Kansas State University Athletics
Wednesday, January 15
Manhattan, Kan.
6:30 p.m.
Kansas State University
7-7,1-2Big 12
63
vs
70
Oklahoma State
11-5,2-2Big 12
1
2
3
4
F
Oklahoma St.
18
21
18
13
70
Kansas St.
16
15
11
21
63
Fourth Quarter Rally Comes Up Shy for K-State
Jan 15, 2020 | Women's Basketball
MANHATTAN, Kansas – K-State strung together a furious fourth quarter rally, which included four connections from beyond the arc, but Oklahoma State held off the Wildcats for a 70-63 win in Bramlage Coliseum on Wednesday night.
Oklahoma State (11-5, 2-2 Big 12) used an 18-11 scoring advantage in the third quarter to build a 57-42 lead after the first 30 minutes.
K-State (7-7, 1-2 Big 12) clawed back into the game with a 14-3 run, to pull within six, 62-56, with 5:02 remaining in the fourth quarter. Angela Harris and Peyton Williams scored all 14 points between them. Harris connected on a pair of 3-pointers to open the quarter, while Williams added a three and an old-fashioned 3-point play.
Both teams would go scoreless for a three-minute stretch, before a steal and layup by Harris brought the Wildcats within four, 62-58, with 1:56 remaining. After the Cowgirls went back in front by seven, 67-60, Harris hit her third 3-pointer of the stanza to pull the Wildcats back to within four, 67-63, with 28 seconds left. Oklahoma State would use three free throws in the final 30 seconds for the final margin.
Williams finished with a game-high and personal season-high 25 points on 8-of-13 from the field and 8-of-10 from the foul line. She also added nine rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals. This is the first time in her career that Williams finished with 25 or more points, five or more rebounds, two or more blocks and two or more steals.
With her 25 points, Williams moved into 13th on the K-State career scoring list with 1,333 points. She also became the ninth player in program history with 800 or more career rebounds, as she ranks eighth with 808 rebounds.
Harris added 15 points, three assists and two steals. This was her fourth straight game with 10 or more points.
Redshirt freshman Ayoka Lee notched her eighth double-double of the season with 12 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
Oklahoma State was led by Natasha Mack and Vivian Gray with 24 and 23 points, respectively. Mack also tallied seven blocked shots.
The Wildcats completed the night by shooting 35.5 percent (22-of-62) from the field, while the Cowgirls checked in at 43.1 percent (25-of-58). Each team made four 3-pointers. K-State held the edge on the boards, 44-35.
K-State returns to action on Sunday, as the Wildcats host Texas at 12 p.m., in Bramlage Coliseum. For tickets, contact the K-State Athletics Ticket Office at (800) 221-CATS or visit kstatesports.com/tickets.
Sunday's game will be broadcast on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and available on the K-State Sports Network and for free at kstatesports.com.
What They Said
JEFF MITTIE, HEAD COACH
Opening statement...
"I thought that playing the way we played, we were fortunate to have the opportunity (to win). We're not making shots right now. I thought guard play struggled all night with their pressure, especially early in the first 25 minutes. Unfortunately, when your guard play struggles and you've got inside players, if you can't deliver to them that becomes an issue over time. Early we were getting the ball Ayoke (lee had it early. It was a back and forth early game then their pressure got a little bit better. Our guard play was not very good. We didn't have a third scorer until the third quarter when Angela (Harris) hit some shots, but it was too little, too late."
On Natasha Mack's play tonight…
Mack was really good. We gave her left shoulder too much, just experience for Ayoka (Lee). That was the most agile post player she's faced. She would go to the other side of the rim from one block. Ayoka will learn from it.
On his evaluation of today's game…
"I don't want to take anything away from Oklahoma State because I think they did a lot, too. I thought their pressure was good. You could tell, at least from our end, that they were sticking to their game plan pretty well. My evaluation is always in watching us. Are we fighting harder in that stretch? Are we executing? Do I see five players out there coming together, or do I see one splintering apart? I didn't feel like we were as tough in that stretch, and I didn't feel like we were doing the things we talked about doing when things aren't going well."
On Angela Harris stepping up after Ranke's injury…
"We've had the conversation that she needs to look to score more. Obviously with Rachel (Ranke) out, we had that conversation when that happened. I think she's finding areas where she can be more aggressive."
JIM LITTELL, HEAD COACH
On his thoughts following the game...
"We always make it interesting. We had a complete collapse a week ago today against Oklahoma, and we got pretty shaky at the end here. Some kids learned lessons and stepped up and made some plays. We made enough free throws at the end. Vivian Gray was exceptional the way she scored and passed the ball. She wanted to go to a matchup with Peyton Williams at the end, and that gave us some advantage where she couldn't go out and hit threes. I also thought Ja'mee Asberry was exceptional tonight. We have been searching for that third scorer, someone who could come in and hit that big shot. We saw a lot of different defenses. We saw a box and one and did good against that. It was also the best we have been against a zone. We made enough plays at the end. You have to learn how to win and finish games. We have a lot of young kids out there and as long as they keep grinding, we are going to get better."
On Ayoka Lee and Peyton Williams…
"She had 10 in the first quarter and only finished with 12. We made some adjustments and (Natasha) Mack did a lot better job on her after the first five or six minutes. Peyton Williams has been a nemesis for us for a long time. She is one of the better players in the league, and she knows how to play. I told her after the game I really respected her and she had a high basketball I.Q"
On K-State's second half run to get within four…
"We took some hurried shots and then had some wide open looks that we did not make. We did fine, we just missed some shots and missed some free throws that we needed. K-State is going to keep coming at you and when you have a premier player like Williams, you are never out of the game."
