildcats forced the Ichabods into 31 turnovers, which K-State turned into 36 points.FROM THE HEAD COACHK-State Head Coach Jeff MittieOn what he looks for in an exhibition like this…“I think that there'll be some things that we really like. I thought at times we played really unselfishly. I thought we saw [Temira] Poindexter do some good things out there. I thought Jae [Jaelyn Glenn] was really active defensively. I thought Serena had a pretty good pace to her. I bet we haven't spent 20 minutes live against the press. And so when they started pressing. I was like ‘oh, this will be interesting, this will be good practice for us.’ So what they did tonight, we haven’t spent a whole lot of time on, so it's really good for us in the sense that a lot of players had to play positions that we've only kind of shelled. We do five minutes three times a week on press break, but it's with no defense. It's kind of a warm up drill for spacing, but we really haven't spent any time in live practice. So I was pleased.Obviously, [Gisele] Sanchez struggled in the first half with the turnovers, but I thought she made a good adjustment in the second half and calmed down a little bit. Kennedy [Taylor] struggled a little bit in terms of the speed of the game. We wanted that center to be a finisher, but she made good corrections in the second half. I thought our defense got better as the game went on. I go into this game, and into every exhibition game and the minutes are already decided. It is way more important for me to get answers about our rotation, to see different lineups, to let a player play through a rough stretch, to see how they respond to that. And I thought there were some good things.”On how well Zyanna Walker handled starting…“I thought early on, she was pretty tentative, she was indecisive, but I thought as the game wore on, you really saw her play well. She has been the hardest worker since spring, in the gym all the time. As you guys have heard me say before, I talk about coaching players who do the right thing. What I mean by that is, if I come up to the office at nine o'clock at night and the music's playing, if I come in there at five in the morning before a lovely early morning flight out of Manhattan, I've caught Zyanna doing a lot of good things, so I like what she gives us. Defensively, she has the ability to really be active there, and then offensively, I think her game continues to grow.”On Temira Poindexter’s performance…“I was really pleased with her unselfishness in stretches. I'd like to see her be more aggressive against the press, but when you've never practiced against the press, you're working on 5, 6, 7, 8, passes. I thought she had an opportunity to just get it and go. But to her credit, she didn't force things. She didn't do too many crazy things, she played within herself, but I think you'll see her make more plays as the season goes along.”On Kennedy Taylor’s performance…“I think she's had good practices, we've been really pleased with her practices recently, I think she had some nerves tonight, I think a Kansas kid coming home had some nerves early. But I thought she played better, and I thought she did some really good things, particularly her third and fourth rotations back in the game. I thought she played well.”FROM THE FLOORK-State Senior Forward Temira PoindexterOn adapting to K-State after transferring…“It's been good. I feel like I've integrated into the team pretty well. They’ve all been so welcoming and so supportive. I feel like we played good tonight, I feel like it was good practice, we still have a lot of stuff we obviously need to work on, but overall, it was like a good practice game for us.”K-State Sophomore Guard Zyanna WalkerOn adapting to becoming a starter…“I would say I'm pretty comfortable. We've really gained a lot of chemistry throughout the summer and throughout the preseason, so everything's kind of coming together for this team, and the sky's the limit.”On expectations for this year’s team…“I'm so excited to see where we end up. I think it can be a really long season for us, so that'll be really exciting. And I just can't wait to play in front of these great fans we have in Bramlage this season.”On her reaction to being the only non-senior in the starting 5…“I actually did not know that, and I didn't really think about that until you said that. But I guess that's an honor to just play with the veterans and people who have so much experience.”UP NEXT

No. 13 K-State Cruises in Exhibition Win over Washburn

LINDSBORG - Kansas Wesleyan Women's Volleyball picked up a straight set win over the Bethany College Swedes on Wednesday night 25-16, 25-20, 25-18 inslde Bethany's Hahn Gymnasium.

The victory is the sixth straight for the Coyotes over Bethany and improves KWU's record to 6-4 in the KCAC and 16-10 overall as KWU continues to jockey for a spot in the KCAC playoffs that begin November 12 with quarterfinal matches at high-seed home sites.

Wesleyan immediately put the hammer down against the Swedes as KWU took a 5-0 lead to open the match and extended the difference to 8-2 on a Bethany hitting error by Melia Coleman.

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/6e0ffda6-2128-4ce1-9e86-919b1da679b3?elinkdata=14236">Rylee Serpan's</a> kill made it 11-4 Coyotes before Bethany scored the next three points to make it 11-7. Back came Wesleyan with a charge. A kill by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/03c586aa-02ec-4e2a-828a-7f068d8ef96f?elinkdata=14236">Gianna Adriaanse</a> and a service ace by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/542e9c16-a3c1-4a17-aee5-9e1811cb913e?elinkdata=14236">Sarah Girard</a> got things rolling for the Coyotes as KWU capped a 6-1 run with a block by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c9c1153d-0e3d-4b1e-9e3f-101e07a5a472?elinkdata=14236">Kyla Moore</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/97c0bc1f-043f-4014-9f83-8aa3a4800012?elinkdata=14236">Josie Deckinger</a> on an attack attempt by Cara Cox.

Another 4-1 run by the Coyotes made it 21-10 when Bethany made a run of its own, scoring six straight points to cut the difference to 21-16. Wesleyan would score the last four points of the set all coming on kills, two by Serpan, one by Adriaanse and one by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/3e3b18c0-57a8-4fdb-be2e-ba71a65c654d?elinkdata=14236">Kate Bebout</a> to close out the set.

The second set was back and forth as neither team could make any sort of an extended run. It was tied 4-4 when the Coyotes got three in a row, the last two on kills by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/f377bbc1-32fb-429c-9a44-430b8e13ee87?elinkdata=14236">Kylee Harris</a> part of a 6-2 run that made it 10-6. The Coyotes led 13-9 after Autry Satica's hitting error, but the Swedes scored five of the next seven points to get within a point at 15-14.

The teams traded points back and forth until KWU led 18-16 on Adriaanse's kill, then Bethany scored the next three points to take a 19-18 lead. KWU came back out of a time out scoring the next three to take the lead back at 21-19.

Bethany got the next point after its own timeout to get within a point, but the Coyotes closed the door, ending the second set on back to back kills from Harris to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

Wesleyan raced out to a 7-1 lead in the final set, and led the set 15-6 after a Harris kill when Bethany made another run. Seven straight Bethany points went on the board as the Swedes cut the lead to 15-13.

Leading 17-15, the Coyotes scored six of the next seven points to take a 23-16 lead. The teams traded points back and forth to close out the match as <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/5e8c4cc6-8771-424f-a5dc-4142927df349?elinkdata=14236">Kate Bebout</a> ended it with a kill for the Coyote sweep.

Serpan led the Coyotes with 13 kills, while Adriaanse had 12 and Harris 10 as KWU hit .314 for the match overall. Deckinger had 37 assists in the match and added eight digs. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/1d91be73-ae7d-4fcd-83ac-f7131f38d1c3?elinkdata=14236">Kori Arnold</a> had 23 digs, and freshman <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/a59f98ad-f4a7-464a-9381-9cfeade1e0ba?elinkdata=14236">Tristyn Hedman</a> had 12.

Bethany hit .156 in the match and Satica had 11 kills and Cox had 10.

Wesleyan is back in action on Saturday as part of Nex-Tech Wireless Weekend on the KWU campus. The Coyotes start a wild day of athletic action with a match at 11 a.m. inside Mabee Arena. Prior to the match, KWU will honor its 2024 seniors.

