SE: Ranke Finding Form at Right Time for Wildcats
Dec 23, 2020 | Women's Basketball, Sports Extra
By: Austin Siegel
It was there.
K-State trailed No. 20 Texas by 24 in the second half on Monday night, and it felt like the only thing left to figure out at Bramlage Coliseum was who would turn off the lights on the way out.
Then Rachel Ranke started hitting threes and the comeback, for at least a moment, felt possible. Seriously, it was right there.
K-State cut a 24-point lead all the way down to six before the Longhorns pulled away in a 62-52 win. Texas relied on a big 27-point night from Charli Collier, who will be in the conversation for the No. 1 pick in next summer's WNBA Draft.
But the blueprint for the Wildcats, even in defeat, is worth building on.
"You've just got to learn to make adjustments during the game. There's nothing we can do about foul calls, so you just have to put that in the rearview mirror and move on," Ranke said. "We just had to come together to play harder inside."
Throughout the game, the Wildcats got the ball to Ranke, who has continued to build back after missing nearly the entire 2019-20 season due to injury.
She ended the night with 10 points and seven rebounds.
After coming off the bench throughout much of the non-conference schedule, Ranke has become a staple in the K-State starting lineup – not to mention when the Wildcats are looking to rally against a ranked opponent in the fourth quarter.
As the degree of difficulty has increased this season, Ranke has raised her game.
In her first four appearances of the season, Ranke shot .143 from three-point range, averaging eight points and three rebounds every night.
In five games since then, including matchups against No. 22 South Dakota State, Iowa State and No. 20 Texas, Ranke's numbers are up across the board.
She's shooting .396 from distance, while averaging nine points and five rebounds.
It's been a long road back for the junior, but an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention before the season speaks volumes about what Ranke can offer the Wildcats when she's 100 percent.
"She played her last game maybe December 14th or something last year and then you have what we have all had which is the in-and-out of practices," Jeff Mittie said. "It's good to see her back, good to see her have her legs under her and get her confidence going."
Ranke has also been an important piece on defense for the Wildcats. She's a matchup nightmare, tall enough to shoot over guards and drag centers out of the paint to help space the floor.
Against a team like Texas with an All-Big 12 player in the front court, Ranke crashed the boards and helped guard Collier when Ayoka Lee was out of the game.
"I felt at times [the defense] was really successful, and I felt at times we were just a little bit late on plays," Ranke said. "We did better as the game went on. We plugged inside more and had more pressure onto their posts."
She might be known as one of K-State's best shooters, but Ranke has spoken even more this season about the importance of the team's collective effort on defense.
It's a process for Ranke, but with the conference season just beginning, she's trending in the right direction.
"I would say my goal from the jump was to make an impact on the defensive end," she said earlier this season. "We need everyone to contribute on both ends of the floor. I wanted to make an impact on the defensive end and let the offensive side come to me."
It was there.
K-State trailed No. 20 Texas by 24 in the second half on Monday night, and it felt like the only thing left to figure out at Bramlage Coliseum was who would turn off the lights on the way out.
Then Rachel Ranke started hitting threes and the comeback, for at least a moment, felt possible. Seriously, it was right there.
K-State cut a 24-point lead all the way down to six before the Longhorns pulled away in a 62-52 win. Texas relied on a big 27-point night from Charli Collier, who will be in the conversation for the No. 1 pick in next summer's WNBA Draft.
But the blueprint for the Wildcats, even in defeat, is worth building on.
"You've just got to learn to make adjustments during the game. There's nothing we can do about foul calls, so you just have to put that in the rearview mirror and move on," Ranke said. "We just had to come together to play harder inside."
Throughout the game, the Wildcats got the ball to Ranke, who has continued to build back after missing nearly the entire 2019-20 season due to injury.
She ended the night with 10 points and seven rebounds.
After coming off the bench throughout much of the non-conference schedule, Ranke has become a staple in the K-State starting lineup – not to mention when the Wildcats are looking to rally against a ranked opponent in the fourth quarter.
As the degree of difficulty has increased this season, Ranke has raised her game.
In her first four appearances of the season, Ranke shot .143 from three-point range, averaging eight points and three rebounds every night.
In five games since then, including matchups against No. 22 South Dakota State, Iowa State and No. 20 Texas, Ranke's numbers are up across the board.
She's shooting .396 from distance, while averaging nine points and five rebounds.
It's been a long road back for the junior, but an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention before the season speaks volumes about what Ranke can offer the Wildcats when she's 100 percent.
"She played her last game maybe December 14th or something last year and then you have what we have all had which is the in-and-out of practices," Jeff Mittie said. "It's good to see her back, good to see her have her legs under her and get her confidence going."
Ranke has also been an important piece on defense for the Wildcats. She's a matchup nightmare, tall enough to shoot over guards and drag centers out of the paint to help space the floor.
Against a team like Texas with an All-Big 12 player in the front court, Ranke crashed the boards and helped guard Collier when Ayoka Lee was out of the game.
"I felt at times [the defense] was really successful, and I felt at times we were just a little bit late on plays," Ranke said. "We did better as the game went on. We plugged inside more and had more pressure onto their posts."
She might be known as one of K-State's best shooters, but Ranke has spoken even more this season about the importance of the team's collective effort on defense.
It's a process for Ranke, but with the conference season just beginning, she's trending in the right direction.
"I would say my goal from the jump was to make an impact on the defensive end," she said earlier this season. "We need everyone to contribute on both ends of the floor. I wanted to make an impact on the defensive end and let the offensive side come to me."
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballK-State Tennis | Weekend Recap
Tuesday, February 24
K-State Track and Field | Sights & Sounds Steve Miller Invitational
Monday, February 23
K-State Baseball | Highlights vs Michigan - Feb. 22, 2026
Monday, February 23
K-State Men's Basketball | Postgame Press Conference at Texas Tech
Sunday, February 22
