Big Fourth Quarter Sends K-State to 900th Win

Wednesday, December 7

Manhattan, Kan.

8:00 PM

Kansas State University

9-0

UT Arlington

5-2

UT Arlington

Kansas State

Dec 07, 2016 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

MANHATTAN, Kansas – Kansas State had a difficult time in the first three quarters of Wednesday night's game against UT-Arlington, but used a 17-9 final quarter to register a 62-49 win. With the win, K-State becomes the 20th NCAA Division I program to win 900 or more games and the second in the Big 12.

This is the fourth time in the 49-year history of the program that K-State has started a season with a 9-0 record. Head coach Jeff Mittie is 9-0 for the first time since the 1994-95 season, when he guided NCAA Division II school Missouri Western to a 9-0 start.

Kansas State had three players reach double figures led by Naismith Trophy candidate Breanna Lewis's 15 points, 11 rebounds, four blocks, two steals and two assists. This was her second straight double-double and third this season.

Joining Lewis in double figures were sophomore guard Kayla Goth with 12 points and senior guard Kindred Wesemann with 10 points.

UT-Arlington (5-2) was paced by Rebekah VanDijk with 14 points and rebounds and Aysia Evans with 13 points off the bench.

Kansas State shot 46.7 percent (23-of-49) from the field and held UTA to a 37.7 (20-of-53) effort. The teams combined for 53 turnovers in the game, with K-State recording a 26-19 advantage in points off turnovers.

For the ninth straight game, the Wildcats had the advantage on the boards, 33-26.

K-State featured five different players registering points in the opening quarter, building a 13-10 lead. The Wildcats registered an 11-4 lead with 4:22 remaining in the first quarter, but the Lady Mavericks closed the period on a 6-2 run. The teams combined for 15 turnovers in the first 10 minutes of action.

UT-Arlington tied the game at 13-13 with 8:40 to play in the half. Wesemann buried a 3-pointer to start a 9-1 K-State run to take a 22-14 lead with 4:27 left. Shaelyn Martin scored the final four points of the quarter for the Wildcats to send K-State into the locker room with a 26-21 lead.

Kansas State held UT-Arlington to a 36.0 percent (9-of-25) from the field in the opening half, while shooting 45.5 percent (10-of-22). The teams combined for 30 turnovers in the first half, 15 each.

With a 7-2 run to begin the third quarter, Kansas State took its largest lead of the game at 33-23 with 8:38 to play in the frame. Lewis started with a layup and Eternati Willock followed with a three-point play, as she was fouled on a jump shot. Kayla Goth capped the run with a transition layup.

An 11-3 run by the Lady Mavericks, led by Cierra Johnson's five points, brought UT-Arlington to within two, 36-34, with 4:10 left in the third. Kansas State rebuilt its advantage to nine, 43-34, with 2:47 remaining. Wesemann buried her second 3-pointer of the night, while Willock capped the run with a jumper in transition.

In the final quarter, Kansas State dashed out to a 17-4 run over a nine-minute stretch in the fourth quarter to build a 62-44 lead. Goth started the run with a layup and followed with an offensive rebound and putback. Lewis added a pair of layups and Karyla Middlebrook beat the shot clock with a running jump shot during the scoring burst.

Kansas State will continue its three-game home stand on Sunday, as the Wildcats host No. 1/2 Connecticut at 1 p.m. The game has been announced as a sell-out. The contest will be broadcast on FS1 and available on the K-State Sports Network.

Noteworthy
• K-State is in its 49th season of women's basketball and owns an overall record of 900-556… Head coach Jeff Mittie owns a career record of 501-262, including a 47-27 mark in three seasons at K-State.
• K-State leads the series with UT-Arlington, 4-0… K-State is 12-6 all-time against teams from the Sun Belt Conference… Head coach Jeff Mittie is 11-0 against UT-Arlington in his career.
• Kansas State is now 9-0 for the first time under head coach Jeff Mittie… This is the fourth time (2008-09, 1980-81, 1968-69) in the 49-year history of the program that K-State has started a season 9-0.
• The Wildcats have an all-time record of 214-87 (.711) in the month of December… Under Mittie, K-State is 15-2 in December.
• K-State's starting lineup: guards - Kindred Wesemann, Karyla Middlebrook and Kayla Goth; forward – Eternati Willock; center - Breanna Lewis… This was the second game for this lineup… Third career start for Willock… Sixth career start and fifth this season for Goth… Seventh career K-State start for Middlebrook and the 77th of her collegiate career… Wesemann has played in 103 career games and started 82... Lewis has played in 103 career games and started 98.
• Kansas State led 26-21 at the half on Wednesday… The Wildcats have led at the half in every game this season… Since 2001-02, K-State is 262-36 (.879) when leading at the half.
• K-State has made a three-point field goal in 315 straight games... The streak dates back to Feb. 7, 2007.
• Kansas State has held the edge on the glass in all nine games this season… The Wildcats have now won 30 straight games when holding the edge in rebounding… Since the 2001-02 season, K-State is 194-25 (.886) when outrebounding its opponent.
• Lewis notched her 61st career game in double figures for scoring… With her 15 points, Lewis is 21st on the K-State career scoring list with 1,214 points… Lewis tallied 11 rebounds, which is her 72nd career game with five or more rebounds and her 19th career game with 10 or more boards… She ranks 14th in school history for career rebounds with 667… This was Lewis's third double-double this season and the 15th of her career… She is tied for ninth in school history for career double-doubles… Lewis finished with a season-high four blocks, her 65th career game with two or more blocks and her 24th career game with four or more blocks… Lewis improves her career blocks total to 242 and ranks second in school history for career blocks and 10th in Big 12 history.
• Wesemann carded her 45th career game in double figures for points, including her ninth this season… She finished the night 2-of-5 from beyond the arc, her 60th career game with two or more made… Wesemann has made 202 three-pointers in her career and ranks sixth in program history.
• Goth tallied her fifth career game with 10 or more points, all this season.
• Shaelyn Martin recorded seven rebounds for her 49th career game with five or more rebounds… With her three assists on Wednesday, Martin moved into 19th on the K-State career assists list with 241, passing Chelsea Domenico (2001-05; 240).