K-State Upset Bid Falls Short Against (5/4) UCLA

Friday, November 24

Las Vegas, Nevada

3:15 p.m.

Kansas State University

4-1

UCLA

4-1

Kansas State

UCLA

Nov 24, 2017 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (pdf)Game Highlights

LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Kansas State trailed by five at the half to fifth-ranked UCLA, but a strong third quarter from the Bruins kept K-State's fourth quarter rally at arm's length in a 64-55 win by UCLA on Friday in the South Point Thanksgiving Shootout.

Kansas State (4-1) had three players reach double figures for the fifth game this season, as junior guard Kayla Goth led all scorers with a season-high 19 points, while adding five assists and three rebounds. This was her fifth straight game with 10 or more points and her fourth straight game with five or more assists.

Joining Goth in double figures were senior Shaelyn Martin with 11 points, six rebounds and three steals and freshman Rachel Ranke with 10 points and five rebounds. This was Ranke's second career game with 10 or more points and five or more rebounds.

The Bruins (4-1) also featured three players in double figures led by Monique Billings with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Kennedy Burke and Kelli Hayes chipped in with 12 points each.

UCLA dashed out to an 8-0 lead with 7:55 to play in the opening quarter. Goth ended K-State's dry spell with a midrange jumper. Kaylee Page followed the jumper with a layup to pull K-State to within four, 8-4, with 6:53 to play.

The Bruins would build its lead to nine, 17-8, with 1:07 to play in the first quarter following a 9-4 run. Goth connected on a jump shot in the post before the buzzer to bring K-State to within seven, 17-10, at the end of one.

UCLA started the second quarter with an 11-2 run to construct its largest lead of the first half at 16, 28-12, with 5:41 remaining in the first stanza. K-State clawed back into the game with an 11-2 rally, as Ranke connected on her first 3-pointer of the afternoon and followed it up with a fastbreak layup to force a UCLA timeout.

Out of the timeout, K-State stopped the ensuing offensive possession for the Bruins and answered with another Goth layup. Before the end of the second quarter, Martin buried an open 3-pointer with 30 seconds left to bring K-State within five at the break, 31-26.

K-State shot 38.5 percent (10-of-26) from the field in the opening half and were just 3-of-12 from the 3-point line. Despite the quick starts to each quarter, UCLA shot 34.5 percent (10-of-29) and were forced into 14 turnovers.

UCLA again started a quarter strong, opening the third frame with a 10-2 run and increase its lead to 41-28. Billings scored five of the 10 points during the run.

K-State answered back with a 7-2 run to pull within eight, 43-35, with 2:47 to play in the third quarter. Ranke started the run with a 3-pointer, while Goth ended it with a midrange jumper. The Bruins closed with five points to hold a 48-35 lead at the end of the third.

The Wildcats won the fourth quarter, 18-16. The Bruins increased their lead to 19, 60-41, with 4:48 after Hayes drained her fourth three-pointer. K-State's Page answered with her first 3-pointer of the game, starting a 14-4 run for K-State to end the game. Goth finished a rebound and putback and then a layup and free throw. Page drained her second 3-pointer, while Goth tallied another jumper.

K-State finished the day shooting 35.2 percent from the floor (19-of-54), while UCLA tallied just a 37.5 percent effort (21-of-56). K-State forced UCLA into 23 turnovers, while the Bruins held a 48-31 advantage on the boards.

K-State will conclude action at the 2017 South Point Thanksgiving Shootout on Saturday night, as the Wildcats face Penn State at 7:45 p.m. (CT). Saturday's game can be heard on the K-State Sports Network and for free at kstatesports.com.