Wildcats Playing For 19th-Straight Home Win On Saturday
Feb 14, 2003 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 14, 2003
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
Game #25
No. 5/5 Kansas State Wildcats (22-2, 8-1)
vs. Oklahoma State Cowgirls (5-16, 1-9)
Date:Sat., Feb. 15, 2003 - 7 p.m. CT
Site:Bramlage Coliseum (13,340) - Manhattan, Kan.
Television: Wildcat Network - Ben Boyle (play-by-play)and Patti Phillips (color)
Radio:Mid America Sports NetworkSteve Webster (play-by-play) and Missy Heidrick (color)
Internet: Audio broadcast on www.kstatesports.com
Gametracker: www.kstatesports.com
Records:Kansas State is 22-2, 9-1 overall. Oklahoma State is 5-16, 1-9 overall.
Coaches: Kansas State coach Deb Patterson (Rockford (Ill.) College '79) is 119-86 (.580) in her seventh season at K-State. Oklahoma State is coached by Julie Goodenough (Texas-Arlington '91), who is 5-16 (.238) in her first season at OSU.
Series: Oklahoma State leads the series, 24-22.
MANHATTAN, Kan. - The No. 5/5 Kansas State Wildcats (22-2, 9-1) finish their two-game homestand Saturday when they meet Oklahoma State (5-16, 1-9) at 7 p.m. in Bramlage Coliseum.
The game will be broadcast live across the state of Kansas on the Wildcat Network. The contest will be seen on WIBW (Ch. 13) in Topeka; KMCI and Metro Sports in Kansas City; KSCC in Wichita and Western Kansas; and Eagle Communications in Russell, Ellis, Hays and Wakeney. Ben Boyle will call the play-by-play and Patti Phillips the color commentary.
Kansas State, a winner in its last 17 of 18 games, extended a pair of winning streaks on Wednesday with a 64-47 victory over Nebraska. The 'Cats enter Saturday's game with a modest four-game winning streak and 18-game home winning streak.
Oklahoma State travels to the Little Apple with eight losses in its last nine games after losing to Texas, 72-70, on Wednesday in Stillwater. The Cowgirls are currently in last place in the Big 12 along with Nebraska.
Saturday's game can be heard on KMAN (1350 AM), KBLS (102.5), KNDY (1570 AM), KTPK (106.9 FM), KXKU (106.1 FM) and KINZ (95.3 FM). Steve Webster will call the play-by-play and Missy Heidrick the color. Pre-game starts at 6:40 p.m.
Oklahoma State leads the series, 24-22.
Setting The Scene
Saturday's storylines remain similar to those of Wednesday's.
First, a win keeps the Wildcats in the race for the Big 12 regular-season title. The 'Cats are tied with Texas Tech and Texas.
A victory Saturday would also continue the Wildcats' 18-game home winning streak and a modest four-game winning streak. The home winning streak is currently the sixth-longest in the NCAA as of Feb. 11.
The Wildcats could also break the school record for most wins at home. The 1981-82 team finished the season 15-1 and the 2002-03 squad sports a 15-0 mark.
Kansas State looks to improve its Big 12 home record. The 'Cats are 32-21 (.603) at home in six-plus league seasons and sport a 13-8 mark in the last two seasons.
Oklahoma State will be playing its second straight and sixth game overall vs. a ranked team, and first contest vs. a Top 5 program of the season. The Cowgirls are 1-4 after upsetting then-No. 9/8 Arkansas (60-58) before losing to then-No. 20 Texas (77-44), then-No. 7 Texas Tech (95-45), then-No. 24/21 Oklahoma (87-71) and then-No. 11 Texas (72-70).
The Cowgirls will also be trying to snap a seven-game losing streak. Oklahoma State won its first Big 12 game of the season with a 60-56 decision over Kansas on Jan. 15.
A Glance at Kansas State
Kansas State has been red-hot in its last 18 games, posting double-digit victories in 13 and winning by 22.8 points per outing.
One of the hottest shooting teams in the Big 12, K-State ranks first overall in field goal percentage at 49.1 percent and in three-point field goal percentage at 38.1 percent in the overall Big 12 stats.
