LEXINGTON, Ky. - K-State (27-7, 13-5 Big 12), the 5-seed in the Spokane 4 Region, will face the 4-seed, Kentucky (23-7, 11-5 SEC), in the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament on Sunday at 1 p.m. (CT), in Lexington, Kentucky, at Memorial Coliseum.
• With a win on Sunday, K-State would secure the third Sweet 16 appearance in program history and the first since 2002.
• Sunday’s game will air on ESPN, as Sam Gore (play-by-play) and Tamika Catchings (analyst) will have the call.
Starting 5
Five names, numbers or storylines about K-State women’s basketball
1. Wildcats in the NCAA Tournament
• K-State is making its 19th NCAA Tournament appearance and the sixth under head coach Jeff Mittie. The Wildcats own a record of 16-18 in its 19 bids and have advanced at least one round 14 times.
2. Converting at a High Rate
• In three games this postseason (2 Big 12/1 NCAA), K-State has shot 53.2 percent from the field. Against Fairfield, the Wildcats shot 53.1 percent from the floor. This was fourth-highest field goal percentage in an NCAA tournament game and the highest since March 15, 2002, against Kent State (.544).
3. Lee Adds Another Double-Double Mark
• Ayoka Lee returned to the K-State lineup and notched a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double in 15 minutes of action against Fairfield. The double-double was the Lee’s third in an NCAA Tournament game, setting the school record for double-doubles in career NCAA Tournament games. Lee owns the school record for career double-doubles with 64.
4. Cats Set Season Records
• In addition to setting the school record for points in a season (See Number to Know pt. 1), K-State has established new school records for a single season for assists (728) and blocks (187).
5. Sundell Nears Career Assist Record
• Serena Sundell needs nine assists (792) to pass Shalee Lehning (2005-09; 800) for the school record for career assists. Her total ranks fifth in Big 12 history for a career.
Number to Know – Pt. 1
2,701
• K-State has scored 2,701 points this season (79.4 ppg).
• The 2,701 points is a new school record for points in a season. This broke the previous mark of 2,635 set in the 1979-80 season.
• The Wildcats’ scoring average of 79.4 would rank second in school history behind the school record of 81.3 in the 1982-83 season.
Number to Know – Pt. 2
53
• K-State’s 53 wins ranks third in school history for wins in a two-season span in program history.
• Aiding its win total are consecutive seasons with 25 or more wins. This is the first time since the 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons that K-State has won 25 or more games in consecutive seasons.
2024-25 K-State Player Milestones to Watch
Ayoka Lee
• Needs two double-doubles to move into second in Big 12 history for career double-doubles
• Needs 11 made free throws to set the school record for career free throws made
Serena Sundell
• Needs 4 points to move into 6th in K-State history for career points
• Needs 10 assists to set the school record and move into 4th in Big 12 history for career assists
Jaelyn Glenn
• Needs 10 assists to move into 14th on K-State career assists list
• Needs 6 points for sole possession of 27th on the K-State career points list
Temira Poindexter
• Needs 19 points for 2,000 points in her college career
Kennedy Taylor
• Needs 6 points for 1,000 points in her college career
At a Glance: Kentucky
• Kentucky (23-7, 11-5 SEC) enters Sunday’s game following a 79-78 win over Liberty in the first round on Friday afternoon.
• On the sideline, the Wildcats are led by first-year head coach Kenny Brooks. A 1992 graduate of James Madison, Brooks owns a career record of 540-211 (.719), including a Final Four appearance with Virginia Tech in 2023.
• On the floor, Kentucky is led by the duo of Georgia Amoore and Clara Strack.
• Amoore, a graduate transfer from Ballarat, Australia, leads the squad in scoring at 19.6 points per game and 6.9 assists per game. Against Liberty, Amoore finished with a game-high 34 points on 12-of-24 shooting, including 6-of-10 from long range and added eight assists, two blocks and two steals.
• Strack, a sophomore from Buffalo, New York, is second on the team at 15.2 points and a team-best 9.7 rebounds. Against Liberty, Strack carded a double-double with 15 points, 10 rebounds, two blocks and two steals.
We Are An Ag School After All
• Fans and media may notice a stuffed four-legged friend on the K-State bench in the 2023-24 season and he has returned for the 2024-25 season.
• During the summer of 2023-24, the K-State coaching staff encouraged the team to get "gaps" which are three consecutive stops on defense and to do this seven times in a game.
• Before the 2023-24 season, head coach Jeff Mittie asked Serena Sundell, Gabby Gregory and Ayoka Lee to make this their own and to embrace the three straight defensive stops. Enter Gap Goat.
• Gregory chose a goat because it is her favorite animal.
• Gap Goat, who can be followed on Instagram (@GapGoat7), is hoisted aloft when the Wildcats register three consecutive defensive stops.
• Gap Goat's apparel includes a K-State jersey and gold chains with one chain featuring a goal number seven pendant, which he is awarded when the team gets seven "gaps" in a game.
• K-State fans have jumped on the new tradition and have purchased their own versions of Gap Goats and bring them to Bramlage Coliseum to join in the celebration of the K-State defense.