K-State Upsets (16/16) Oklahoma to Reach 20 Wins

Tuesday, February 21

Manhattan, Kan.

8:00 PM

Kansas State University

20-8, 10-6

Oklahoma

21-7, 12-4

Oklahoma

Kansas State

Feb 21, 2017 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

MANHATTAN, Kansas – K-State jumped out to an early lead and never looked back as they led for the entire game en route to their 20th win of the season, 79-71, over (16/16) Oklahoma on Tuesday night in Bramlage Coliseum. This is the first 20-win season for Kansas State since the 2011-12 season and the 24th in program history.

The Wildcats picked up their 10th Big 12 win of the season which is the most league wins since the 2010-11 season and the most since the Big 12 went to an 18-game round-robin schedule in the 2011-12 season. The win gave head coach Jeff Mittie his first 20-win season at Kansas State and the 15th of his coaching career.

Kansas State (20-8, 10-6 Big 12) was led by junior guard Karyla Middlebrook with 19 points on 5-of-10 shooting, and 8-of-11 from the free throw line. Senior center Breanna Lewis added 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting and 6-of-9 from the charity stripe. Lewis led K-State in rebounding with eight. Senior guard Kindred Wesemann chipped in with 13 points, while freshman Eternati Willock came off the bench to add 10 points, seven rebounds and three assists.

Oklahoma (21-7, 12-4 Big 12) was led by Vionise Pierre-Louis who notched a double-double with 21 points and 11 boards.

Kansas State shot 45.- percent (27-of-60) from the field, including 50 percent (5-of-10) from downtown and 74.1 percent (20-of-27) from the free throw line, while Oklahoma shot 50 percent (31-of-62). The Wildcats outrebounded the Sooners 39-29 and held a 16-5 advantage in second-chance points.

The Wildcats and Sooners traded baskets in the first quarter before K-State went on an 8-0 run with all eight points coming from Middlebrook. Oklahoma fought back, but two Wesemann 3-pointers extended the lead to 22-12 with 1:27 to play in the first quarter.

Two free throws by Middlebrook gave the Wildcats a 24-12 lead after the first quarter, tying their mark for most points scored in a first quarter this season.

Both teams played tough defense in the second quarter, as neither team allowed a basket for over three minutes until a Willock layup put the Wildcats up 30-18 with 5:00 to play in the first half.

A fastbreak layup by Shaelyn Martin capped a 6-0 K-State run to give the Wildcats their largest lead of the first half at 18, 41-23. A Maddie Manning layup just before the break pushed the Sooners within 16, 41-25.

Oklahoma used a 6-0 run at the start of the third quarter, as Peyton Little scored four to cut the lead to 12, 45-33, and force a K-State timeout with 7:20 to play in the third frame.

The Sooners used a 6-0 run behind a 3-pointer by Gabbi Ortiz and a traditional 3-point basket by Chelsea Dungee to bring Oklahoma within six, 57-51, at the end of the third quarter.

After a Martin layup to start the fourth quarter, Oklahoma hit back-to-back 3-pointers to force a K-State timeout and push within two, 59-57, with 8:14 to play.

Pierre-Louis used an old-fashioned 3-point play to put the Sooners within one, but back-to-back layups by Lewis and WIllock extended the Wildcats' lead back to five, 65-60, with just over four minutes to play.

After a Little layup, the Wildcats used a 5-0 burst to extend their lead to eight, 70-62, before another Little basket brought the Sooners to within six with 1:37 remaining in the game.

K-State knocked down nine free throws in the last minute and a half to hold off the Sooners, 79-71.

Kansas State stays in the state of Kansas this weekend, as the Wildcats will travel to Lawrence, Kansas, to face KU for the Dillons Sunflower Showdown. Game time on Saturday is 2 p.m. Saturday's game will be available on ESPN3.

Noteworthy
• K-State is in its 49th season of women's basketball and owns an overall record of 911-564… Head coach Jeff Mittie owns a career record of 512-270, including a 58-35 mark in three seasons at K-State.
• Oklahoma leads the series, 37-26… K-State is 15-14 in matchups in Manhattan and have won three of the last four meetings in Bramlage.
• The Wildcats have an all-time record of 208-171 in the month of February… Under Mittie, K-State is 11-12 in February.
• This is the fastest K-State has reached 20 wins since the 2008-09 season (23 games).
• Kansas State is now 77-190 against teams ranked in the Associated Press top-25, including a 48-52 record in games played in Manhattan… This was K-State's third win over an AP top-25 team this season, the most since the 2011-12 season (3 wins).
• K-State's starting lineup: guards - Kindred Wesemann and Karyla Middlebrook; forwards – Peyton Williams and Shaelyn Martin; center - Breanna Lewis… This was the 14th game for this starting lineup this season… Williams made her 18th start this season… 26th career K-State start for Middlebrook and the 96th of her collegiate career… Middlebrook has played in 99 career collegiate games… Martin started her 23rd game this season, the 88th of her career and has played in 93 career games… Wesemann has played in 122 career games and started 101... Lewis has played in 122 career games and started 117.
• The Wildcats ended the game shooting 5-of-10 from beyond the arc… This was K-State's 21st game (16-5) this season and the 67th in the Jeff Mittie era with five or more connections from behind the 3-point line… K-State has made a three-point field goal in 334 straight games... The streak dates back to Feb. 7, 2007.
• The Wildcats led at halftime, 41-25… K-State is 16-0 this season when leading at the half… Since the 2001-02 season, Kansas State is 269-36 (.882) when leading at the half.
• With her 13 points, Wesemann remains in 22nd on the K-State career points list with 1,218 points… This was Wesemann's 59th career game and her 24th this season with 10 or more points… Wesemann finished the day 3-of-6 from beyond the arc… This was her 75th career game with two or more connections from beyond the arc… Wesemann pocketed one steals, and ranks 11th in program history with 183 career steals.
• Middlebrook ended the night with 19 points and seven rebounds… She tallied her 10th game in double figures in scoring this season… This was her eighth game at K-State five or more rebounds… Middlebrook was 8-of-11 from the foul line, her eighth game with five or more made free throws… This was her 10th game with two or more steals.
• With her 18 points, Lewis remains in 11th on the K-State career scoring list with 1,467 points… This was her 75th career game with 10 or more points… Lewis pulled down eight rebounds on Tuesday and moved into sixth in program history for career rebounds with 812… This was her 66th career game with five or more rebounds.
• Eternati Willock registered 10 points and seven rebounds off the bench… This was her eighth game this season in double figures for points… This was her 13th game with five or more rebounds.