Nov 28, 2021

K-State bench provides spark in women's win

Posted Nov 28, 2021 2:39 AM
Image courtesy&nbsp;<a href="http://kstatesports.com/">kstatesports.com</a>
Image courtesy kstatesports.com

MANHATTAN – K-State women’s basketball used a lift from its bench to overcome a slow first half and capture its sixth straight win in Bramlage Coliseum on Saturday afternoon with a 70-36 win over Northwestern State.

The Wildcats have won nine of their last 10 games in Bramlage dating back to the end of the 2020-21 season.

“It was good to see some energy in the second half,” said K-State head coach Jeff Mittie abut Saturday’s game. “I thought our focus and energy was much, much better in the second half. First half obviously we struggled. Struggled making shots, struggled with a lot of things but I think we were doing some things uncharacteristic of us. I’ve been really pleased with this group as far as their unselfishness, their effort, their connectivity, I’ve been really pleased with that.”

K-State (6-1) received 36 points from its five bench players on Saturday, which was the second most this season for the Wildcats. In total, Kansas State saw four players in double figures including reserves Jada Moore and Emilee Ebert with 13 and 12 points, respectively.

Moore added six rebounds and four steals to her career-high 13 points. The sophomore guard from Denver, Colorado, felt ready for her chance.

"I just felt like I came out ready and prepared. I knew this game Coach Mittie talked a lot about getting steals and taking risks and that was my main focus. Just being ready to shoot and do whatever I needed to do. So being able to score off steals was very helpful in that area as well.”

Ebert recorded her first career double-double with a career-high and K-State season-high 14 rebounds. Ebert also added six assists and two steals to her ledger.

“I just felt comfortable, but we talked a lot about just doing our job today,” said Ebert about her rebounding performance. “I was just focused on that, and it was my job rebounding. I was trying to find the ball wherever it was.”

The Wildcats had a sluggish start to Saturday’s game, trailing 13-11 after the first quarter. The Wildcats shot 21.7 percent (5-of-23) from the field.

Ebert pulled the Wildcats in front midway through the second quarter, 18-16. Ebert scored five straight points for the Wildcats, which helped her to nine first half points.

Ebert’s effort sparked the Wildcats to an 11-0 run to end the second quarter and construct a 29-18 halftime lead. During the run, Ayoka Lee scored five points, while Ebert added a layup and Brylee Glenn buried a 3-pointer.

Lee ended the afternoon with a game-high 15 points and hauled in 11 rebounds to record her fifth straight double-double and the 34th of her career. With her 34th career double-double, Lee passed former teammate Peyton Williams (2016-20; 33) for third on the K-State career double-doubles list.

Brylee Glenn was the fourth Wildcat in double figures with a career-high 10 points. The freshman guard from Kansas City also pulled in a career-high eight rebounds and blocked two shots.

Defensively in the first half, K-State held Northwestern State (3-2) to 18.8 percent (6-of-32) shooting including a 12.5 percent (2-of-16) effort in the second quarter. The Wildcats held the Lady Demons without a field goal for the final 5:31 of the half.

In the third quarter, the Wildcats used a 16-2 run over a five-minute stretch to build a comfortable 47-23 lead with 2:34 remaining in the frame. Moore registered seven points during the run, while Lee and Taylor Lauterbach chipped in with four each.

K-State would close the third quarter on an 8-0 run and hold a 55-25 advantage entering the fourth quarter. Moore finished another layup in transition, while Brylee Glenn nailed a floater with 19 seconds left.

The Wildcats scored the first five points of the fourth quarter, increasing its lead to 60-25 with 8:37 remaining. Lee finished a layup followed by a three-pointer from Brylee Glenn.

Serena Sundell then provided an electric moment. Sundell was racing up the floor anticipating a pass. As the ball arrived, a Northwestern State defender arrived. In one motion, Sundell caught the pass, quickly dribbled behind her back and lost the defender. She then finished off the easy left-handed layup to the delight of the crowd and a 62-27 lead.

K-State ended the day shooting 35.9 percent (28-of-78) from the field but used 21 offensive rebounds to record a 21-3 edge in second chance points. The Wildcats registered a season-high 61 rebounds, which were the most by a K-State team since Feb. 1, 2020, at TCU and are tied for the third-most in a single-game in school history

The Wildcats held Northwestern State to 18.3 percent (11-of-60) shooting including an 0-of-12 effort from 3-point range.

K-State completes the November portion of its schedule on Monday, as the Wildcats host North Dakota State at 6:30 p.m. To purchase tickets, call (800) 221-CATS, visit kstatesports.com/tickets or purchase in-person at the Bramlage Coliseum ticket windows.

Monday’s game will stream on Big 12 Now on ESPN+. The game will also air on the K-State Sports Network and for free at kstatesports.com and on the K-State Sports app.

kstatesports.com