Kansas State University Athletics
Friday, November 12
Manhattan, Kan.
6:30 p.m.
Kansas State University
2-0,0-0Big 12
44
vs
30
UT Martin
0-1,0-0OVC
1
2
3
4
F
UT Martin
13
6
4
7
30
Kansas St.
8
18
10
8
44
K-State Grinds Out Win Over UT Martin
Nov 12, 2021 | Women's Basketball
MANHATTAN, Kansas – In the 500th K-State women's basketball game to be played inside Bramlage Coliseum, the Wildcats used suffocating defense and a second quarter run to down UT Martin, 44-30, on Friday night at Bramlage Coliseum in the 2021 Preseason WNIT.
The 30 points allowed by the Wildcats on Friday were the fewest surrendered in the eight season Jeff Mittie era. K-State held the Skyhawks to 10-of-41 (.244) shooting and forced 14 turnovers. Mittie was proud with how his team defended despite its offensive struggles.
"I can't tell you, for a young basketball team to play as hard as they played defensively, while virtually the whole roster is struggling offensively. That really says a lot about where they've grown in the last 40 days. We've been talking about that in practice a lot, to make sure that your effort is always consistent. And so I'm really proud of them tonight. They had every chance to not play hard because they were struggling but we want to be a team that plays hard and digs deeper when things aren't going well. And tonight they're rewarded with the victory in a game where they don't play very well."
For the second time since the institution of the quarter system in women's college basketball in 2015-16, K-State held an opponent to single digit scoring in three of four quarter. The Wildcats kept the Skyhawks to six points in the second quarter, four in the third and seven in the fourth.
K-State (2-0) trailed 13-8 after the first quarter, in which K-State shot 25.0 percent from the field. The Wildcats warmed up in the second quarter, using a 16-2 run over a seven-minute stretch to build a 24-15 lead with 3:19 remaining.
Ayoka Lee carded a pair of field goals to push K-State into a 16-15 lead with 5:32 to play. The Wildcats then got three field goals and two free throws from four different players to push the lead to nine.
Lee, surrounded by defenders all night after her school record 43 points on Tuesday, ended the night with a game-high 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting, while also adding nine rebounds, three blocks and two steals. Lee inched towards the 1,000-point mark for her career, as she needs 13 points to become the 44th player in school history with 1,000 or more career points.
Lee knew she could affect the game in other ways despite the attention from the UT Martin defense.
"I think it was an adjustment we weren't ready for so I think everyone was a little frustrated with it. I think it is something I will have to get used to, and I think instead of dwelling on that I should focus on what I can do like coach always makes the point about how much you're not going to do well where you want to be doing well, but you have to focus on what you can do."
With her three blocks, Lee improved her career total to 147 and moved past Shana Wheeler (2004-08; 146) for fourth on the K-State career blocks list.
UT Martin (0-1) closed to within five, 24-19, late in the second quarter after a pair of baskets from Seygan Robins. Lee would finish a layup with a minute to play to give the Wildcats a 26-19 lead at the half.
The Wildcats outscored the Skyhawks, 10-4, in the third quarter. Rebekah Dallinger and Emilee Ebert each hit 3-pointers to aid the K-State scoring and push the Wildcat lead to 36-23 at the end of the third frame.
In the fourth quarter, Lee scored four of K-State's eight points in the stanza. Defensively, the Wildcats held UT Martin to 1-of-10 shooting from the field in the fourth quarter as the Skyhawks were 5-of-6 from the charity stripe.
K-State has won five straight games in the Preseason WNIT with Friday night's win its first in the event since 2002.
K-State will continue action in the 2021 Preseason WNIT on Sunday, as the Wildcats host Western Kentucky at 1 p.m. Following K-State's game against the Lady Toppers, North Carolina A&T and UT Martin will square off at 3:30 p.m.
Ticket packages for the 2021 Preseason WNIT begin at $10 and can be purchased by calling (800) 221-CATS or by visiting kstatesports.com/tickets.