LINDSBORG - Kansas Wesleyan Women's Volleyball picked up a straight set win over the Bethany College Swedes on Wednesday night 25-16, 25-20, 25-18 inslde Bethany's Hahn Gymnasium.The victory is the sixth straight for the Coyotes over Bethany and improves KWU's record to 6-4 in the KCAC and 16-10 overall as KWU continues to jockey for a spot in the KCAC playoffs that begin November 12 with quarterfinal matches at high-seed home sites.Wesleyan immediately put the hammer down against the Swedes as KWU took a 5-0 lead to open the match and extended the difference to 8-2 on a Bethany hitting error by Melia Coleman.<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/6e0ffda6-2128-4ce1-9e86-919b1da679b3?elinkdata=14236">Rylee Serpan's</a> kill made it 11-4 Coyotes before Bethany scored the next three points to make it 11-7. Back came Wesleyan with a charge. A kill by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/03c586aa-02ec-4e2a-828a-7f068d8ef96f?elinkdata=14236">Gianna Adriaanse</a> and a service ace by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/542e9c16-a3c1-4a17-aee5-9e1811cb913e?elinkdata=14236">Sarah Girard</a> got things rolling for the Coyotes as KWU capped a 6-1 run with a block by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c9c1153d-0e3d-4b1e-9e3f-101e07a5a472?elinkdata=14236">Kyla Moore</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/97c0bc1f-043f-4014-9f83-8aa3a4800012?elinkdata=14236">Josie Deckinger</a> on an attack attempt by Cara Cox.Another 4-1 run by the Coyotes made it 21-10 when Bethany made a run of its own, scoring six straight points to cut the difference to 21-16. Wesleyan would score the last four points of the set all coming on kills, two by Serpan, one by Adriaanse and one by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/3e3b18c0-57a8-4fdb-be2e-ba71a65c654d?elinkdata=14236">Kate Bebout</a> to close out the set.The second set was back and forth as neither team could make any sort of an extended run. It was tied 4-4 when the Coyotes got three in a row, the last two on kills by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/f377bbc1-32fb-429c-9a44-430b8e13ee87?elinkdata=14236">Kylee Harris</a> part of a 6-2 run that made it 10-6. The Coyotes led 13-9 after Autry Satica's hitting error, but the Swedes scored five of the next seven points to get within a point at 15-14.The teams traded points back and forth until KWU led 18-16 on Adriaanse's kill, then Bethany scored the next three points to take a 19-18 lead. KWU came back out of a time out scoring the next three to take the lead back at 21-19.Bethany got the next point after its own timeout to get within a point, but the Coyotes closed the door, ending the second set on back to back kills from Harris to take a 2-0 lead in the match.Wesleyan raced out to a 7-1 lead in the final set, and led the set 15-6 after a Harris kill when Bethany made another run. Seven straight Bethany points went on the board as the Swedes cut the lead to 15-13.Leading 17-15, the Coyotes scored six of the next seven points to take a 23-16 lead. The teams traded points back and forth to close out the match as <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/5e8c4cc6-8771-424f-a5dc-4142927df349?elinkdata=14236">Kate Bebout</a> ended it with a kill for the Coyote sweep.Serpan led the Coyotes with 13 kills, while Adriaanse had 12 and Harris 10 as KWU hit .314 for the match overall. Deckinger had 37 assists in the match and added eight digs. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/1d91be73-ae7d-4fcd-83ac-f7131f38d1c3?elinkdata=14236">Kori Arnold</a> had 23 digs, and freshman <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/a59f98ad-f4a7-464a-9381-9cfeade1e0ba?elinkdata=14236">Tristyn Hedman</a> had 12.Bethany hit .156 in the match and Satica had 11 kills and Cox had 10.Wesleyan is back in action on Saturday as part of Nex-Tech Wireless Weekend on the KWU campus. The Coyotes start a wild day of athletic action with a match at 11 a.m. inside Mabee Arena. Prior to the match, KWU will honor its 2024 seniors.

KWU Women's Volleyball sweeps the Swedes

NEW YORK (AP) — You gotta hand it to Freddie Freeman, Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

And not just because the Yankees certainly did.

When New York let LA back into World Series Game 5, the Dodgers did what they’ve done all year — kept on going.

After taking advantage of three miscues to erase a five-run, fifth-inning deficit during one of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-series-yankees-errors-ff3ca215e6064c1983e4cce4f41a97e0">most memorable midgame meltdowns in baseball history</a>, the Dodgers used eighth-inning sacrifice flies from Gavin Lux and Mookie Betts to beat New York 7-6 on Wednesday night.

"In spring training this is what we said we were going to do and we did it,” Betts proclaimed, champagne stinging his eyes.

Aaron Judge and Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit back-to-back home runs in the first inning for New York. Alex Verdugo’s RBI single&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/8475f75a8d70496adacb51f7b18cc9bf">chased Jack Flaherty in the second</a>, and Giancarlo Stanton’s third-inning homer against Ryan Brasier built a 5-0 Yankees lead.

In the dugout, the Dodgers remained focused.

“We were like just get one, chip away, chip away,” Freeman said.

Errors by Judge in center and Anthony Volpe at shortstop, combined with pitcher Gerrit Cole failing to cover first on Betts' grounder, helped Los Angeles score five unearned runs in the fifth.

Of the 234 teams to trail by five or more runs in a Series game, the Dodgers became just the seventh to win.

“This is going to sting forever,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “I'm heartbroken.”

After Stanton’s sixth-inning sacrifice fly put the Yankees back ahead 6-5, the Dodgers loaded the bases against loser Tommy Kahnle in the eighth before the sacrifice flies off Luke Weaver.

Judge doubled off winner Blake Treinen with one out in the bottom half and Chisholm walked. Manager Dave Roberts walked to the mound with Treinen at 37 pitches.

“I looked in his eyes. I said how you feeling? How much more you got?" Roberts recalled. “He said: `I want it.' I trust him.”

Treinen retired Stanton on a flyout and struck out Anthony Rizzo.

Walker Buehler, making his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/7c697f8d5b3444019845eba0503874d9">first relief appearance since his rookie season in 2018</a>, pitched a perfect ninth for his first major league save.

When Buehler struck out Verdugo to end the game, the Dodgers poured onto the field to celebrate between the mound and first base, capping a season in which they led the big leagues with 98 wins.

With several thousand Dodgers fans remaining in a mostly empty stadium, baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred presented the trophy on a platform quickly erected over second base.

Ohtani, the Dodgers’ record-setting $700 million signing and baseball’s first 50-homer, 50-steal player, went 2 for 19 with no RBIs and had one single after separating his left shoulder during a stolen base attempt in Game 2. Ohtani went through the clubhouse pouring champagne on teammates and having it sprayed on him

“We were able to get through the regular season, I think, because of the strength of this team, this organization,” he said through a translator. “The success of the postseason is very similar.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-series-freddie-freeman-dodgers-yankees-69c512cf5db1053d10f39e9012068293">Freeman hit a two-run single to tie the Series record of 12 RBIs</a>, set by Bobby Richardson over seven games in 1960, and was voted Series MVP. With the Dodgers one out from losing Friday’s opener, Freeman hit a game-ending grand slam reminiscent of Kirk Gibson’s homer off Oakland’s Dennis Eckersley in 1988’s Game 1 that sparked Los Angeles to the title.

The Dodgers earned their eighth championship and seventh since leaving Brooklyn for Los Angeles — their first in a non-shortened season since 1988. They won a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-series-los-angeles-dodgers-win-3f933853d5b790b87788142fc58adbd9">neutral-site World Series against Tampa Bay in 2020</a>&nbsp;after a 60-game regular season and couldn’t have a parade because of the coronavirus pandemic.

These Dodgers of Ohtani, Freeman and Betts joined the 1955 Duke Snider and Roy Campanella Boys of Summer, the Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale era that spanned the three titles from 1959-65, the Tommy Lasorda-led groups 1981 and ’88, and the Betts and Clayton Kershaw champions of 2020.

Ending a season that started with a gambling scandal involving Ohtani's interpreter during the opening series in South Korea, Roberts won his second championship in nine years as Dodgers manager, matching Lasorda and trailing the four of Walter Alston. The Dodgers won for the fourth time in 12 Series meetings with the Yankees.

New York remained without a title since its record 27th in 2009. The Yankees acquired Juan Soto from San Diego in December knowing he would be eligible for free agency after the 2024 Series. The 26-year-old star went 5 for 16 with one RBI in the Series heading into what will be intensely followed bidding on the open market.

“I'll be open to listen to every single team," Soto said. "I don't have any doors closed or anything like that, so I'm going to be available to all 30 teams.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-series-aaron-judge-yankees-3109939e98406dd0ef094d364068c7da">Judge finished 4 for 18 with three RBIs</a>.

“You can't give a good team like that extra outs,” Judge said. “It starts with me there in the line drive coming in, misplay that. So that doesn't happen then I think we got a different story tonight.”

Cole didn’t allow a hit until Kiké Hernández singled leading off the fifth. Judge, who an inning earlier made a leaping catch at the left-center wall to deny Freeman an extra-base hit, dropped Tommy Edman’s fly to center. Volpe then bounced a throw to third on Will Smith’s grounder, allowing the Dodgers to load the bases with no outs.

