Kansas State University Athletics
Saturday, December 28
Manhattan, Kan.
2 p.m.
Kansas State University
6-5,0-0Big 12
79
vs
66
UTRGV
5-8,0-0WAC
1
2
3
4
F
UTRGV
22
8
17
19
66
Kansas St.
9
22
25
23
79
K-State Overcomes Early Deficit Against UTRGV
Dec 28, 2019 | Women's Basketball
MANHATTAN, Kansas – Kansas State women's basketball played its final game of the 2010s, as the Wildcats overcame a 13-point first quarter deficit to roll past UTRGV, 79-66, on Saturday afternoon at Bramlage Coliseum. The game was also K-State's final regular season non-conference contest before the start of Big 12 action.
With the win, K-State finalized its overall record in the 2010s at 184-145 (.559).
K-State (6-5) endured early offensive struggles, as the Wildcats started the game shooting 22 percent (2-of-9) from the field. UTRGV (5-8) used cold shooting by K-State to jump in front 14-6 with 4:39 remaining in the opening quarter.
The Wildcats would conclude the quarter down 22-9, as they shot 20 percent (3-of-15) from field. The Vaqueros were boosted by shooting 69 percent (9-of-13) including a 4-of-6 effort from beyond the arc.
"We got back from Christmas break a couple days ago and then it was nice to go back on break for the first 10 minutes of this game," said K-State head coach Jeff Mittie about the start to Saturday's game. "Then we decided to play the last three quarters of the game. That's kind of how I felt about the start."
Kansas State locked down defensively in the second quarter and outscored UTRGV, 22-8, in the frame to hold a 31-30 lead at the half. The Wildcats closed out the final 6:29 of the quarter on a 16-3 run. Christianna Carr would score five points during the run, including a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to end the first half.
Carr and Angela Harris led K-State in the first half with nine and eight points, respectively.
K-State dashed out of the locker room with five quick points to take a 36-30 lead. After a jumper by UTRGV, Peyton Williams then finished a three-point play to increase the K-State lead to 39-32 with 6:19 remaining in the third quarter.
The Wildcats close the third stanza with a 56-47 lead, as Carr finished a pair of layups in transition. Aiding K-State's 25 points in the third quarter, was an 8-of-8 effort from the free throw line.
Williams finished a pair of layups and Carr buried her fourth 3-pointer of the game, as K-State started the fourth quarter with a 9-0 run to build a 65-47 lead with 8:20 remaining. UTRGV closed to within 12, 67-55, as the Vaqueros used an 8-2 run to crawl back into the contest.
K-State prevented UTRGV from closing the game any closer, as the Wildcats used a five-point burst to increase the lead to 17, 72-55, with 3:38 remaining after Ayoka Lee finished a layup.
The 13-point deficit was the largest margin K-State has recovered from to win this season and the largest since coming back from a 14-point deficit at Texas on February 17, 2019, to down the Longhorns.
The Wildcats saw four of the five starters reach double figures, as Carr led all scorers with 20 points including a 4-of-10 effort from 3-point range. She also pocketed a career-high four steals. The 20 points on Saturday was Carr's third game this season and seventh of her career with 20 or more points.
Williams narrowly missed a double-double, as she finished with 17 points and nine rebounds. With her 17 points, Williams passed Cassandra Jones (1982-86; 1,271) for 19th on the K-State career scoring list with 1,272 points.
Redshirt freshman Ayoka Lee tallied her fourth straight double-double and her seventh of the season with 12 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks. Lee is the sixth player in program history and the first since Shalee Lehning in 2008 to register four of more consecutive double-doubles.
Harris recorded her third game in the last four in double figures with 12 points. She also added four assists and three steals.
After a chilly first quarter, K-State scored 22 or more points in each of the next three quarters and would shoot 43.8 percent (28-of-64) from the field for the afternoon. UTRGV was held to a 41.0 percent effort (25-of-61). The Vaqueros held the edge on the glass, 41-37. Including its perfect third quarter, K-State shot 73.1 percent (19-of-26) from the free throw line.
Kansas State begins its 24th season of Big 12 action on Sunday, January 5, against (19/21) West Virginia. Sunday's game will tip at 12 p.m., and tickets can be purchased by calling (800) 221-CATS or by visiting kstatesports.com/tickets.
Sunday's game will be broadcast on FSN and available on the K-State Sports Network and for free on kstatesports.com.