Defensively, the Wildcats have held their last 18 foes to a combined 35.4 percent (364-1029) from the floor and 32.5 percent (91-280) from beyond the three-point arc. Additionally, nine of the last 13 opponents have shot 36 percent or lower from the field. For the season, opponents are connecting on 35.4 percent of their shots from the field and 30.5 percent from three-point range.
Kansas State is shooting 49.1 percent from the field, 38.1 percent from three-point range and 72.7 percent from the free-throw line. The Wildcats are averaging 76.5 points a game and allowing only 56.5 points an outing.
Seventh-year head coach Deb Patterson used the lineup of sophomore Chelsea Domenico at point, sophomore Megan Mahoney at wing, junior Amy Dutmer at small forward, sophomore Kendra Wecker at power forward and junior Nicole Ohlde at center for the eighth time this season in a 65-53 win at Baylor on Feb. 8.
All-American candidate Kendra Wecker is averages 19.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game and is one of the premier players in college basketball. The 5-foot-11 forward ranks among the top 10 in the Big 12 Conference in seven of 12 statistical league categories, including fourth in scoring. She is also 18th in scoring in the NCAA.
Ohlde, also an All-American candidate, provides consistent play in the paint despite seeing double and triple teams. The 6-foot-4 center is in the top 10 in seven of 12 categories in the Big 12 Conference stats. She is averaging 18.3 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists a contest. Additionally, Ohlde changes an opponent's offense with her blocking ability. She is rejecting 1.8 shots per game, the third-most in the Big 12.
Mahoney is the Wildcats' top playmaker, dishing out 5.0 assists per game, and has had 12 five-assist games already this season. She is fifth in the Big 12 in assists and in assist-to-turnover ratio. The guard/forward is scoring 13.5 points and grabbing 6.0 caroms an outing and is 15th in the league in scoring (12.9).
Domenico is averaging 4.3 points, 2.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists over 22 games (15 starts), and has a 1.9 assist-to-turnover ratio. She is fifth in the league in three-pointers (18/1.8), 14th in assists (3.0) and third in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.88).
Dutmer, who made her ninth collegiate start on Feb. 12, is averaging 3.6 points and 2.3 rebounds. She has been effective from beyond the three-point arc, hitting 13 of 36 (36.1 percent) of her attempts after sinking her first career trey on Dec. 20.
The nation's leading three-point shooter last year, Laurie Koehn, remains sidelined with a sore right foot. The guard missed her fourth consecutive game and seventh of the season on Feb. 12. She was averaging 13.5 points and grabbing 3.5 rebounds a game before sitting out the Oklahoma game on Feb. 1.
Off the bench, Brie Madden has been a consistent contributor.
Madden is tallying 4.9 points and 5.0 rebounds in 24 games (10 starts). She is also the team's second-leading shot blocker (40) and ranks third in the league in that category.
A Glance At Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State is currently 5-16 overall and 1-9 in the Big 12. The Cowgirls are tied with Nebraska for last in the league rankings.
Oklahoma State's lone league victory was against Kansas, 60-56, on Jan. 15. The losses have been to Texas (77-44 & 72-70), Texas A&M (69-54), Texas Tech (95-45), Colorado (64-50), Missouri (87-65), Nebraska (73-59), Iowa State (79-55) and Oklahoma (87-71).
Head coach Julie Goodenough is in her 10th season overall (193-70) and first at Oklahoma State.
The Cowgirls have one player scoring in double figures - Trisha Skibbe (16.7).
Skibbe is also averaging a team-leading 7.1 rebounds and 1.2 blocks an outing.Megan Craig, a 5-foot-10 guard, is averaging 8.0 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.0 blocks at game.
Oklahoma State's leading playmaker is 5-foot-5 senior guard Chantoya Hawkins. She is dishing out 3.6 per game, while scoring 7.1 points and making 2.0 steals an outing.
The Cowgirls have two three-point threats. Craig and 5-foot-8 senior guard Thia Willis have sank 31 each.
Oklahoma State is shooting 36.9 percent from the field, 27.3 percent from three-point range and 70.3 percent from the free-throw line. Additionally, the Cowgirls are averaging 58.7 points per game and giving up 71.6. They are also grabbing 34.7 rebounds per contest.