Cole struck out Lux and Ohtani, and Betts hit a grounder to Rizzo — a slow grounder by a Mookie turned the 1986 World Series, by the Mets' Mookie Wilson against Boston.

Cole didn’t cover first, pointing at Rizzo, who didn't charge because he was afraid the spinning ball might get past him. Betts outraced Rizzo to the bag.

“I took a bad angle to the ball,” Cole said. “I wasn't sure really off the bat how hard he hit it. ... By the time the ball got by me, I was not in a position to cover first.”

Freeman followed with a two-run single and Teoscar Hernández hit a tying two-run double.

“When you’re given extra outs and you capitalize in that kind of game, that’s huge," Freeman said. “For us to get it back to even, you could just feel the momentum just coming along.”

Stanton’s sixth-inning sacrifice fly off Brusdar Graterol put the Yankees ahead 6-5, but the Dodgers rallied one last time in the eighth after Kiké Hernández singled off Kahnle leading off, Edman followed with an infield hit, and Smith walked on four pitches.

“We faced every adversity possible and we overcame every single one,” Freeman said, who won his second title after 2021 with Atlanta, and rebounded from a sprained ankle to homer in each of the first four Series games.

<a href="https://apnews.com/ddce0cc3fd284b9f96d69ee457230df7">Purchased by Guggenheim Baseball Management in 2012</a>, the Dodgers hired Andrew Friedman from Tampa Bay to head their baseball operations two years later. He boosted the front office with a multitude of analytics and performance science staff, and ownership supplied the cash.

Los Angeles went on an unprecedented $1.25 billion spending spree last offseason on deals with Ohtani, pitchers Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and James Paxton, and outfielder Teoscar Hernández. Much of the money was future obligations that raised the Dodgers’ deferred compensation to $915.5 million owed from 2028-44.

Faced with injuries, the Dodgers acquired Flaherty, Edman and reliever Michael Kopech ahead of the trade deadline, and all became important cogs in the title run. The additions boosted payroll to $266 million, third behind the Mets and the Yankees, plus a projected $43 million luxury tax.

Los Angeles will celebrate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-dodgers-world-series-parade-b50eef167a230b92b29ae725f69f2236">with a parade</a>&nbsp;Friday on what would have been the 64th birthday for Dodgers great Fernando Valenzuela, who died three days before the Series opener.

“It’s going to be emotional for all of us," Roberts said.

Los Angeles opens its spring schedule on Feb. 20 against the Chicago Cubs at Camelback Ranch, and the Yankees start the next day against Tampa Bay in Tampa, Florida.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1730348282298.jpeg" alt="The Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate their win against the New York Yankees in Game 5 to win the baseball World Series, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)" />
 <figcaption>The Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate their win against the New York Yankees in Game 5 to win the baseball World Series, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — You gotta hand it to Freddie Freeman, Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers.And not just because the Yankees certainly did.When New York let LA back into World Series Game 5, the Dodgers did what they’ve done all year — kept on going.After taking advantage of three miscues to erase a five-run, fifth-inning deficit during one of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-series-yankees-errors-ff3ca215e6064c1983e4cce4f41a97e0">most memorable midgame meltdowns in baseball history</a>, the Dodgers used eighth-inning sacrifice flies from Gavin Lux and Mookie Betts to beat New York 7-6 on Wednesday night."In spring training this is what we said we were going to do and we did it,” Betts proclaimed, champagne stinging his eyes.Aaron Judge and Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit back-to-back home runs in the first inning for New York. Alex Verdugo’s RBI single&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/8475f75a8d70496adacb51f7b18cc9bf">chased Jack Flaherty in the second</a>, and Giancarlo Stanton’s third-inning homer against Ryan Brasier built a 5-0 Yankees lead.In the dugout, the Dodgers remained focused.“We were like just get one, chip away, chip away,” Freeman said.Errors by Judge in center and Anthony Volpe at shortstop, combined with pitcher Gerrit Cole failing to cover first on Betts' grounder, helped Los Angeles score five unearned runs in the fifth.Of the 234 teams to trail by five or more runs in a Series game, the Dodgers became just the seventh to win.“This is going to sting forever,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “I'm heartbroken.”After Stanton’s sixth-inning sacrifice fly put the Yankees back ahead 6-5, the Dodgers loaded the bases against loser Tommy Kahnle in the eighth before the sacrifice flies off Luke Weaver.Judge doubled off winner Blake Treinen with one out in the bottom half and Chisholm walked. Manager Dave Roberts walked to the mound with Treinen at 37 pitches.“I looked in his eyes. I said how you feeling? How much more you got?" Roberts recalled. “He said: `I want it.' I trust him.”Treinen retired Stanton on a flyout and struck out Anthony Rizzo.Walker Buehler, making his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/7c697f8d5b3444019845eba0503874d9">first relief appearance since his rookie season in 2018</a>, pitched a perfect ninth for his first major league save.When Buehler struck out Verdugo to end the game, the Dodgers poured onto the field to celebrate between the mound and first base, capping a season in which they led the big leagues with 98 wins.With several thousand Dodgers fans remaining in a mostly empty stadium, baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred presented the trophy on a platform quickly erected over second base.Ohtani, the Dodgers’ record-setting $700 million signing and baseball’s first 50-homer, 50-steal player, went 2 for 19 with no RBIs and had one single after separating his left shoulder during a stolen base attempt in Game 2. Ohtani went through the clubhouse pouring champagne on teammates and having it sprayed on him“We were able to get through the regular season, I think, because of the strength of this team, this organization,” he said through a translator. “The success of the postseason is very similar.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-series-freddie-freeman-dodgers-yankees-69c512cf5db1053d10f39e9012068293">Freeman hit a two-run single to tie the Series record of 12 RBIs</a>, set by Bobby Richardson over seven games in 1960, and was voted Series MVP. With the Dodgers one out from losing Friday’s opener, Freeman hit a game-ending grand slam reminiscent of Kirk Gibson’s homer off Oakland’s Dennis Eckersley in 1988’s Game 1 that sparked Los Angeles to the title.The Dodgers earned their eighth championship and seventh since leaving Brooklyn for Los Angeles — their first in a non-shortened season since 1988. They won a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-series-los-angeles-dodgers-win-3f933853d5b790b87788142fc58adbd9">neutral-site World Series against Tampa Bay in 2020</a>&nbsp;after a 60-game regular season and couldn’t have a parade because of the coronavirus pandemic.These Dodgers of Ohtani, Freeman and Betts joined the 1955 Duke Snider and Roy Campanella Boys of Summer, the Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale era that spanned the three titles from 1959-65, the Tommy Lasorda-led groups 1981 and ’88, and the Betts and Clayton Kershaw champions of 2020.Ending a season that started with a gambling scandal involving Ohtani's interpreter during the opening series in South Korea, Roberts won his second championship in nine years as Dodgers manager, matching Lasorda and trailing the four of Walter Alston. The Dodgers won for the fourth time in 12 Series meetings with the Yankees.New York remained without a title since its record 27th in 2009. The Yankees acquired Juan Soto from San Diego in December knowing he would be eligible for free agency after the 2024 Series. The 26-year-old star went 5 for 16 with one RBI in the Series heading into what will be intensely followed bidding on the open market.“I'll be open to listen to every single team," Soto said. "I don't have any doors closed or anything like that, so I'm going to be available to all 30 teams.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-series-aaron-judge-yankees-3109939e98406dd0ef094d364068c7da">Judge finished 4 for 18 with three RBIs</a>.“You can't give a good team like that extra outs,” Judge said. “It starts with me there in the line drive coming in, misplay that. So that doesn't happen then I think we got a different story tonight.”Cole didn’t allow a hit until Kiké Hernández singled leading off the fifth. Judge, who an inning earlier made a leaping catch at the left-center wall to deny Freeman an extra-base hit, dropped Tommy Edman’s fly to center. Volpe then bounced a throw to third on Will Smith’s grounder, allowing the Dodgers to load the bases with no outs.Cole struck out Lux and Ohtani, and Betts hit a grounder to Rizzo — a slow grounder by a Mookie turned the 1986 World Series, by the Mets' Mookie Wilson against Boston.Cole didn’t cover first, pointing at Rizzo, who didn't charge because he was afraid the spinning ball might get past him. Betts outraced Rizzo to the bag.“I took a bad angle to the ball,” Cole said. “I wasn't sure really off the bat how hard he hit it. ... By the time the ball got by me, I was not in a position to cover first.”Freeman followed with a two-run single and Teoscar Hernández hit a tying two-run double.“When you’re given extra outs and you capitalize in that kind of game, that’s huge," Freeman said. “For us to get it back to even, you could just feel the momentum just coming along.”Stanton’s sixth-inning sacrifice fly off Brusdar Graterol put the Yankees ahead 6-5, but the Dodgers rallied one last time in the eighth after Kiké Hernández singled off Kahnle leading off, Edman followed with an infield hit, and Smith walked on four pitches.“We faced every adversity possible and we overcame every single one,” Freeman said, who won his second title after 2021 with Atlanta, and rebounded from a sprained ankle to homer in each of the first four Series games.<a href="https://apnews.com/ddce0cc3fd284b9f96d69ee457230df7">Purchased by Guggenheim Baseball Management in 2012</a>, the Dodgers hired Andrew Friedman from Tampa Bay to head their baseball operations two years later. He boosted the front office with a multitude of analytics and performance science staff, and ownership supplied the cash.Los Angeles went on an unprecedented $1.25 billion spending spree last offseason on deals with Ohtani, pitchers Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and James Paxton, and outfielder Teoscar Hernández. Much of the money was future obligations that raised the Dodgers’ deferred compensation to $915.5 million owed from 2028-44.Faced with injuries, the Dodgers acquired Flaherty, Edman and reliever Michael Kopech ahead of the trade deadline, and all became important cogs in the title run. The additions boosted payroll to $266 million, third behind the Mets and the Yankees, plus a projected $43 million luxury tax.Los Angeles will celebrate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-dodgers-world-series-parade-b50eef167a230b92b29ae725f69f2236">with a parade</a>&nbsp;Friday on what would have been the 64th birthday for Dodgers great Fernando Valenzuela, who died three days before the Series opener.“It’s going to be emotional for all of us," Roberts said.UP NEXTLos Angeles opens its spring schedule on Feb. 20 against the Chicago Cubs at Camelback Ranch, and the Yankees start the next day against Tampa Bay in Tampa, Florida.

