MANHATTAN – K-State women’s basketball used a stifling defensive effort in the second quarter to build a healthy margin and open its exhibition schedule with a 68-39 win over Washburn on Bramlage Coliseum on Sunday afternoon.
“I was pleased with the energy of our team and I was pleased with the intentions of our team,” said K-State head coach Jeff Mittie about Sunday’s exhibition. “I was pleased, while we weren’t shooting the ball very well for most of the game, I thought our defense and the talk was really good and the things we have talked about not being tied to playing great, you know you need to be consistent. I thought our team really grew in that area, I think that's been something that people can make too much out of one game, one situation that's something I have seen consistently over 31 days, 30 practices and 1 game. This team I have seen if I have corrected them said, 'hey we're not where we need to be, we're drifting off,' they have come back very quickly, so I like that about this group.”
K-State held a nine-point lead after the first quarter, 19-10, as junior center Ayoka Lee tallied seven points and all 10 active Wildcats saw the floor.
Washburn closed the gap to six, 19-13, on a 3-pointer to open the second quarter. This would be Washburn’s first of only two made field goals in the quarter, as K-State held the Ichabods to a 15.4 percent (2-of-13) effort from the field in the second 10 minutes.
Following the Washburn 3-pointer, K-State used a 15-2 run over the remainder of the half with freshman Serena Sundell and Lee each scoring four points apiece to pace the Wildcats during the quarter. Lee finished the afternoon a rebound shy of a double-double, as she carded 17 points, nine rebounds and two blocks.
The Wildcats would outscore the Ichabods, 15-5, to build a 34-15 lead at the half.
The Wildcats improved its lead to 22, 47-25, at the end of the third quarter. Lee scored a pair of field goals, while sophomore Rebekah Dallinger added her only 3-pointer of the afternoon during the third stanza.
K-State closed the game on a high-note, outscoring Washburn, 21-14, in the fourth quarter. The Wildcats would build their largest lead of the day, 32, as Jada Moore scored K-State’s final six points of the game on drives to the rim.
As a team, K-State shot 40.9 percent (27-of-66) from the field including a 31.3 percent (5-of-16) effort from beyond the arc. Washburn ended the day at 26.4 percent (14-of-53) from the floor including a 13.3 percent (2-of-15) from 3-point range. K-State ended the game with a 48-33 advantage on the glass and blocked six shots while pocketing 11 steals.
K-State will end its exhibition slate on Friday as the Wildcats host Pittsburg State at 6:30 p.m. To purchase tickets, visit kstatesports.com/tickets or call (800) 221-CATS.
Friday’s game will be broadcast on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and will be available on the K-State Sports Network and for free at kstatesports.com and on the K-State Sports app.
– kstatesports.com –