20-wins And Counting
K-State won its 22nd game of the season on Wednesday and is currently tied with the 1986-87 team (22-9) for the 10th-most wins in the program's history. A win on Saturday would tie the 'Cats with the 1976-77 (23-12) team for the ninth-most victories in a season.
The Wildcats secured the program's 16th 20-win season in 35 years with its win on Feb. 1. This year is the second-straight 20-win season.
The 2002-03 team also tied last year's squad for the fastest team to reach the 20-win plateau.
100,000 And Climbing
Kansas State could surpass last year's home attendance figure on Saturday.
The Wildcats, who have drawn 115,405 fans this year, need a total of 6,971 fans to attend the Oklahoma State game to pass last season's record home attendance of 122,376.
Kansas State has averaged 7,694 fans in its 15 home contests this season, but more importantly, 10,074 fans in the Wildcats' five Big 12 games.
Series History
*Oklahoma State leads the all-time series ,24-22.
*The Wildcats are 2-5 vs. the Cowgirls since the inaugural season of the Big 12 in 1996-97.
*Kansas State is 10-7 at home, 7-12 on the road and 4-6 at neutral sites against Oklahoma State.
*Last season, Oklahoma State broke Kansas State's 14-game winning streak with a 68-60 victory in Stillwater.
*Kansas State has won four of the last nine games, including two of four in Bramlage.*Against Oklahoma State, K-State is 3-0 in the 70s, 10-8 in the 80s, 7-14 in the 90s and 1-3 in 2000s.
*The Kansas State-Oklahoma State series is the seventh-longest series in years and games. The teams have played 46 games over 23 years.
*The Wildcats and the Cowgirls first met in 1976.
*Deb Patterson is 2-5 all-time against Oklahoma State, including a 1-2 mark in Manhattan.
*All-American candidate Nicole Ohlde is averaging 17.5 points and 7.5 rebounds over two games against the Cowgirls.
A Kansas State Victory Saturday Would...
...be the Wildcats 23rd win of the season and fifth consecutive.
...be the most home victories in the program's history.
...be the third-most conference wins in school history (10).
...be the second-most Big 12 league victories (11 in 2001-02) for Kansas State.
...be the 49th victory of the 'Cats in the last 59 games (.830).
...be the first win over Oklahoma State since 2000.
...improve Kansas State head coach Deb Patterson's record to 3-5 against Oklahoma State and 2-2 in Manhattan.
...improve K-State's Big 12 home record to 33-21 (.611).
...put head coach Deb Patterson's overall win-loss record at 120-86.
...improve Kansas State's all-time record to 623-389.
...mark the first time since joining the Big 12 that K-State has won its first five games in February.
Chart Climbing
The dynamic scoring duo of junior Nicole Ohlde and sophomore Kendra Wecker are among the top 30 on the career scoring chart and are climbing.
Ohlde is sixth on the list with 1,513 points. With a run by the Wildcats in the postseason, the junior could become K-State's all-time leading scorer this year. She is 192 points behind the current leader Diana Miller.
Wecker is 27th on the list and needs two points to moved up to 26th and 15 points to surpass LeAnn Wilcox who currently is in 25th.
Another Milestone
Junior Nicole Ohlde became just the sixth Wildcat in the program's 35-year history to score 1,500 points when she scored 14 points on Wednesday.
Ohlde was the fastest Wildcat to the prestigeous point total, accomplishing it in 85 games.
She joins Diana Miller (1,705), Eileen Feeney (1,670), Nadira Hazim (1,670), Tammie Romstad (1,548) and Brit Jacobson (1,519) on the prestigous list.
Homecourt Win Streak At 18
Kansas State has won 18 consecutive home games dating back to last season, the third-longest homecourt streak in school history.
The last time the Wildcats lost in Bramlage Coliseum was against then-No. 4/3 Oklahoma on Feb. 13, 2002.
K-State's current streak is the sixth-longest nationally. The 'Cats, 15-0 at home this season, closed last season with wins over Missouri, and Kent State and Arkansas in the NCAA Tournament.
Peak At The Polls Reveal...