⚾ Dodgers win World Series in 5 games over the Yankees

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Senior transfer Coleman Hawkins has been selected to the Watch List for the 2024-25 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Men’s College Player of the Year presented by AXIA Time on Wednesday (October 30) by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.

Hawkins was joined on the Watch List by 11 other players in the Big 12, including Arizona’s Caleb Love, Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe, Norchad Omier and Jeremy Roach, Houston’s L.J. Cryer and J’Wan Roberts, Iowa State’s Tamin Lipsey, Kansas’ Hunter Dickinson, Dajuan Harris Jr and AJ Storr and West Virginia’s Tucker DeVries.

This is yet another preseason honor for Hawkins, who was selected as the Preseason Big 12 co-Newcomer of the Year and to the All-Big 12 Second Team by the league coaches on Oct. 10. He was the first Wildcat to be chosen as the Preseason Newcomer of the Year in the 27-year history of the league and the fourth to be chosen for a preseason player honor.

It marks the second consecutive season that a Wildcat has been named to the Naismith Trophy Watch List, as then senior Tylor Perry was selected to the 2024 list.

Former Wildcats Keyontae Johnson and Markquis Nowell were not named to the preseason team but were among 28 players selected to the 2022-23 Naismith Player of the Year Midseason Team, while Johnson was one of 10 semi-finalists for the award.

Hawkins was a Second Team All-Big Ten selection in 2023-24 after averaging a career-high 12.1 points per game for the Fighting Illini while posting career-bests for field goal percentage (45.1), 3-point field goal percentage (36.9) and free throw percentage (79.2). He is the only player in Illinois history with at least 900 points, 500 rebounds, 200 assists, 100 blocks and 100 steals.

Hawkins enjoyed a solid debut for the Wildcats in the 70-56 exhibition win over Division II Fort Hays State on Tuesday night, as he posted 13 points on 3-of-7 field goals, including 2-of-4 from 3-point range, to go with a team-high 6 assists, 7 rebounds and 2 steals in 32 minutes.

K-State will officially tip off the season on Tuesday, Nov. 5 against New Orleans at 7 p.m., CT.

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Senior transfer Coleman Hawkins has been selected to the Watch List for the 2024-25 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Men’s College Player of the Year presented by AXIA Time on Wednesday (October 30) by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.Hawkins was joined on the Watch List by 11 other players in the Big 12, including Arizona’s Caleb Love, Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe, Norchad Omier and Jeremy Roach, Houston’s L.J. Cryer and J’Wan Roberts, Iowa State’s Tamin Lipsey, Kansas’ Hunter Dickinson, Dajuan Harris Jr and AJ Storr and West Virginia’s Tucker DeVries.This is yet another preseason honor for Hawkins, who was selected as the Preseason Big 12 co-Newcomer of the Year and to the All-Big 12 Second Team by the league coaches on Oct. 10. He was the first Wildcat to be chosen as the Preseason Newcomer of the Year in the 27-year history of the league and the fourth to be chosen for a preseason player honor.It marks the second consecutive season that a Wildcat has been named to the Naismith Trophy Watch List, as then senior Tylor Perry was selected to the 2024 list.Former Wildcats Keyontae Johnson and Markquis Nowell were not named to the preseason team but were among 28 players selected to the 2022-23 Naismith Player of the Year Midseason Team, while Johnson was one of 10 semi-finalists for the award.Hawkins was a Second Team All-Big Ten selection in 2023-24 after averaging a career-high 12.1 points per game for the Fighting Illini while posting career-bests for field goal percentage (45.1), 3-point field goal percentage (36.9) and free throw percentage (79.2). He is the only player in Illinois history with at least 900 points, 500 rebounds, 200 assists, 100 blocks and 100 steals.Hawkins enjoyed a solid debut for the Wildcats in the 70-56 exhibition win over Division II Fort Hays State on Tuesday night, as he posted 13 points on 3-of-7 field goals, including 2-of-4 from 3-point range, to go with a team-high 6 assists, 7 rebounds and 2 steals in 32 minutes.K-State will officially tip off the season on Tuesday, Nov. 5 against New Orleans at 7 p.m., CT.

Hawkins Named to Naismith Trophy Men’s Player of the Year Watch List

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–&nbsp;Ahead of her debut with K-State women’s basketball, senior forward Temira Poindexter has been named as one of 20 small forwards in the nation selected to the 2024-25 Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year Award – an award that recognizes the top small forward in women’s college basketball.

This is the first time Poindexter has been named to the watch list for the honor.

The Cheryl Miller Award, in its eighth year, honors the top small forwards in women’s Division I women’s college basketball. It is named after the three-time Naismith Player of the Year and Class of 1995 Hall of Famer.

Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting in each of the three rounds starting Friday, November 1. In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the 2025 Cheryl Miller Award will be narrowed to 10, and then in late February to just five. In March, the five finalists will be presented to Lieberman and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee, where a winner will be selected.

The 2025 Cheryl Miller Award winner will be presented on a to be determined date, along with the other four members of the Women’s Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Nancy Lieberman Award (Point Guard), Ann Meyers Drysdale Award (Shooting Guard), Katrina McClain Award (Power Forward) and the Lisa Leslie Award (Center), in addition to the Men’s Starting Five.

Other candidates for the Miller Award are: Madison Booker, Texas; Cotie McMahon, Ohio State; Darianna Littlepage-Buggs, Baylor; Alyssa Ustby, North Carolina; Yarden Garzon, Indiana; Aicha Coulibaly, Texas A&amp;M; Angela Dugalic, UCLA; Aubrey Griffin, UConn; Grace VanSlooten, Michigan State; Gianna Kneepkens, Utah; Madison Scott, Ole Miss; Lior Garzon, Colorado; Sacha Washington, Vanderbilt; Sarah Ashlee Barker, Alabama; Saylor Poffenbarger, Maryland; Sahara Williams, Oklahoma; Sarah Strong, UConn; Jordan Obi, Kentucky; Maryam Dauda, South Carolina.

Prior to coming to Manhattan, Poindexter filled her trophy case at Tulsa for the last three seasons. During her time with the Golden Hurricane, Poindexter garnered 2024 Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-America Honorable Mention honors, 2024 WBCA All-Region 3 recipient, 2024 American Athletic Conference (AAC) Player of the Year, Two-time All-AAC First Team honors, 2022 AAC Freshman of the Year and 2022 AAC All-Freshmen Team honors.

