CINCINNATI, Ohio – (14/13) K-State used a total team effort on Wednesday night to ease past Cincinnati, 90-53, at Fifth Third Arena.
K-State (23-3, 11-2 Big 12) secured its 49th win in the last two seasons. The 49 victories in the last two seasons are tied for the seventh-most over a two season span and the most since the 2003-04 and 2004-05 seasons (49).
The Wildcats secured their eighth game this season with 90 or more points, equaling the school record set in 1983-84.
K-State saw all nine players score at least four points and pull in two or more rebounds. Leading the way was Serena Sundell with her team-leading seventh double-double of the season with a game-high 21 points, 10 assists and six rebounds.
Joining Sundell in double figures were senior Temira Poindexter with 18 points, three rebounds and two blocks, while sophomore Taryn Sides came off the bench to pocket her first career double-double with 17 points, a career-high 12 rebounds and four assists.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- K-State used a 14-3 run midway through the first quarter to help build a 22-16 lead at the end of the first quarter. Sundell scored 11 of the 22 points in the frame.
- Cincinnati (14-9, 6-7) closed to within five points, 24-19, following a three-pointer with 8:25 to play in the second quarter. The Wildcats would outscore the Bearcats, 18-6, for the remainder of the frame including a 3-pointer from Sides to beat the halftime buzzer to give K-State a 42-25 lead at halftime.
- K-State shot 70.0 percent (7-of-10) in the first five minutes of the third quarter to take a 57-32 lead with 4:45 remaining in the stanza. Six different Wildcats scored in the first five minutes to build the advantage.
- The Wildcats would win the third quarter, 24-13, and hold a 66-38 lead heading to the fourth quarter. K-State ended the third quarter shooting, 62.5 percent (10-of-16). Defensively, the Wildcats held Cincinnati to 15.8 percent shooting from the field (3-of-19).
- K-State used a 16-6 run to open the fourth quarter to improve its lead to 82-44 with 5:01 remaining.
- The Wildcats shot 50.8 percent (33-of-65) from the field, including 35.7 percent (10-of-28) from beyond the arc.
- K-State handed out 28 assists on its 33 made field goals.
- Defensively, K-State forced Cincinnati into shooting 28.6 percent (18-of-63) from the field including 21.1 percent (4-of-19) from long distance.
QUICK FACTS
- K-State leads the series with Cincinnati, 3-0. Head coach Jeff Mittie is 7-1 in his career against Cincinnati. The Wildcats are 2-0 in games played in Cincinnati between the schools.
- The Wildcats are 243-244 (.499) in its history in Big 12 games.
- K-State is 6-2 in road games this season. Over the last two seasons, the Wildcats are 12-6 in road games.
- K-State head coach Jeff Mittie owns a career record of 667-373 (.641), including a mark of 213-138 (.607).
- K-State owns a record of 271-98 (.734) as an AP ranked team. K-State is 16-5 (.762) all-time when ranked 14th in the nation.
- The Wildcats are 235-202 (.538) in games played in the month of February. Under Mittie, K-State is 38-43 (.469) in games during the second month. K-State has notched a .500 or better record in the month of February 27 times.
TEAM NOTES
- K-State's starting five consisted of guards: Zyanna Walker, Jaelyn Glenn and Serena Sundell; forwards Temira Poindexter and Kennedy Taylor. This was the seventh time this lineup has started together this season. This was the 129th career start for Sundell, the 125th career start for Jaelyn Glenn, the 113th career collegiate start and 26th at K-State for Poindexter, the 48th career start and seventh at K-State for Taylor and the 26th career start for Walker. Sundell moves into a tie for third in program history for career starts. With her 125th career start, Glenn remains in sole possession of sixth in program history for career starts and is the sixth player in program history with 125 or more career starts.
- The Wildcats held a 42-25 lead at halftime on Wednesday. Under Mittie, K-State is 171-19 (.900) when leading at halftime. The Wildcats have led at the half in 21 games this season (21-0).
- K-State shot 50.0 percent or better in a quarter in two quarters on Wednesday, third and fourth. The Wildcats have 61 quarters this season of 50.0 percent or better shooting, which are the most in program history for a full season.
- K-State has scored 20-or more points in a quarter 55 times this season, including all four quarters on Wednesday. Since the start of the quarter-system in 2015-16, the Wildcats are 155-63 (.711) when scoring 20 or more points in any quarter of a game, including a 23-1 record this season.
- Since the start of the 2015-16 season and the beginning of the quarter-system in women’s basketball, K-State is 113-29 (.796) when holding an opponent to single digits points in a quarter. The Wildcats have held its foes to 25 quarters this season with single digits on the scoreboard and are 19-0 when doing so.
- K-State improved to 110-8 (.932) when handing out 20 or more assists in a game. The Wildcats have dished out 20 or more assists in 18 games this season (18-0).
PLAYER NOTES
- Sundell owns 1,624 career points and remains in 10th on the K-State career scoring list. Sundell notched her 19th career game with 20 or more points and her fourth this season. This was her 92nd career game with 10 or more points.
- Sundell’s 10 assists on Wednesday improved her career total to 736. She is the second player in program history with 700 or more assists (Shalee Lehning, 2005-09; 800). She ranks tied for ninth in Big 12 history for career assists. This was her 86th career game with five or more assists and her 21st this season. With her 86 career games with five or more assists, Sundell set the school record for career games with five or more assists. This was her seventh game this season and the 11th of her career with 10 or more assists.
- Sundell hauled in six rebounds on Saturday. This was her 51st career game with five or more rebounds and her 11th this season. She owns a career total of 535 rebounds and ranks 29th in program history.
- Sundell (187) and Walker (103) have combined for 290 assists this season, which is the seventh time a K-State duo has combined for 250 or more assists in a season (min. 100 assists by each player.)
- Poindexter reached double figures for the 16th time this season and the 96th in her career. Poindexter improved her career point total to 1,882 (322 at K-State; 1,560 at Tulsa).
- Sides registered her 15th game in her career with 10 or more points.
- Sides carded four connections from beyond the arc. This was her sixth career game with four or more connections from long range and her 26th with two or more.
- Glenn connected on two 3-pointers on Wednesday. This was her 65th career game with two or more 3-pointers made. She improves her career total to 208 three-point field goals made and remains in eighth in school history.
UP NEXT
K-State returns to Bramlage Coliseum on Saturday, February 15, as the Wildcats host UCF for a 4 p.m., tip-off. Saturday’s game is K-State’s annual National Girls and Women in Sports game. For tickets, visit kstatesports.com/tickets or call (800) 221-CATS.