Kansas State remained No. 5 this week in the latest Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today/WBCA Coaches polls.
In this week's AP poll, Kansas State has five opponents currently ranked. Stanford is No. 6; No. 7 Texas Tech (March 6); No. 12 Penn State; No. 11 Texas; and No. 21 Wisconsin-Green Bay. The other Wildcat opponent receiving votes are Oklahoma (43), Colorado (15) and Baylor (1).
In the coaches poll, K-State will play or have played five teams in the coaches' poll during the 2002-03 season. The Wildcats have played No. 6 Stanford, No. 11 Texas, No. 12 Penn State and No. 23 UW-Green Bay, and will play No. 8 Texas Tech. The other Wildcat opponents receiving votes are Colorado (14) and Georgia Tech (3).
Working To Join The Leaders
Guard/forward Megan Mahoney scored 13 points on Feb. 12 and moved into 39th on the career scoring list.
The Sturgis, S.D., native has 609 career points needs seven points to move into 38th.
Ohlde Named Big 12 Player of the Week
For the second time this season and for the third time in her career, Kansas State junior Nicole Ohlde was named the Big 12 Conference Player of the Week, announced Monday by the league office.
Ohlde, a 6-foot-4 forward/center, helped Kansas State to a pair of victories last week over Missouri in Manhattan and Baylor in Waco, Texas. She averaged 23 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.0 blocks, 0.5 steals and 36.5 minutes in the two victories. Ohlde shot 68 percent (17-for-25) from the field and 80 percent (12-for-15) from the free-throw line.
This was Kansas State's fourth Big 12 Player of the Week honor, as both Ohlde and sophomore Kendra Wecker have been honored twice this season.
It is the eighth time a Kansas State player has been named Big 12 Player of the Week since the conference's inception in 1996-97, and the second time a player has received the honor twice in a season (Wecker). Wecker (2002), Ohlde (2002, 2001), Nicky Ramage (1999), Angie Finkes (1998) and Andria Jones (1997) were K-State's other honorees.
RPI's
Kansas State's 2002-03 schedule is ranked in the Top 10 in three RPI ratings. The Wildcats' schedule is the sixth-toughest in the country in the Jeff Sagarin/CBN Women's College Basketball Ratings, by Collegerpi.com and by the WBCA ratings.
Just Plain Good Defense
Kansas State is limiting its opponents to just 56.5 points per game and allowing the foes to shoot 35.4 percent from the field, 30.5 percent from three-point range and 68.7 from the foul line.
This season, K-State has allowed only seven foes to shoot over 40 percent from the field and six of them to score 65 or more points. Additionally, 14 of 24 foes have scored 60 or fewer points and seven 50 or fewer points.
Kansas State is second in scoring defense (54.7), field goal percentage defense (34.1) and sixth in three-point field goal percentage (32.4) in conference games.
Doing It With Defense
K-State has limited opponents to less than 40 percent shooting in each of the last four games, helping the Wildcats to a 3-1 record. The last time to shoot better than 40 percent aganst Kansas State was Iowa State (.531) on Jan. 29.
On The Glass
Kansas State has dominated the glass through its 24 games, averaging 40.2 rebounds per game. K-State has outrebounded 19 of its 24 opponents and has a +8.0 rebounding margin.
In conference games, the 'Cats are first in rebounding defense (33.8) and third in rebounding margin (+5.7) and second in defensive rebounds (27.89).
By The Halves
Kansas State has been strong in both halves of its 24 games this season.
The Wildcats have led at halftime in 19 of the contests and trailed by a combined 17 points in the other five outings (-3 vs. Ball State; -2 at Stanford; -1 vs. Texas; -8 at Iowa State; -3 vs. Missouri).
K-State's largest halftime lead was 41 points against Arkansas-Pine Bluff and the 'Cats average a 14.3-point halftime lead in the games they have won and led at halftime.
In the second half, Kansas State has been outscored by three teams (34-30 at Stanford; 34-32 vs. Iowa State {Jan. 29}; 31-30 vs. Nebraska) and USC tied the Wildcats with 36 points.
From The Nebraska Game
- Kansas State swept the Nebraska series for the first time since 1995.