Poindexter, a product of Sapulpa, Oklahoma, has registered 1,560 career points and averaged 16.8 points per game in 93 games played with 87 starts at Tulsa. She ranked third in Tulsa history for career points and fifth in school history for career scoring average. She ranked fifth in program history for career field goals made (569).

In the 2023-24 season, Poindexter set the Tulsa records for points in a single-season with 734, field goals made in a season with 265 and 3-point field goals made in a season with 85. She ranked second in school history for points per game at 21.0 and tied for ninth in school history for blocks in a season with 53.

Among the NCAA Division I statistical rankings last season, she ranked seventh in the nation for total points, 16th in the nation in scoring average, 11th in the nation in field goals made, eighth in the nation for field goals attempted (614), 22nd in the nation for 3-point field goals made, 44th in the nation for 3-point field goals made per game (2.4) and 48th in the nation for total blocks. Poindexter was one of three players in the nation last season to record 700 or more points and 50 or more blocked shots (JuJu Watkins, USC; Paige Bueckers, UConn).

Poindexter notched double figures in all 35 games, including 21 games with 20 or more points. She scored a career-high 33 points and pulled in 10 rebounds against Rice on Feb. 10, 2024, which ranked tied for fourth in Tulsa history for points in a single game.

During the 2022-23 season, she played in and started all 30 games and averaged 16.1 points (482) with 27 double-figure scoring games. She carded a free throw percentage of .832 (79-of-95) and ranked 80th in the nation. She also hauled in 5.4 rebounds per game (163), which included three games with 10 or more rebounds. Defensively, Poindexter ranked 76th in the nation for blocks per game (1.43) and 79th in the nation for blocks (43). Among her scoring performances in 2022-23, Poindexter registered a season-high 25 points at 23rd-ranked South Florida on Feb. 22, 2023.

In her debut collegiate season in 2021-22 with Tulsa, Poindexter played in 28 games with 22 starts and averaged 12.3 points (344) which included 18 games with 10 or more points. She shot .441 from the field (131-of-297), including .320 (39-of-122) from 3-point range and .796 (43-of-54) from the foul line. She pulled down 4.6 rebounds per game (130) and notched two games with 10 or more boards. Poindexter sent back 52 shots (1.86 bpg). In her first collegiate game, Poindexter tallied 23 points, five rebounds and two assists against Duquesne on Nov. 11, 2021. She ended her first season with a season-high 29 points at Wyoming in the WNIT Second Round on March, 20, 2022.

K-State women’s basketball season tickets are available now. Prices start at just $75 with a Wildcat 4-Pack to see every game in Bramlage. Order now by visiting&nbsp;<a href="http://kstatesports.com/tickets" target="_blank">kstatesports.com/tickets</a>&nbsp;or calling 1-800-221-CATS.

K-State, ranked 13th&nbsp;in the preseason Associated Press and USA Today/WBCA Coaches polls, is in action on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. The Wildcats host Washburn in exhibition action. For tickets, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://kstatesports.com/tickets" target="_blank">kstatesports.com/tickets</a>&nbsp;or call (800) 221-CATS.

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–&nbsp;Ahead of her debut with K-State women’s basketball, senior forward Temira Poindexter has been named as one of 20 small forwards in the nation selected to the 2024-25 Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year Award – an award that recognizes the top small forward in women’s college basketball.This is the first time Poindexter has been named to the watch list for the honor.The Cheryl Miller Award, in its eighth year, honors the top small forwards in women’s Division I women’s college basketball. It is named after the three-time Naismith Player of the Year and Class of 1995 Hall of Famer.Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting in each of the three rounds starting Friday, November 1. In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the 2025 Cheryl Miller Award will be narrowed to 10, and then in late February to just five. In March, the five finalists will be presented to Lieberman and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee, where a winner will be selected.The 2025 Cheryl Miller Award winner will be presented on a to be determined date, along with the other four members of the Women’s Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Nancy Lieberman Award (Point Guard), Ann Meyers Drysdale Award (Shooting Guard), Katrina McClain Award (Power Forward) and the Lisa Leslie Award (Center), in addition to the Men’s Starting Five.Other candidates for the Miller Award are: Madison Booker, Texas; Cotie McMahon, Ohio State; Darianna Littlepage-Buggs, Baylor; Alyssa Ustby, North Carolina; Yarden Garzon, Indiana; Aicha Coulibaly, Texas A&amp;M; Angela Dugalic, UCLA; Aubrey Griffin, UConn; Grace VanSlooten, Michigan State; Gianna Kneepkens, Utah; Madison Scott, Ole Miss; Lior Garzon, Colorado; Sacha Washington, Vanderbilt; Sarah Ashlee Barker, Alabama; Saylor Poffenbarger, Maryland; Sahara Williams, Oklahoma; Sarah Strong, UConn; Jordan Obi, Kentucky; Maryam Dauda, South Carolina.Prior to coming to Manhattan, Poindexter filled her trophy case at Tulsa for the last three seasons. During her time with the Golden Hurricane, Poindexter garnered 2024 Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-America Honorable Mention honors, 2024 WBCA All-Region 3 recipient, 2024 American Athletic Conference (AAC) Player of the Year, Two-time All-AAC First Team honors, 2022 AAC Freshman of the Year and 2022 AAC All-Freshmen Team honors.Poindexter, a product of Sapulpa, Oklahoma, has registered 1,560 career points and averaged 16.8 points per game in 93 games played with 87 starts at Tulsa. She ranked third in Tulsa history for career points and fifth in school history for career scoring average. She ranked fifth in program history for career field goals made (569).In the 2023-24 season, Poindexter set the Tulsa records for points in a single-season with 734, field goals made in a season with 265 and 3-point field goals made in a season with 85. She ranked second in school history for points per game at 21.0 and tied for ninth in school history for blocks in a season with 53.Among the NCAA Division I statistical rankings last season, she ranked seventh in the nation for total points, 16th in the nation in scoring average, 11th in the nation in field goals made, eighth in the nation for field goals attempted (614), 22nd in the nation for 3-point field goals made, 44th in the nation for 3-point field goals made per game (2.4) and 48th in the nation for total blocks. Poindexter was one of three players in the nation last season to record 700 or more points and 50 or more blocked shots (JuJu Watkins, USC; Paige Bueckers, UConn).Poindexter notched double figures in all 35 games, including 21 games with 20 or more points. She scored a career-high 33 points and pulled in 10 rebounds against Rice on Feb. 10, 2024, which ranked tied for fourth in Tulsa history for points in a single game.During the 2022-23 season, she played in and started all 30 games and averaged 16.1 points (482) with 27 double-figure scoring games. She carded a free throw percentage of .832 (79-of-95) and ranked 80th in the nation. She also hauled in 5.4 rebounds per game (163), which included three games with 10 or more rebounds. Defensively, Poindexter ranked 76th in the nation for blocks per game (1.43) and 79th in the nation for blocks (43). Among her scoring performances in 2022-23, Poindexter registered a season-high 25 points at 23rd-ranked South Florida on Feb. 22, 2023.In her debut collegiate season in 2021-22 with Tulsa, Poindexter played in 28 games with 22 starts and averaged 12.3 points (344) which included 18 games with 10 or more points. She shot .441 from the field (131-of-297), including .320 (39-of-122) from 3-point range and .796 (43-of-54) from the foul line. She pulled down 4.6 rebounds per game (130) and notched two games with 10 or more boards. Poindexter sent back 52 shots (1.86 bpg). In her first collegiate game, Poindexter tallied 23 points, five rebounds and two assists against Duquesne on Nov. 11, 2021. She ended her first season with a season-high 29 points at Wyoming in the WNIT Second Round on March, 20, 2022.K-State women’s basketball season tickets are available now. Prices start at just $75 with a Wildcat 4-Pack to see every game in Bramlage. Order now by visiting&nbsp;<a href="http://kstatesports.com/tickets" target="_blank">kstatesports.com/tickets</a>&nbsp;or calling 1-800-221-CATS.K-State, ranked 13th&nbsp;in the preseason Associated Press and USA Today/WBCA Coaches polls, is in action on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. The Wildcats host Washburn in exhibition action. For tickets, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://kstatesports.com/tickets" target="_blank">kstatesports.com/tickets</a>&nbsp;or call (800) 221-CATS.