K-State's games in the 2021 Preseason WNIT will be broadcast on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
Western Kentucky 86, North Carolina A&T 76
Western Kentucky opened action in the 2021 Preseason WNIT at Bramlage Coliseum with a 86-76 win over North Carolina A&T.
The Lady Toppers had four players in double figures and were led by Mya Meredith with 20 points.
What They Said
JEFF MITTIE, HEAD COACH
Opening Statement…
"Well it was kind of a frustrating night from just trying to find any kind of offense and any kind of rhythm. Obviously (UT) Martin comes in with the idea to take the air out of the ball, then they run an offense that is going to take time off the clock so it is going to be a low possession game. And it was kind of a perfect storm for us to struggle with. We get out, we don't play very well early, we don't make any shots early. Players lose some confidence, or in between a little bit. We can't get the ball to Ayoka (Lee), it's kind of a perfect storm to struggle. I'm really proud of our group. I can't tell you, for a young basketball team to play as hard as they played defensively, while virtually the whole roster is struggling offensively. That really says a lot about where they've grown in the last 40 days . We've been talking about that in practice a lot, to make sure that your effort is always consistent. And so I'm really proud of them tonight. They had every chance to not play hard because they were struggling but we want to be a team that plays hard and digs deeper when things aren't going well. And tonight they're rewarded with the victory in a game where they don't play very well."
On how a game like this helps later in Big 12 play...
"Well I think this will help. That's a long way away, so I don't know how that helps us in Big 12 play. I think every experience you have as a player or coach, for that matter, you got to file away as what can I do better? I would say that we're going to get some good film on the windows of where we missed to get the ball to (Ayoka) Lee tonight. Then I got to take a look at how we can help them better to get those windows more often, because we know we're going to face teams that stylistically will put extra bodies down there. So yeah I think this will be a really good film for us to evaluate as a staff and for players to take a look at as well."
On forcing them out of the double on Ayoka Lee...
"I don't think we ever really did quite honestly. I don't think we ever made enough shots where they had to do something different. They were always in that 10 to 14 point deficit. I thought with the timeout that they took at the four minute mark, we might see the 1-3-1 that they play because that has a chance to turn teams over a little more. But they were pretty content to make this a low possession game and pretty content to leave it where it was so we were not able to take advantage of that. But I give (UT) Martin credit. We've played the triangle and two, we know that can mess with teams. We played it some last year and we played it the year before. We know that if you're not making shots against it, it can get real tough and especially when they're going to commit to players like Ayoka (Lee) the entire time. I thought (UT) Martin, the few windows that we had her, I thought they really corrected quickly once we missed her. We didn't really get a second chance very often, at least from my eyes on the bench. So you know we'll play better against that kind of defense moving forward. We'll make more shots and we'll hopefully play better in those windows."
On contributions of the young players...
"Well, like I said earlier, I think I'm really just happy and I'm pleased that they continue to play hard and fight harder. I think those characteristics are something that will be good for us throughout the year. I told them after the first quarter, 'you guys didn't think this was going to be easy right?' I mean like it's going to be a 50-point win. We're going to have to play in deficits. We're going to have to be down 13 to 8 when we're not playing well. But boy, that defense that last 30 minutes was huge. And that's what I think that we should take. We played great defense and that's why we're walking out of here with the W tonight."
On what he has seen on the other teams in the preseason WNIT...
"I was only in the arena for ten minutes. I've seen a little bit just through the offense, because everyone has their own scout and it'll be a much different game though. I heard Western Kentucky has pressed for the entire game and it's gonna be a real open floor. So this will be the exact opposite of tonight's game. This will be a track meet and should be a lot of fun to play and be a lot different than tonight's game."
REBEKAH DALLINGER, SOPHOMORE GUARD
On her scoring effort tonight...
"I think when we were struggling on offense, our defense really picked up, and that just helped me get open looks. We knew we had one open player all the time because they put extra bodies on Ayoka (Lee) so we knew he had to be shot ready and aggressive and drive to the basket when we could."
AYOKA LEE, JUNIOR CENTER
On playing against the UT Martin defense...
