MANHATTAN, Kansas â A big second quarter scoring run sparked K-State into a halftime lead, but Iowa State used a 56-point second half to down the Wildcats, 93-79, on Sunday afternoon at Bramlage Coliseum.
K-State (15-16, 8-10 Big 12) was paced by freshmen Jordan Speiser and Gina Garcia. Speiser, a product of Warrenton, Missouri, carded a team-high 17 points, including a 4-of-8 effort from 3-point range, and three steals. Garcia, a guard from Barcelona, Spain, registered her first career double-double by tying her career-high in points with 14 and dished out a career-high 10 assists. She also pocketed two steals.
Garcia is the third K-State freshman since 2009-10 to card a points-assists double-double and first since Serena Sundell registered 16 points and 10 assists at South Dakota State on Dec. 11, 2021.
Joining the freshmen tandem in double figures were senior Tess Heal with 16 points, four steals and three assists while junior Taryn Sides added 11 points, three steals, three rebounds and two assists.
Iowa State (22-8, 10-8) was led by Audi Crooks with 41 points on 16-of-19 shooting and 13 rebounds, while Jada Williams tallied 23 points and nine assists.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- K-State used a 15-3 run in the first five minutes of the second quarter to build a 37-31 advantage with 4:42 to play.
- Heal opened the scoring run with a 3-pointer and was followed by a fast break layup from Gina Garcia. After two Heal free throws, Speiser converted an old-fashioned three-point play with 7:52 remaining. Claessens added two free throws before Aniya Foy buried a 3-pointer in transition.
- The Cyclones closed to within one, 38-37, with 2:09 left but the Wildcats ended the quarter with the last five points and held a 43-37 lead at halftime.
- K-State outscored the Cyclones 21-11 in the second quarter. This marked the seventh time this season and the third time in Big 12 play this season in which K-State scored 20 or more points in the second quarter. The last time K-State notched 20 or more points in a second quarter in Big 12 action was Feb. 7 against BYU.
- A 28-point third quarter by Iowa State, gave the Cyclones a 65-62 advantage entering the fourth quarter. K-State held a 62-60 lead with 2:15 remaining, but went scoreless for the final 2:14 of the stanza.
- K-State closed to within one, 71-70, as Taryn Sides knocked down a 3-pointer with 7:45 remaining in the fourth quarter. Iowa State used a 7-0 run to go in front, 78-70, to force a Wildcat timeout with 5:34 left.
- The Cyclones would push their advantage to 13, 87-74, with 3:02 left. K-State would only be able to cut the margin to 10 on two occasions.
- The 56 second half points by Iowa State were the most K-State has allowed in a half this season.
- K-State shot 37.1 percent (26-of-70), including 34.3 percent (12-of-35) from the 3-point line.
QUICK FACTS
- K-State leads the series, 55-52. Head coach Jeff Mittie is 9-22 in his career against Iowa State. The Wildcats are 29-20 in games played in Manhattan.
- K-State head coach Jeff Mittie owns a career record of 687-394 (.636), including a mark of 233-159 (.594).
- In its 30th season of play in the Big 12, K-State owns a record of 253-257 (.496) in Big 12 action.
- K-State is 420-165 (.718) in its 38th-season inside Bramlage Coliseum, including a 150-57 (.725) record under Mittie.
- The Wildcats are 144-110 (.567) in games played in the month of March. Under head coach Jeff Mittie, K-State is 27-26 (.509) in games during the third month.
TEAM NOTES
- K-State's starting five consisted of guards Gina Garcia, Brandie Harrod, Tess Heal, and Taryn Sides and forward Nastja Claessens. This was the eighth time this lineup has started together this season. This is the second-most used starting lineup for K-State this season. This was the 30th career start for Sides. This was the 29th career start for Garcia. Heal made her 18th start this season and her 92nd career start. Claessens made her 27th career start. This was Harrodâs 27th career start.
- Since the start of the quarter-system in womenâs college basketball in the 2015-16 season, K-State is 173-75 (.698) when scoring 20 or more points in any quarter in a game, including a 13-10 mark this season. The Wildcats have 41 quarters this season with 20 or more points scored.
- With its 12 made three-pointers on Sunday, K-State has made 10 or more 3-pointers in eight games this season (5-3). Since the 2014-15 season, K-State has made 10 or more 3-pointers in a game 59 times (50-9).
- K-State pocketed 15 steals on Sunday. This was the 18th time this season K-State has carded 10 or more steals, including the third game with 15 or more steals. For the season, the Wildcats have recorded 301 steals, which is the second straight season K-State has tallied 300 or more steals in a season and the fourth time under head coach Jeff Mittie.
PLAYER NOTES
- Speiser carded her 16th game this season with double digits in points.