K-State’s Poindexter Named to 2024-25 Miller Award Watch List

The Coyotes are back home Saturday for a pivotal Kansas Conference and Gene Bissell Division game against Tabor. Kickoff is 1 p.m. at JRI Stadium and the Graves Family Sports Complex.

Tickets are on sale now at <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/9b3464f2-0e1b-4447-8ac6-7958b8c6a9f2?elinkdata=14210">www.kwucoyotes.com/tickets</a>. Tickets are also available at the door. Cash and cards are accepted at the ticket gate. Very few spots remain in the Premium Tailgate lot. Premium Tailgate parking is reserved for KWU fans only. Reserve a remaining spot now at <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/1c4f7991-cf52-41fc-9260-bbd508a4d580?elinkdata=14210">www.kwucoyotes.com/tickets</a>

Saturday's official game day sponsors are <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/40a46a8f-0d1e-4639-bf8c-e65cc91de12d?elinkdata=14210">Ryan Roofing</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/2a017100-6509-4833-8f49-237ae1c408ff?elinkdata=14210">A-Plus Architecture and Construction Services</a> of Salina. KWU would also like to thank <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/89476223-80de-4747-afa7-c3a074027b12?elinkdata=14210">Little Caesar's</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/5e8ad0bc-30dd-414d-9458-181110f10a1e?elinkdata=14210">Chick-Fil-A </a>for providing team and game day staff meals

Leonard: "We executed (against USM). We were flying around, making plays and then unfortunately came out flat in the second half. There's a lot of great things to take away from it and there's a lot of things that we know that we need to address and work on."

Snyder: "There are things that we're talking about as coaches to try to have better second halves but when you win, as that saying goes, it's easier to make corrections. I'm not going to be overly mad about it because we can definitely improve."

Leonard: "(Armstrong and Fewell) both do really good things. They both have their own skill set and those skill sets work extremely well with what we do on offense. The big thing is neither one of those players have let egos come in the way. That's a special thing when you have two guys that are carrying the ball and making explosive plays and are working well together."

Snyder: "Tabor is going to be very well coached; they're going to be very sound. Coach Gardner has been there for two different stints. We're going to face a team that is 2-0 and they're in the control of their own destiny - knockoff K-Dub and they're division champs. We know what's in front of us too so we should be highly motivated to match that."

"I think (Fewell) is more grimy and gutty. He runs with heart and will break off any tackle and you won't believe it. I think I thrive in open space. We both have the ability to assess leverage and make people miss. We have a lot of experience so we're a tandem."

"The nice part is (our remaining games) are doable. It helps with the belief and the camaraderie and the unity and the drive of the whole team. When you have something to play for it's much different than just coming out and practicing. Last year we realized after it was too late that we made that Ottawa game too big of a thing. We're just thinking play our game, execute your assignment every play and see what happens."

The Coyotes are back home Saturday for a pivotal Kansas Conference and Gene Bissell Division game against Tabor. Kickoff is 1 p.m. at JRI Stadium and the Graves Family Sports Complex.LIVE COVERAGE<ul>
 <li>The video stream of the game will be available online through the Coyote Sports Network at <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/46836616-7a3d-47ab-95ee-e2ed9098c743?elinkdata=14210">www.kcacnetwork.com/kansaswesleyan</a>. The Coyote Sports Network video stream will start at Noon with the KINA Radio Pregame Show with Tyler Henry and Brooks Garretson.</li><li>Live Stats will be available at <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/37d6d12c-b7cf-4691-b70d-b631be3730eb?elinkdata=14210">https://kwucoyotes.com/sidearmstats/football/summary</a></li><li>Radio coverage will be on the KINA Radio starting at Noon, with the pregame show with Tyler Henry and Brooks Garretson. The online radio stream is available at <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/b9441b86-10cc-4897-be6a-2b7ebae13de5?elinkdata=14210">https://radio.securenetsystems.net/ce/kina2</a>.</li>
 </ul>GAME INFORMATIONTICKETSTickets are on sale now at <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/9b3464f2-0e1b-4447-8ac6-7958b8c6a9f2?elinkdata=14210">www.kwucoyotes.com/tickets</a>. Tickets are also available at the door. Cash and cards are accepted at the ticket gate. Very few spots remain in the Premium Tailgate lot. Premium Tailgate parking is reserved for KWU fans only. Reserve a remaining spot now at <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/1c4f7991-cf52-41fc-9260-bbd508a4d580?elinkdata=14210">www.kwucoyotes.com/tickets</a>GAME DAY SPONSORSSaturday's official game day sponsors are <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/40a46a8f-0d1e-4639-bf8c-e65cc91de12d?elinkdata=14210">Ryan Roofing</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/2a017100-6509-4833-8f49-237ae1c408ff?elinkdata=14210">A-Plus Architecture and Construction Services</a> of Salina. KWU would also like to thank <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/89476223-80de-4747-afa7-c3a074027b12?elinkdata=14210">Little Caesar's</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/5e8ad0bc-30dd-414d-9458-181110f10a1e?elinkdata=14210">Chick-Fil-A </a>for providing team and game day staff mealsPROMOTIONS<ul>
 <li><a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/d405d06a-89ff-4d2e-b9c1-f41255b595c4?elinkdata=14210">Yotee's Spirit Store</a> will be open in the Student Activities Center AND on the concourse level at JRI Stadium.</li><li>Coyote Dance Team will perform at half time and will be receiving their 2024 KCAC Championship Rings</li><li>The football game is just one of many activities on campus on Saturday, as KWU has two women's volleyball matches, and four basketball games at the Student Activities Center in addition to the football game</li>
 </ul>RECORDS<ul>
 <li>Kansas Wesleyan 4-4 (2-0 Bissell)</li><li>Tabor 4-4 (2-0 Bissell)</li>
 </ul>THE SERIES<ul>
 <li>The Coyotes have won the last six and seven of eight against the Bluejays including a 31-0 victory last season in Hillsboro. They won 62-0 in 2022 at JRI Stadium and have a 14-9 advantage since 2001.</li><li>KWU leads the all-time series 34-21, which dates back to the 1969 season.</li>
 </ul>KANSAS WESLEYAN AT A GLANCE<ul>
 <li>The Coyotes defeated Saint Mary 38-19 last Saturday in Leavenworth. It was a mirror image of their game against Avila a week earlier. KWU led Avila 35-3 at intermission and raced to a 38-7 halftime lead against the Spires.</li><li>Offensively the Coyotes shredded Saint Mary for 384 yards rushing on 38 carries, an average of 10.1 yards per carry. Tailbacks <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/7af22ec9-8e01-4595-9b62-6f2a3c0b5000?elinkdata=14210">Luke Armstrong</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/0397e06d-e1e2-4887-800b-2a72d8a37509?elinkdata=14210">Zarek Fewell</a> combined for 379 yards and four touchdowns. Armstrong led the way with 264 yards on 19 carries and three touchdowns while Fewell had 115 yards on 17 attempts and a TD.</li><li>Armstrong was named the KCAC Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts. He's averaging 8.0 yards per carry and has 755 yards on the season - 95.4 per game - and nine touchdowns. Fewell has 417 yards rushing and four touchdowns.</li><li>Defensively KWU intercepted three passes in the first half and limited the Spires to 120 yards passing on 15 of 31 attempts for the game. Linebacker <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/3d52d2b8-03c8-47e7-86fb-88f0447bfe78?elinkdata=14210">Myles Elam</a> had a team-best nine tackles.</li><li><a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/4fcb30e9-ded5-4e11-8f73-bef37793dd0d?elinkdata=14210">Byron McNair</a> threw for 184 yards and two touchdowns and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/553f3c26-666d-4b66-8091-d43f712a2061?elinkdata=14210">Tyler Boston</a> had 97 yards rushing in last year's victory over Tabor. KWU had 425 total yards and the Bluejays 151. The Coyotes led 17-0 at halftime.</li>
 </ul>TABOR AT A GLANCE<ul>
 <li>The Bluejays defeated Avila 41-28 in overtime last week in Kansas City. Tabor took a 35-28 lead in OT on Willie Green's one-yard run and Brooks Gardner returned an interception 85 yards for a touchdown that ended the game. The Bluejays trailed 17-14 at halftime.</li><li>Avila had 372 total yards and Tabor 311 - 160 rushing and 151 passing. Green, a junior quarterback, ran for three touchdowns and was 17 of 26 passing.</li><li>Green has completed 54.7 percent of his throws for 1,266 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Sean Hunter has a team-best 321 yards rushing and Deonte Hill a team-leading 27 receptions for 417 yards and two touchdowns.</li><li>Tabor averages 19.8 points and allows 28. The Bluejays also average 231 total yards per game - 163 passing. Opponents average 373 total yards - 210 rushing and 163 passing.</li><li>The Bluejays are coached by Mike Gardner who returned to Tabor in 2010 for his second tint. He previously coached the Bluejays during the 2004 and 2005 seasons and has a 107-65 record at the school.</li>
 </ul>COACHES CHRIS SNYDER/DAVID LEONARDLeonard: "We executed (against USM). We were flying around, making plays and then unfortunately came out flat in the second half. There's a lot of great things to take away from it and there's a lot of things that we know that we need to address and work on."Snyder: "There are things that we're talking about as coaches to try to have better second halves but when you win, as that saying goes, it's easier to make corrections. I'm not going to be overly mad about it because we can definitely improve."Leonard: "(Armstrong and Fewell) both do really good things. They both have their own skill set and those skill sets work extremely well with what we do on offense. The big thing is neither one of those players have let egos come in the way. That's a special thing when you have two guys that are carrying the ball and making explosive plays and are working well together."Snyder: "Tabor is going to be very well coached; they're going to be very sound. Coach Gardner has been there for two different stints. We're going to face a team that is 2-0 and they're in the control of their own destiny - knockoff K-Dub and they're division champs. We know what's in front of us too so we should be highly motivated to match that."TAILBACK LUKE ARMSTRONG"I think (Fewell) is more grimy and gutty. He runs with heart and will break off any tackle and you won't believe it. I think I thrive in open space. We both have the ability to assess leverage and make people miss. We have a lot of experience so we're a tandem.""The nice part is (our remaining games) are doable. It helps with the belief and the camaraderie and the unity and the drive of the whole team. When you have something to play for it's much different than just coming out and practicing. Last year we realized after it was too late that we made that Ottawa game too big of a thing. We're just thinking play our game, execute your assignment every play and see what happens."NEXT WEEK