"I think it was an adjustment we weren't ready for so I think everyone was a little frustrated with it. I think it is something I will have to get used to, and I think instead of dwelling on that I should focus on what I can do like coach Coach always makes the point about how much you're not going to do well where you want to be doing well, but you have to focus on what you can do."
On taking advantage of more opportunities...
"I think communicating and taking advantage of the openings when we could see them. Which is something I need to be better at with communicating with the guards, and it's something to grow into as a team."
The 30 points allowed by the Wildcats on Friday were the fewest surrendered in the eight season Jeff Mittie era. K-State held the Skyhawks to 10-of-41 (.244) shooting and forced 14 turnovers. Mittie was proud with how his team defended despite its offensive struggles.
"I can't tell you, for a young basketball team to play as hard as they played defensively, while virtually the whole roster is struggling offensively. That really says a lot about where they've grown in the last 40 days. We've been talking about that in practice a lot, to make sure that your effort is always consistent. And so I'm really proud of them tonight. They had every chance to not play hard because they were struggling but we want to be a team that plays hard and digs deeper when things aren't going well. And tonight they're rewarded with the victory in a game where they don't play very well."
For the second time since the institution of the quarter system in women's college basketball in 2015-16, K-State held an opponent to single digit scoring in three of four quarter. The Wildcats kept the Skyhawks to six points in the second quarter, four in the third and seven in the fourth.
K-State (2-0) trailed 13-8 after the first quarter, in which K-State shot 25.0 percent from the field. The Wildcats warmed up in the second quarter, using a 16-2 run over a seven-minute stretch to build a 24-15 lead with 3:19 remaining.
Ayoka Lee carded a pair of field goals to push K-State into a 16-15 lead with 5:32 to play. The Wildcats then got three field goals and two free throws from four different players to push the lead to nine.
Lee, surrounded by defenders all night after her school record 43 points on Tuesday, ended the night with a game-high 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting, while also adding nine rebounds, three blocks and two steals. Lee inched towards the 1,000-point mark for her career, as she needs 13 points to become the 44th player in school history with 1,000 or more career points.
Lee knew she could affect the game in other ways despite the attention from the UT Martin defense.
"I think it was an adjustment we weren't ready for so I think everyone was a little frustrated with it. I think it is something I will have to get used to, and I think instead of dwelling on that I should focus on what I can do like coach always makes the point about how much you're not going to do well where you want to be doing well, but you have to focus on what you can do."
With her three blocks, Lee improved her career total to 147 and moved past Shana Wheeler (2004-08; 146) for fourth on the K-State career blocks list.
UT Martin (0-1) closed to within five, 24-19, late in the second quarter after a pair of baskets from Seygan Robins. Lee would finish a layup with a minute to play to give the Wildcats a 26-19 lead at the half.
The Wildcats outscored the Skyhawks, 10-4, in the third quarter. Rebekah Dallinger and Emilee Ebert each hit 3-pointers to aid the K-State scoring and push the Wildcat lead to 36-23 at the end of the third frame.
In the fourth quarter, Lee scored four of K-State's eight points in the stanza. Defensively, the Wildcats held UT Martin to 1-of-10 shooting from the field in the fourth quarter as the Skyhawks were 5-of-6 from the charity stripe.
K-State has won five straight games in the Preseason WNIT with Friday night's win its first in the event since 2002.
K-State will continue action in the 2021 Preseason WNIT on Sunday, as the Wildcats host Western Kentucky at 1 p.m. Following K-State's game against the Lady Toppers, North Carolina A&T and UT Martin will square off at 3:30 p.m.
Ticket packages for the 2021 Preseason WNIT begin at $10 and can be purchased by calling (800) 221-CATS or by visiting kstatesports.com/tickets.
K-State's games in the 2021 Preseason WNIT will be broadcast on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
Western Kentucky 86, North Carolina A&T 76
Western Kentucky opened action in the 2021 Preseason WNIT at Bramlage Coliseum with a 86-76 win over North Carolina A&T.
The Lady Toppers had four players in double figures and were led by Mya Meredith with 20 points.