- The Wildcats had four players score in double figures (Kendra Wecker 16, Nicole Ohlde 14, Megan Mahoney 13 and Amy Dutmer 12), marking the seventh time it has happened this season and the first time since beating the Cornhuskers on Jan. 19.
- Nebraska native Amy Dutmer tied her career high in points with a lay-up at the end of the first half. She also set personal highs for field goals made (5) and attempted (8).
- With 16 points, sophomore Kendra Wecker scored 15-plus points in 14 of her last 16 games.
- Kansas State held its sixth opponent of the season to under 20 points in the first half when Nebraska scored just 16 points on Wednesday
Double-Doubles
Sophomore Kendra Wecker recorded her 10th double-double of the season and the 22nd of her career when she had game-highs of 23 points and 13 rebounds at Baylor on Feb. 8. She is currently fifth on the career doubles-doubles list, tied for fifth on the single-season chart at K-State and first in the Big 12 this season and 10th on the career list.
Junior Nicole Ohlde recorded her ninth double-double of the season and 28th of her career when she had 12 points and 12 rebounds at Oklahoma on Feb. 1.
With her latest double-double, Ohlde is now Kansas State's career leader. She is also tied for eighth on the single-season list.
The center is currently is sixth on the Big 12 career double-doubles list. She trails Texas' Stacy Stephens, who has 33 and counting. On the single-season chart, she is tied for second with Baylor's Sophia Young.
In conference-only games, Wecker leads the league.
20-Something
Forward Kendra Wecker tallied a game-high 23 points on Feb. 8, marking the 22nd game she has had 20 or more points in a game in her career. It was also her 12th 20-plus point game of the season.
Center Nicole Ohlde tallied a game-high and season-high 28 points vs. Missouri, marking the 31st game she has had 20 or more points in a game in her career. It was also her eighth 20-plus point game of the season.
Guard/forward Megan Mahoney has four career 20-plus point games after registering 22 points vs. Iowa State on Jan. 29.
Guard Laurie Koehn has 15 20-plus point games.
Kicking It Up A Notch On Offense
Sophomore Megan Mahoney has kicked it up a notch on offense in the last five games for the 'Cats.
The guard has averaged 15.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists. She is also shooting 55.1 percent (27-49) from the field, 45 percent (9-20) from three-point range and 68.4 percent (13-19) from the field.
Who Is Hot?
Sophomore Nicole Ohlde has been sizzling in her last five games.
Ohlde is averaging 18.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.2 blocks per game. The 6-foot-4 center is also shooting 55.7 percent (34-61) from the field and 77.4 percent (24-31) from the charity stripe.
Up Next
Kansas State plays its third-to-last regular-season road game when it travels east to Missouri on Wednesday, Feb. 19 for a 7 p.m. game in the Hearnes Center.
Missouri is currently 11-8 overall and 5-3 in the Big 12. The Tigers are in a tie with Oklahoma for fifth in the league rankings.
The Tigers' league victories have been over Iowa State (86-55 & 70-57), vs. Nebraska (65-53 & 74-53), vs. Oklahoma State (87-65), vs. Colorado (71-52). Their losses have been to Baylor (71-65), Kansas State (68-52), Texas (70-59) and Texas Tech (84-50).
Missouri head coach Cindy Stein is in her fifth year at MU and sports a 78-61 record. Overall, she is 143-86 in eight seasons as a head coach.
The Tigers have two players scoring in double figures - Evan Unrau (15.7) and Kerensa Barr (11.7).
Unrau, a 6-foot-1 junior forward, is grabbing a team-high 8.0 rebounds a game.Barr, a 5-foot-10 senior guard, leads the team in assists, dishing out 5.1 a game, and is tops on the squad in steals, making 2.4 an outing.
Junior guard Tracy Lozier is Missouri's top three-point threat, sinking 36 treys this season. She also averages 9.0 points, 2.9 assists and 1.6 steals a game.
Missouri is shooting 42 percent from the field, 34.7 percent from three-point range and 74.4 percent from the free-throw line. Additionally, the Tigers are averaging 68.9 points per game and giving up 64.5. They are also grabbing 37.1 rebounds per contest.