Football hosts Tabor on Saturday in contest between division unbeatens

LAWRENCE, Kan. –&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/david-coit/15715">David Coit</a>&nbsp;scored 19 points,&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/zeke-mayo/15498">Zeke Mayo</a>&nbsp;had 16 points and&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/rylan-griffen/15499">Rylan Griffen</a>&nbsp;had 14 points as Kansas defeated Washburn 84-53 inside Allen Fieldhouse Tuesday night in the team's final exhibition contest of 2024-25.

The 70th season of Allen Fieldhouse kicked off as Kansas hosted their second and final exhibition game of the season and&nbsp;welcoming Washburn. Washburn is led by head coach Brett Ballard, who played for Kansas from 2000-02 and was a member of&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/bill-self/727">Bill Self</a>'s staff for the 2008 National Championship.

The top-ranked Jayhawks got off to an early 11-2 lead with 15:08 left in the first half. The Jayhawk lead stretched to 16 points thanks to a three-pointer from Coit, who had 13 first-half points and finished with 19 in the contest. Coit went 5-of-10 (50.0 percent) from beyond the arc in his first game at Allen Fieldhouse.

Kansas entered halftime up 38-22 after firing a 15-of-28 (53.6 percent) shooting. Five different Jayhawks hit a three-pointer in the opening half with&nbsp;Coit,&nbsp;who hit three from downtown.

Kansas shot 8-of-19 (42.1 percent) from beyond the arc in the first half.An alley-oop from&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/dajuan-harris-jr-/15490">Dajuan Harris Jr.</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/kj-adams-jr-/15494">KJ Adams Jr.</a>&nbsp;led to a&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/flory-bidunga/15502">Flory Bidunga</a>&nbsp;block on the other end, resulting in a made three pointer by Griffen to force a Washburn timeout with 18:38 left in the second half.

Kansas' lead stretched to 63-28 with 13:30 left in the second half after Mayo drilled back-to-back three pointers. Kansas would cruise to the finish line from that point on, finishing the game shooting 30-of-59 (50.8 percent) from the field, and holding Washburn to just 34.4 percent shooting.

Bidunga&nbsp;was the fourth Jayhawk in double figures, adding 10 points, a game-high tying seven rebounds and a game-high four blocks. Adams&nbsp;shot a perfect 4-of-4 (100.0 percent) and logged eight points, six boards and four assists.

Kansas will host Howard in the 2024-25 regular-season opener inside Allen Fieldhouse next Monday, Nov. 4&nbsp;with tipoff set for 7 p.m. CT. 

The game will be broadcast&nbsp;via ESPN+.The Howard game will mark the second annual McLendon Classic as KU begins the season hosting an HBCU opponent. The contest celebrates University of Kansas alum and legendary coach John McLendon and the McLendon Leadership Initiative.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1730253958484.png" alt="Photo Kansas Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>LAWRENCE, Kan. –&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/david-coit/15715">David Coit</a>&nbsp;scored 19 points,&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/zeke-mayo/15498">Zeke Mayo</a>&nbsp;had 16 points and&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/rylan-griffen/15499">Rylan Griffen</a>&nbsp;had 14 points as Kansas defeated Washburn 84-53 inside Allen Fieldhouse Tuesday night in the team's final exhibition contest of 2024-25.The 70th season of Allen Fieldhouse kicked off as Kansas hosted their second and final exhibition game of the season and&nbsp;welcoming Washburn. Washburn is led by head coach Brett Ballard, who played for Kansas from 2000-02 and was a member of&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/bill-self/727">Bill Self</a>'s staff for the 2008 National Championship.The top-ranked Jayhawks got off to an early 11-2 lead with 15:08 left in the first half. The Jayhawk lead stretched to 16 points thanks to a three-pointer from Coit, who had 13 first-half points and finished with 19 in the contest. Coit went 5-of-10 (50.0 percent) from beyond the arc in his first game at Allen Fieldhouse.Kansas entered halftime up 38-22 after firing a 15-of-28 (53.6 percent) shooting. Five different Jayhawks hit a three-pointer in the opening half with&nbsp;Coit,&nbsp;who hit three from downtown. Kansas shot 8-of-19 (42.1 percent) from beyond the arc in the first half.An alley-oop from&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/dajuan-harris-jr-/15490">Dajuan Harris Jr.</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/kj-adams-jr-/15494">KJ Adams Jr.</a>&nbsp;led to a&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/flory-bidunga/15502">Flory Bidunga</a>&nbsp;block on the other end, resulting in a made three pointer by Griffen to force a Washburn timeout with 18:38 left in the second half.Kansas' lead stretched to 63-28 with 13:30 left in the second half after Mayo drilled back-to-back three pointers. Kansas would cruise to the finish line from that point on, finishing the game shooting 30-of-59 (50.8 percent) from the field, and holding Washburn to just 34.4 percent shooting.Bidunga&nbsp;was the fourth Jayhawk in double figures, adding 10 points, a game-high tying seven rebounds and a game-high four blocks. Adams&nbsp;shot a perfect 4-of-4 (100.0 percent) and logged eight points, six boards and four assists.UP NEXTKansas will host Howard in the 2024-25 regular-season opener inside Allen Fieldhouse next Monday, Nov. 4&nbsp;with tipoff set for 7 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast&nbsp;via ESPN+.The Howard game will mark the second annual McLendon Classic as KU begins the season hosting an HBCU opponent. The contest celebrates University of Kansas alum and legendary coach John McLendon and the McLendon Leadership Initiative.

🏀  No. 1 Kansas routs Washburn in final exhibition contest

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– Junior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/brendan-hausen/12175">Brendan Hausen</a>&nbsp;led four Wildcats in double figures with a game-high 15 points, as Kansas State ran its home exhibition winning streak to 30 games with a 70-56 win over Division II Fort Hays State on Tuesday night before 9,526 fans at Bramlage Coliseum.

Hausen was joined in double figures by senior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coleman-hawkins/12179">Coleman Hawkins</a>&nbsp;(13 points), sophomore&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/macaleab-rich/12169">Macaleab Rich</a>&nbsp;(11 points) and senior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/david-n-guessan/12168">David N'Guessan</a>&nbsp;(10 points). N'Guessan had a near double-double with a game-high 9 rebounds.