- Speiser made four 3-pointers on Sunday. This was her 16th game this season with two or more connections from long distance, including four games with four connections.
- Speiser pocketed three steals. This was her eighth game this season with two or more steals.
- Garcia tallied 14 points. This was her eighth game this season with 10 or more points.
- Garcia knocked down two 3-pointers on Sunday. This was a career-high and her first career game with two or more connections from long range.
- Garcia handed out a career-high 10 assists. She moved into fourth in program history for assists in a freshman season with 151. She is the fourth freshman in program history with 150 or more assists in a season and first since Serena Sundell in 2021-22. Garcia set the school record for assists in a season by an international player. This was her 16th game this season with five or more assists.
- Heal reached double figures for the 91st time in her career, including her 17th time this season. Healâs collegiate career point total now stands at 1,777 points.
- Heal tallied two connections from long range. This was her 31st career game with two or more 3-point field goals made including seven this season.
- Sides tallied 10 or more points for the 35th time in her career and 17th time this season.
- With her lone made 3-point field goal, Sides moved into sole possession of 10th on the K-State career 3-point field goals list with 177 in her career.
- With her two assists, Sides moved into sole possession of 16th on the K-State career assists list with 308.
- Claessens pulled in five or more rebounds for the 11th time this season.
- Foy made two 3-pointers on Sunday. This was her third game this season with two or more connections from long distance.
FROM THE HEAD COACH
K-State Head Coach Jeff Mittie
On Iowa State pulling away in the second halfâŠ
âIt's probably my fault. We're small balling there so we weren't able to get enough ball pressure. We weren't able to get enough chaos. [Audi Crooks] had great position down there. They were disciplined enough to get it down there. And those short rebounds are going to be a problem because of those. The long rebounds we can chase down. We didn't get enough chaos in the second half.â
On Jordan Speiserâs play while guarding Audi CrooksâŠ
â[Jordan Speiserâs] a competitor. She competes and I thought she did everything she could. It's not a fair match up to her. We've obviously got to get more size in there, and we will. We've got a lot of young ones. But I thought Jordan battled like crazy. I didn't think it affected her offensively either. Most of the time you put in that much energy down there on that kind of player. So I thought she played well at both ends.â
On the challenge of guarding Audi CrooksâŠ
âBrandie [Harrod] picks up two fouls. We're wanting her to use her athleticism and front her, and so we tried to mix up coverages. [Ivona Scekic] got two fouls right away. We had no answer for her, our only answer was [to have] enough guard pressure, where we created some turnovers, but if they got settled in the half court, we didn't have an answer.â
On Gina Garciaâs play while Taryn Sides was in foul trouble earlyâŠ
âHer numbers are pretty good. They were giving her some opportunities, but she did some good things. I thought she played well. I thought our team played well when [Taryn Sides] was in foul trouble. We obviously went into the half with the lead. So our team did some good things in that stretch.â
On how the freshmen have handled their first year in Big 12 playâŠ
âItâs hard for freshmen to understand, as they sit here today, how much growth they've had. Hard for any player, because you want the result, and we're all in this results world that you want the result, the result says growth, right? And it's just not the way it is. Iâve seen every one of them grow a lot. Iâve seen their game grow. The problem is that, in many cases, to them, it's hard for them to see. They're frustrated, they're tired, they're battling. They didn't get the result they wanted. So I've seen all of them. You look at a player like [Aniya Foy], if you go back on film and watch her compete from day one to here, it's night and day different. It's not even the same player that you're watching. So she's able to play through stretches, and she did some good things today. [Jordan] Speiserâs a great example of being able to do different things. Gina [Garcia] is continuing to do a lot of really good things. Brandie [Harrod], we've watched her battle an All-American like Audi Crooks, struggle with that, but we've watched her go up against others and play great. So it's just hard to see sometimes, when you're in the fight.â
On how he feels on playing five games in five days heading into the Big 12 TournamentâŠ
âWell, I'd rather have the bye. We were in position to get that. So, no, I don't think it's good. It is what it is, right? We didn't earn the bye. We had a chance, and now our opportunity is to play right away. So we've got to make the most of that. I think most of the league is playing today. Not everybody. There were some games yesterday, but for us, it'll get here quickly. So it looks like [we will be seeded] 12 or 11, I think, right? So we'll get that answer here later, but we need to be ready to play quickly.â
Iowa State Head Coach Bill Fennelly
Opening StatementâŠ
âFirst of all, I really want to commend the K State crowd. It was a great crowd, great Sunday afternoon crowd, great for TV. They do it right here, so I really hope that they understand how important that is. We know what it's like in Hilton, so that's a great thing. A huge game for our team. Obviously, a huge road win impacts a lot of things, but offensively, we were as good as we could be, except for the turnovers. But we rebound the ball and we made free throws, and that's been something we struggled with basically all year. So very, very fortunate to come out of here the way we did. And a great way to start March. And I'm looking forward to going to Kansas City.â
