SE: Kaylee Page Providing Offensive Punch, Versatility Off the Bench for K-State
Jan 18, 2017 | Women's Basketball
Change can be uncomfortable at first but spur growth at the same time. It’s a path Kaylee Page knows well.
Page, a junior for the 22nd-ranked K-State women’s basketball team, started every game last season for the Wildcats — her first with the program after transferring in from Nebraska. She adapted well, averaging 6.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 32 starts.
This season, Page faced another change. The former Wamego star and 2014 Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year was asked to assume a more foreign role — coming off the bench.
“It was just kind of weird because I’ve started, like, all the time,” said Page, whose feelings on the subject quickly transformed into excitement. “I definitely had to grow up a bit and kind of get over myself, so to speak, and just do what was best for the team. It ended up being something that was good for both the team and me because I do enjoy coming off the bench.
“It was just one of those things where I had to mature, grow up and say, ‘This is what’s best for the team and so this is what you’re going to do.’”
Page embraced the role and opened the season with a 10-point game. Soon after, she put up 25 points between three victories at the Paradise Jam, two of which were against NC State (14-5, 4-2 ACC) and LSU (14-4, 3-2 SEC).
“I just really enjoy it because it gives you a moment to sit back and look at it and think, ‘Alright, this is what the game is looking like right now,’ because when you start, you just get thrown into it,” Page said of her role. “It’s nice getting to take a step back, watch the game for a bit and then be able to come in and just provide whatever we need.”
What Page, who has come off the bench in 16 of 18 games for K-State, provides is a second wave of scoring. This season, she’s averaging 6.0 points a game, which includes a boost from 0.24 points per minute last season to 0.31 through 18 games this year.
“It’s nice to have scoring coming off the bench,” K-State head coach Jeff Mittie said, adding that Page’s versatility only enhances her value to the bench. “We can play her really at three different spots — the two through the four — and that’s beneficial. When Kindred (Wesemann) was in foul trouble against Kansas, we could bring her in for Kindred. If Shae (Martin) gets a little bit tired, she can slide to the three. If we want to stretch them out a little bit, we can play her at the four. It’s a good weapon to have.”
After Wesemann, Page is the Wildcats’ go-to shooter from beyond the arc. Page has 23 treys this season — the second most on the team and 13 more than the next Wildcat.
“I take pride in being able to stretch the defense a bit because, at times, people get focused on Karyla (Middlebrook), Kindred and (Breanna Lewis) and get so caught up in all of those things that I get the opportunity spread it out, take a little pressure off of them and make the defense look the other way for a little bit,” Page said. “I do enjoy taking the pressure off the other guys.”
Page’s scoring has been a key ingredient amongst a stout K-State bench, outscoring its counterpart 377-278 for the season. More specifically, when Page makes two or more treys this season, K-State is 9-0. When she scores in double figures? 5-0.
Usually, Page said her pregame shooting usually foreshadows whether shots will be falling during it.
“I usually feel good during warm-ups; my stroke feels good,” she said of her best shooting performances. “It’s not necessarily that I’m making all of my shots in warm-ups, but just that my form feels good and I’m getting my feet underneath me.”
Like most shooters, Page said seeing the first shot go down during the game boosts her confidence. However, she added that as long as her shots “feel good,” she won’t get rattled by a few misses.
“As long as they feel good, I’ll keep shooting because Coach Mittie trusts me and I know my teammates trust me,” Page said. “I know that’s my job to come on, shoot the ball and spread out the offense a bit.”
To compliment her sharpshooting skills, Page has worked to increase her aggressiveness in multiple areas.
“I’d say I’m more aggressive. I’ll actually drive to the basket and go after the offensive boards more than last year. Last year, my role was more transition defense, so this year I’m getting the opportunity more to go to the offensive boards. I’d say I’ve grown in that area,” Page said. “Being more aggressive going to the basket because people do close out on me hard because I can shoot the three. I just want to be more aggressive with my one-dribble pull-up or taking a couple of dribbles to get to the hoop and get fouled. That’s one thing I really want to try to improve on going forward.”
From last year to now — yearlong starter to vital bench piece — Page’s growth has been across the board, Mittie said.
“I think she’s grown in every area,” said Mittie, whose team (14-4, 4-2) will host TCU (9-8, 1-5) on Wednesday at 7 p.m. “Her conditioning is better. She fights harder defensively on the glass; I think she’s doing a better job there. Offensively, I just think she’s more comfortable in every area.”
K-State’s game vs. TCU will be broadcast on FCS Pacific and K-StateHD.TV. The game will also be available on the K-State Sports Network. For tickets, contact the K-State Athletics Ticket Office at (800) 221-CATS, stop by the ticket office in Bramlage Coliseum or visit www.kstatesports.com/tickets.
For more K-State Sports Extra content visit the archive or subscribe to K-State Athletics and get great content delivered directly to your email inbox.
K-State Women's Basketball | Tess Heal Senior Video
Sunday, February 22
K-State Women's Basketball | Mikayla Parks Senior Video
Sunday, February 22
K-State Women's Basketball | Senior Night Ceremony 2025 - 2026 Season
Sunday, February 22
K-State Women's Basketball | Coach Mittie Press Conference vs Kansas
Sunday, February 22