Oklahoma State (11-5, 2-2 Big 12) used an 18-11 scoring advantage in the third quarter to build a 57-42 lead after the first 30 minutes.
K-State (7-7, 1-2 Big 12) clawed back into the game with a 14-3 run, to pull within six, 62-56, with 5:02 remaining in the fourth quarter. Angela Harris and Peyton Williams scored all 14 points between them. Harris connected on a pair of 3-pointers to open the quarter, while Williams added a three and an old-fashioned 3-point play.
Both teams would go scoreless for a three-minute stretch, before a steal and layup by Harris brought the Wildcats within four, 62-58, with 1:56 remaining. After the Cowgirls went back in front by seven, 67-60, Harris hit her third 3-pointer of the stanza to pull the Wildcats back to within four, 67-63, with 28 seconds left. Oklahoma State would use three free throws in the final 30 seconds for the final margin.
Williams finished with a game-high and personal season-high 25 points on 8-of-13 from the field and 8-of-10 from the foul line. She also added nine rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals. This is the first time in her career that Williams finished with 25 or more points, five or more rebounds, two or more blocks and two or more steals.
With her 25 points, Williams moved into 13th on the K-State career scoring list with 1,333 points. She also became the ninth player in program history with 800 or more career rebounds, as she ranks eighth with 808 rebounds.
Harris added 15 points, three assists and two steals. This was her fourth straight game with 10 or more points.
Redshirt freshman Ayoka Lee notched her eighth double-double of the season with 12 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
Oklahoma State was led by Natasha Mack and Vivian Gray with 24 and 23 points, respectively. Mack also tallied seven blocked shots.
The Wildcats completed the night by shooting 35.5 percent (22-of-62) from the field, while the Cowgirls checked in at 43.1 percent (25-of-58). Each team made four 3-pointers. K-State held the edge on the boards, 44-35.
K-State returns to action on Sunday, as the Wildcats host Texas at 12 p.m., in Bramlage Coliseum. For tickets, contact the K-State Athletics Ticket Office at (800) 221-CATS or visit kstatesports.com/tickets.
Sunday's game will be broadcast on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and available on the K-State Sports Network and for free at kstatesports.com.
What They Said
JEFF MITTIE, HEAD COACH
Opening statement...
"I thought that playing the way we played, we were fortunate to have the opportunity (to win). We're not making shots right now. I thought guard play struggled all night with their pressure, especially early in the first 25 minutes. Unfortunately, when your guard play struggles and you've got inside players, if you can't deliver to them that becomes an issue over time. Early we were getting the ball Ayoke (lee had it early. It was a back and forth early game then their pressure got a little bit better. Our guard play was not very good. We didn't have a third scorer until the third quarter when Angela (Harris) hit some shots, but it was too little, too late."
On Natasha Mack's play tonight…
Mack was really good. We gave her left shoulder too much, just experience for Ayoka (Lee). That was the most agile post player she's faced. She would go to the other side of the rim from one block. Ayoka will learn from it.
On his evaluation of today's game…
"I don't want to take anything away from Oklahoma State because I think they did a lot, too. I thought their pressure was good. You could tell, at least from our end, that they were sticking to their game plan pretty well. My evaluation is always in watching us. Are we fighting harder in that stretch? Are we executing? Do I see five players out there coming together, or do I see one splintering apart? I didn't feel like we were as tough in that stretch, and I didn't feel like we were doing the things we talked about doing when things aren't going well."
On Angela Harris stepping up after Ranke's injury…
"We've had the conversation that she needs to look to score more. Obviously with Rachel (Ranke) out, we had that conversation when that happened. I think she's finding areas where she can be more aggressive."
JIM LITTELL, HEAD COACH
On his thoughts following the game...
"We always make it interesting. We had a complete collapse a week ago today against Oklahoma, and we got pretty shaky at the end here. Some kids learned lessons and stepped up and made some plays. We made enough free throws at the end. Vivian Gray was exceptional the way she scored and passed the ball. She wanted to go to a matchup with Peyton Williams at the end, and that gave us some advantage where she couldn't go out and hit threes. I also thought Ja'mee Asberry was exceptional tonight. We have been searching for that third scorer, someone who could come in and hit that big shot. We saw a lot of different defenses. We saw a box and one and did good against that. It was also the best we have been against a zone. We made enough plays at the end. You have to learn how to win and finish games. We have a lot of young kids out there and as long as they keep grinding, we are going to get better."
On Ayoka Lee and Peyton Williams…
"She had 10 in the first quarter and only finished with 12. We made some adjustments and (Natasha) Mack did a lot better job on her after the first five or six minutes. Peyton Williams has been a nemesis for us for a long time. She is one of the better players in the league, and she knows how to play. I told her after the game I really respected her and she had a high basketball I.Q"
On K-State's second half run to get within four…
"We took some hurried shots and then had some wide open looks that we did not make. We did fine, we just missed some shots and missed some free throws that we needed. K-State is going to keep coming at you and when you have a premier player like Williams, you are never out of the game."
Team Stats
OSU
KState
FG%
.431
.355
3FG%
.267
.235
FT%
.667
.652
RB
35
44
TO
11
17
STL
14
7
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
25
FGM
8
3FGM
1
FTM
8
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
4
FGM
1
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballF
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