What They Said
JEFF MITTIE, HEAD COACH
On the fifth starter spot being up for grabs…
"I think some of it will depend on the particular game. I thought Savvy (Savannah Simmons) did some good things with three assists today. She did not have a good start to her rotation, but I thought she came back in and played well. Beard didn't have a great start, but I thought she played well in the second half. So, Cymone (Goodrich) is a player in that mix, and then I think Ebert gave us a good lift off the bench. We have options there. They just need to continue to get better over this Christmas break and play to their strengths. All of them have different strengths. If they can play to their strengths when they get in the game, I think all of them can have a good second half for us."
On the slow start…
"We got back from Christmas break a couple days ago and then it was nice to go back on break for the first 10 minutes of this game, and then we decided to play the last three quarters of the game. That's kind of how I felt about the start."
On why he went with the zone defense for tonight…
"I think going forward we are going to have to play with foul troubles, we have had that with Ayoke (Lee) and Peyton (Williams). We need to keep those guys on the floor and zone will protect that a little bit better. Also the fact we haven't played it much this year, and also the fact the UTRGV doesn't have one great 3 point shooter, but they have the ability to put 4 or 5 shooters out there. It was a good opportunity to play it some in a game and see how we can improve on it in the future."
CHRISTIANNA CARR, SOPHOMORE GUARD
On her shooting tonight...
"Honestly, I would just say going into this three game stretch, something I feel like my coaches and teammates have done for me is believing in me. That's the best thing I could ask for is just knowing that I can make shots and just trying to get through that shooting slump, because I felt like I was letting my teammates down. So just focusing on doing other things and being more active and making three pointers was the last thing on my list today. I just came out and provided for my teammates. I feel like with playing hard and being patient, good things are going to come, and having teammates that are uplifting was awesome. Sure, it is nice to make shots and provide, but knowing you are not going to make every shot is important as well."
On getting steals during the games...
"We had a big emphasis on getting steals in practice yesterday, and I feel like the practice yesterday really helped myself in seeing the gaps where I can be more aggressive. So I kinda just went for it, and I know I missed a couple I could have gotten my hands on, but just being able to attack at 100% and just maybe ending up with the ball is what I really tried to do."
PEYTON WILLIAMS, SENIOR FORWARD
On getting the ball inside during the second half...
"Obviously we had a size advantage with Ayoka (Lee) and me, so it wasn't a surprise that they crowded the lane. They switched up the defenses which helped a little, but being aggressive and attacking the lane and really trying to find the holes that look crowded, but if we pass efficiently it will find the open spots. We still have to be aggressive even though they are standing right there."
With the win, K-State finalized its overall record in the 2010s at 184-145 (.559).
K-State (6-5) endured early offensive struggles, as the Wildcats started the game shooting 22 percent (2-of-9) from the field. UTRGV (5-8) used cold shooting by K-State to jump in front 14-6 with 4:39 remaining in the opening quarter.
The Wildcats would conclude the quarter down 22-9, as they shot 20 percent (3-of-15) from field. The Vaqueros were boosted by shooting 69 percent (9-of-13) including a 4-of-6 effort from beyond the arc.
"We got back from Christmas break a couple days ago and then it was nice to go back on break for the first 10 minutes of this game," said K-State head coach Jeff Mittie about the start to Saturday's game. "Then we decided to play the last three quarters of the game. That's kind of how I felt about the start."
Kansas State locked down defensively in the second quarter and outscored UTRGV, 22-8, in the frame to hold a 31-30 lead at the half. The Wildcats closed out the final 6:29 of the quarter on a 16-3 run. Christianna Carr would score five points during the run, including a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to end the first half.
Carr and Angela Harris led K-State in the first half with nine and eight points, respectively.
K-State dashed out of the locker room with five quick points to take a 36-30 lead. After a jumper by UTRGV, Peyton Williams then finished a three-point play to increase the K-State lead to 39-32 with 6:19 remaining in the third quarter.
The Wildcats close the third stanza with a 56-47 lead, as Carr finished a pair of layups in transition. Aiding K-State's 25 points in the third quarter, was an 8-of-8 effort from the free throw line.
Williams finished a pair of layups and Carr buried her fourth 3-pointer of the game, as K-State started the fourth quarter with a 9-0 run to build a 65-47 lead with 8:20 remaining. UTRGV closed to within 12, 67-55, as the Vaqueros used an 8-2 run to crawl back into the contest.
K-State prevented UTRGV from closing the game any closer, as the Wildcats used a five-point burst to increase the lead to 17, 72-55, with 3:38 remaining after Ayoka Lee finished a layup.