On making changes in the last half of the gameâŠ
âWell, the first thing we did was we told our guys that we wanted to play more inside out. They were spreading us out a lot, and it's hard to go rebound. You know, we don't rebound out of our own area of the floor very well, so we want to keep as many bodies close, which means we're going to give up a couple threes, there were some people we were going to make them prove they could shoot the three. And then defensive rebounding wise, when we did that. And, you know, Audi Crooks was really good, but Addy Brown makes such a big difference. She's our best defensive rebounder. So between the two of them, they had 19 defensive rebounds. And I think that is part of it. So I think we want to play more inside out, and when they miss, go get it.â
On Jordan Speiser's freshman yearâŠ
âShe's had a tremendous freshman year. I got to see her a lot. She played for the Iowa Attack, so we saw her a lot up in Ames. I mean, the kid shoots it, and it's so easy. And I think the thing about her is that when you coach against her, and you watch her play, everyone thought, âShe can catch and shoot threes.â Sheâs a lot more physical. I mean, you know, they asked her to guard Audi. Sometimes they asked her to guard perimeter players. But she's really skilled, and she's putting the ball on the deck. Obviously, she's been coached very well here, and she's learning more. She shoots the three so deep you got to chase her off of it, then she puts her head down and goes by you, but she's going to be a tremendous player. She's one of the best freshmen in our league, and it's without question.â
On Jada Williams scoring early onâŠ
âYeah, you know, I think a lot of people have taken a stance. They want to cap Jada a little bit. Hit some mid-range jumpers. We've asked Jada to kind of get downhill a little bit, and our courts opened up a little with Addy, so Jada can get to the free throw line. But yeah, when she makes a couple shots early, it changes a lot of things for us. And you know, she had some unforced errors, we made some really loose decisions with the ball. When she doesnât, she can give us a threat. And now, in a ball screen situation, do you help? Do you not? How do you rotate? And then Audi can maybe do some work. So no question they go together.â
FROM THE FLOOR
K-State Senior Tess Heal
On what Iowa State did in the second half that led to their offensive successâŠ
âThey got it to [Audi Crooks], and she finished at the rim really well. She's a great player. She's hard to stop. She was too big for us.â
On moving focus to the Big 12 TournamentâŠ
âI mean, basketball is like life. You got to move on quickly. Things happen, and you just have to get on your bike and think about the next thing. So we have a game on Wednesday. That's our focus. I don't know who we're playing. I don't know if that's set. I think other games depend, but yeah, whoever we play on Wednesday, our focus will be on them, and then get a win there and play on Thursday, and we'll focus on that one, and just take it day by day.â
On the season after playing her final game at Bramlage ColiseumâŠ
âI'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity from the coaching staff and K-State in general, just to let me wear this jersey. It's been an absolute roller coaster, but I'm grateful for every moment of it. Itâs an honor to play here and to wear the K-State purple. I'm really grateful for all of it.â
On Jordan Speiserâs play against Audi CrooksâŠ
âJordan's a really unique player. She's such a good perimeter shooter, and she likes to play on the perimeter, but she'll battle down low with the post, and she's incredibly strong. Watching her in the weight room all summer, she outlifts a lot of people. She's very strong. She's very versatile, and it's been awesome to see her growth and her ability to guard big inside, and then play on the perimeter as well.â
K-State Freshman Jordan Speiser
On guarding Audi CrooksâŠ
âShe's a great player. The whole world knows that. It's obviously tough. It's a mismatch, no matter what even if anyone's guarding her on our team, but she's a great player. I tried to do what I could do, but definitely didn't get the job done. But, I can't say anything. She's a great player.â
On what led to her pointsâŠ
âMy defense carries over to my offense, so just being aggressive on defense just helped me get to my offense, and even my teammates got the ball to me whenever I was open or available.â
On her mindset coming off of the benchâŠ
âI feel like my mindset is to always stay ready, no matter when you go in, how long you stay in, you have to be there for your team. I just felt like we needed energy. They were sort of getting on us in the first quarter, and I wanted to be that for my team, so I tried my best, and I feel like in the first quarter, I helped my team a little bit with energy.â
On what she has seen in her growthâŠ
âYou have to grow your game every day. But I knew coming to college, I couldn't just be a shooter. It's going to be easier to guard, everyone's at the same level now. I'm still trying to keep growing my game, but just trying to listen to the coaches helping me expand defensively and offensively. So, just working every day to do that.â
UP NEXT
K-State will now prep for the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament in T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri. The Wildcats will begin action on Wednesday with a game time yet to be determined.