K-State led from start to finish despite a spirited effort from Fort Hays State, which is coming off a 23-win campaign and was recently ranked No. 16 in the preseason NCAA Division II Coaches poll. The Wildcats led by as many as 20 points early in the second half before the Tigers cut the lead in half with 8:24 to play, prompting a timeout by head coach&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/jerome-tang/2541">Jerome Tang</a>.An 8-2 spurt capped by a 3-pointer from Hawkins pushed the lead back out to 60-44 with less than 6 minutes to play and the lead never dipped below 12 points the rest of the way.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1730254113259.png" alt="Photo courtesy K-State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy K-State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– Junior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/brendan-hausen/12175">Brendan Hausen</a>&nbsp;led four Wildcats in double figures with a game-high 15 points, as Kansas State ran its home exhibition winning streak to 30 games with a 70-56 win over Division II Fort Hays State on Tuesday night before 9,526 fans at Bramlage Coliseum.Hausen was joined in double figures by senior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coleman-hawkins/12179">Coleman Hawkins</a>&nbsp;(13 points), sophomore&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/macaleab-rich/12169">Macaleab Rich</a>&nbsp;(11 points) and senior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/david-n-guessan/12168">David N'Guessan</a>&nbsp;(10 points). N'Guessan had a near double-double with a game-high 9 rebounds.K-State led from start to finish despite a spirited effort from Fort Hays State, which is coming off a 23-win campaign and was recently ranked No. 16 in the preseason NCAA Division II Coaches poll. The Wildcats led by as many as 20 points early in the second half before the Tigers cut the lead in half with 8:24 to play, prompting a timeout by head coach&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/jerome-tang/2541">Jerome Tang</a>.An 8-2 spurt capped by a 3-pointer from Hawkins pushed the lead back out to 60-44 with less than 6 minutes to play and the lead never dipped below 12 points the rest of the way. Hawkins was stellar all-around in his first action as a Wildcat, adding a team-high 6 assists, 7 rebounds and 2 steals to go with his 13 points in nearly 32 minutes of action.K-State scored its 70 points on 41.1 percent (23-of-56) shooting, including 28.6 percent (8-of-28) from 3-point range, and 72.7 percent (16-of-22) from the free throw line. The team had 18 assists on 23 made field goals and posted a 42-34 advantage on the glass, including 14 offensive boards.Defensively, the Wildcats held the Tigers to 36.9 percent (24-of-65) shooting, including 25.7 percent (9-of-35) in the first half.In addition to the four double-digit scorers, the squad got a big boost from junior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/c-j-jones/12181">C.J. Jones</a>, who finished the night with 9 points on 4-of-6 shooting to go with 5 rebounds and 2 steals.K-State is now 75-21 all-time in exhibition play, including a 58-9 mark at home. It was the fifth straight such win over FHSU, following victories in 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2017.Hausen stalked the Wildcats to a 7-0 lead after knocking down his first two 3-point attempts, as they built as much as a 14-point lead in the first half. He duplicated the feat to start the second half, canning his first two 3-pointers to ignite an 8-0 run and push the lead to 42-22 with 17 minutes to play. However, the Tigers wouldn't go away, as they used an 18-8 run over the next 8 minutes to cut the deficit to 52-42.Rich, who earned additional playing time with senior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/max-jones/12171">Max Jones</a>&nbsp;out due to injury, was another bright spot down the stretch, scoring 4 of his 11 points in the last 8 minutes. He finished the night 5-of-7 from the field to go with 4 rebounds in nearly 20 minutes of action.Fort Hays State was led by 9 points each from graduate&nbsp;Kaleb Hammeke&nbsp;and sophomore&nbsp;Kyle Grill.K-State officially opens the 2024-25 season on Tuesday, Nov. 4 when the Wildcats welcome New Orleans to Bramlage Coliseum for 7 p.m., CT tip. Tickets are available by calling the K-State Athletics Ticket Office at (800) 221.CATS or online at&nbsp;<a href="https://kstatesports.evenue.net/events/MBSG?_gl=1*fjor90*_gcl_au*ODUwNjE5NjguMTcyODUxMjY2Nw..*_ga*NjA0NzEyODM1LjE3MjA3MzUyNjg.*_ga_1ZXMBEL67G*MTczMDI1Njk5Ni42NjQuMS4xNzMwMjU3MzM4LjQxLjAuMA..&amp;_ga=2.228836185.45498979.1724528033-604712835.1720735268">kstatesports.com/tickets</a>.HEAD COACH JEROME TANGOpening statement…"First of all, I lost a friend this past week, [South Florida's head coach] Amir Abdur-Rahim. 43 years old, young guy, got a wife and three kids, and that team still had to take the court, or is getting ready to take the court the next day or so. It's just a tough time. In this coaching circle, there are not a lot of guys who have no enemies, and he had none. The man poured into his guys and loved people. The thing that he always said is love wins. So, it was just hard on me, hard on our staff and a moment like this allows you to be so thankful for life, health, and strength. So, I would just like Amir's family to know that we are praying for them, we're always here for them and we'll support them in any way that we can."On&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/brendan-hausen/12175">Brendan Hausen's</a>&nbsp;three-point volume…"I say this all of the time, like, coaches want guys to shoot 40% from three, but they can't live with the six misses, right? He was two for nine in the first half, but he was two for five in the second half. I think he's a two-for-five shooter. He did a better job of being on balance [in the second half], like he hit his first two, and then he didn't fight for his feet anymore. He just felt it was going to be his night and it was going to go in, so what he has to do is make sure that he is focused and concentrated. When he's concentrated, using the right mechanics, and fighting for his feet so he's on balance, he's a 40-plus percent three-point shooter."On&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/max-jones/12171">Max Jones'</a>&nbsp;injury status…"He had a little toe injury. It's not anything serious, but it wasn't worth it to risk. It was better to let him rest."On lineup experimentation…"Not having Max out there today kind of messed up the rotation of what we wanted to do. It forced us to maybe do some things that we wouldn't have done or hadn't done yet. But, I think every dude on the roster, if you put them on the floor, they'll provide something positive. So everyone has to be ready."On&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/dug-mcdaniel/12170">Dug McDaniel</a>&nbsp;&amp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/c-j-jones/12181">C.J. Jones'</a>&nbsp;role"Dug's a talent and he's learning how to be a point guard and lead. There's so much more to being a point guard than just dribbling and passing, but like running the team, and he's embracing that. I think he still allows the ball going in the hole to affect him on the other end and in other things. But, he's a talent, he's going to be a major part of us being successful this year. [C.J.] it's not that [he] started in [Dug's] place, C.J. started. He's been our best point guard. He has an incredible assist-to-turnover ratio in practice, and you saw it today. He gets guys shots, defends the ball, rebounds, and makes the right play. So, C.J. earned where he's at."TEAM NOTES<ul>
 <li>Four Wildcats scored in double figures, as K-State won its lone exhibition game of the 2024-25 season with a 70-56 win over Division II foe Fort Hays State.</li><li>With the win, K-State extended its winning streak in home exhibition games to 30.</li><li>K-State is now 75-21 all-time in exhibition play, including 58-9 at home and 52-9 at Bramlage Coliseum.</li><li>Junior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/brendan-hausen/12175">Brendan Hausen</a>&nbsp;led all scorers with 15 points, connecting on 5-of-14 from 3-point range, in 21 minutes.</li><li>Senior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coleman-hawkins/12179">Coleman Hawkins</a>&nbsp;had a strong all-around game with 13 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals in 32 minutes.</li>
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 <li>Senior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/david-n-guessan/12168">David N'Guessan</a>&nbsp;had a near double-double with 10 points and a game-high 9 rebounds in 21 minutes.</li>
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 <li>Sophomore&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/macaleab-rich/12169">Macaleab Rich</a>&nbsp;scored 11 points off the bench, connecting on 5-of-7 shots.</li>
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 <li>K-State started a lineup of juniors&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/c-j-jones/12181">C.J. Jones</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/brendan-hausen/12175">Brendan Hausen</a>&nbsp;and seniors&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coleman-hawkins/12179">Coleman Hawkins</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/achor-achor/12177">Achor Achor</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/david-n-guessan/12168">David N'Guessan</a>.</li>
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