The 13-point deficit was the largest margin K-State has recovered from to win this season and the largest since coming back from a 14-point deficit at Texas on February 17, 2019, to down the Longhorns.
The Wildcats saw four of the five starters reach double figures, as Carr led all scorers with 20 points including a 4-of-10 effort from 3-point range. She also pocketed a career-high four steals. The 20 points on Saturday was Carr's third game this season and seventh of her career with 20 or more points.
Williams narrowly missed a double-double, as she finished with 17 points and nine rebounds. With her 17 points, Williams passed Cassandra Jones (1982-86; 1,271) for 19th on the K-State career scoring list with 1,272 points.
Redshirt freshman Ayoka Lee tallied her fourth straight double-double and her seventh of the season with 12 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks. Lee is the sixth player in program history and the first since Shalee Lehning in 2008 to register four of more consecutive double-doubles.
Harris recorded her third game in the last four in double figures with 12 points. She also added four assists and three steals.
After a chilly first quarter, K-State scored 22 or more points in each of the next three quarters and would shoot 43.8 percent (28-of-64) from the field for the afternoon. UTRGV was held to a 41.0 percent effort (25-of-61). The Vaqueros held the edge on the glass, 41-37. Including its perfect third quarter, K-State shot 73.1 percent (19-of-26) from the free throw line.
Kansas State begins its 24th season of Big 12 action on Sunday, January 5, against (19/21) West Virginia. Sunday's game will tip at 12 p.m., and tickets can be purchased by calling (800) 221-CATS or by visiting kstatesports.com/tickets.
Sunday's game will be broadcast on FSN and available on the K-State Sports Network and for free on kstatesports.com.
What They Said
JEFF MITTIE, HEAD COACH
On the fifth starter spot being up for grabs…
"I think some of it will depend on the particular game. I thought Savvy (Savannah Simmons) did some good things with three assists today. She did not have a good start to her rotation, but I thought she came back in and played well. Beard didn't have a great start, but I thought she played well in the second half. So, Cymone (Goodrich) is a player in that mix, and then I think Ebert gave us a good lift off the bench. We have options there. They just need to continue to get better over this Christmas break and play to their strengths. All of them have different strengths. If they can play to their strengths when they get in the game, I think all of them can have a good second half for us."
On the slow start…
"We got back from Christmas break a couple days ago and then it was nice to go back on break for the first 10 minutes of this game, and then we decided to play the last three quarters of the game. That's kind of how I felt about the start."
On why he went with the zone defense for tonight…
"I think going forward we are going to have to play with foul troubles, we have had that with Ayoke (Lee) and Peyton (Williams). We need to keep those guys on the floor and zone will protect that a little bit better. Also the fact we haven't played it much this year, and also the fact the UTRGV doesn't have one great 3 point shooter, but they have the ability to put 4 or 5 shooters out there. It was a good opportunity to play it some in a game and see how we can improve on it in the future."
CHRISTIANNA CARR, SOPHOMORE GUARD
On her shooting tonight...
"Honestly, I would just say going into this three game stretch, something I feel like my coaches and teammates have done for me is believing in me. That's the best thing I could ask for is just knowing that I can make shots and just trying to get through that shooting slump, because I felt like I was letting my teammates down. So just focusing on doing other things and being more active and making three pointers was the last thing on my list today. I just came out and provided for my teammates. I feel like with playing hard and being patient, good things are going to come, and having teammates that are uplifting was awesome. Sure, it is nice to make shots and provide, but knowing you are not going to make every shot is important as well."
On getting steals during the games...
"We had a big emphasis on getting steals in practice yesterday, and I feel like the practice yesterday really helped myself in seeing the gaps where I can be more aggressive. So I kinda just went for it, and I know I missed a couple I could have gotten my hands on, but just being able to attack at 100% and just maybe ending up with the ball is what I really tried to do."
PEYTON WILLIAMS, SENIOR FORWARD
On getting the ball inside during the second half...
"Obviously we had a size advantage with Ayoka (Lee) and me, so it wasn't a surprise that they crowded the lane. They switched up the defenses which helped a little, but being aggressive and attacking the lane and really trying to find the holes that look crowded, but if we pass efficiently it will find the open spots. We still have to be aggressive even though they are standing right there."
Team Stats
UTRGV
KState
FG%
.410
.438
3FG%
.250
.286
FT%
.750
.731
RB
41
37
TO
19
15
STL
7
11
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
20
FGM
6
3FGM
4
FTM
4
Pts
17
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
12
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballF
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