What They Said
JEFF MITTIE, HEAD COACH
Opening Statement…
"Well it was kind of a frustrating night from just trying to find any kind of offense and any kind of rhythm. Obviously (UT) Martin comes in with the idea to take the air out of the ball, then they run an offense that is going to take time off the clock so it is going to be a low possession game. And it was kind of a perfect storm for us to struggle with. We get out, we don't play very well early, we don't make any shots early. Players lose some confidence, or in between a little bit. We can't get the ball to Ayoka (Lee), it's kind of a perfect storm to struggle. I'm really proud of our group. I can't tell you, for a young basketball team to play as hard as they played defensively, while virtually the whole roster is struggling offensively. That really says a lot about where they've grown in the last 40 days . We've been talking about that in practice a lot, to make sure that your effort is always consistent. And so I'm really proud of them tonight. They had every chance to not play hard because they were struggling but we want to be a team that plays hard and digs deeper when things aren't going well. And tonight they're rewarded with the victory in a game where they don't play very well."
On how a game like this helps later in Big 12 play...
"Well I think this will help. That's a long way away, so I don't know how that helps us in Big 12 play. I think every experience you have as a player or coach, for that matter, you got to file away as what can I do better? I would say that we're going to get some good film on the windows of where we missed to get the ball to (Ayoka) Lee tonight. Then I got to take a look at how we can help them better to get those windows more often, because we know we're going to face teams that stylistically will put extra bodies down there. So yeah I think this will be a really good film for us to evaluate as a staff and for players to take a look at as well."
On forcing them out of the double on Ayoka Lee...
"I don't think we ever really did quite honestly. I don't think we ever made enough shots where they had to do something different. They were always in that 10 to 14 point deficit. I thought with the timeout that they took at the four minute mark, we might see the 1-3-1 that they play because that has a chance to turn teams over a little more. But they were pretty content to make this a low possession game and pretty content to leave it where it was so we were not able to take advantage of that. But I give (UT) Martin credit. We've played the triangle and two, we know that can mess with teams. We played it some last year and we played it the year before. We know that if you're not making shots against it, it can get real tough and especially when they're going to commit to players like Ayoka (Lee) the entire time. I thought (UT) Martin, the few windows that we had her, I thought they really corrected quickly once we missed her. We didn't really get a second chance very often, at least from my eyes on the bench. So you know we'll play better against that kind of defense moving forward. We'll make more shots and we'll hopefully play better in those windows."
On contributions of the young players...
"Well, like I said earlier, I think I'm really just happy and I'm pleased that they continue to play hard and fight harder. I think those characteristics are something that will be good for us throughout the year. I told them after the first quarter, 'you guys didn't think this was going to be easy right?' I mean like it's going to be a 50-point win. We're going to have to play in deficits. We're going to have to be down 13 to 8 when we're not playing well. But boy, that defense that last 30 minutes was huge. And that's what I think that we should take. We played great defense and that's why we're walking out of here with the W tonight."
On what he has seen on the other teams in the preseason WNIT...
"I was only in the arena for ten minutes. I've seen a little bit just through the offense, because everyone has their own scout and it'll be a much different game though. I heard Western Kentucky has pressed for the entire game and it's gonna be a real open floor. So this will be the exact opposite of tonight's game. This will be a track meet and should be a lot of fun to play and be a lot different than tonight's game."
REBEKAH DALLINGER, SOPHOMORE GUARD
On her scoring effort tonight...
"I think when we were struggling on offense, our defense really picked up, and that just helped me get open looks. We knew we had one open player all the time because they put extra bodies on Ayoka (Lee) so we knew he had to be shot ready and aggressive and drive to the basket when we could."
AYOKA LEE, JUNIOR CENTER
On playing against the UT Martin defense...
"I think it was an adjustment we weren't ready for so I think everyone was a little frustrated with it. I think it is something I will have to get used to, and I think instead of dwelling on that I should focus on what I can do like coach Coach always makes the point about how much you're not going to do well where you want to be doing well, but you have to focus on what you can do."
On taking advantage of more opportunities...
"I think communicating and taking advantage of the openings when we could see them. Which is something I need to be better at with communicating with the guards, and it's something to grow into as a team."
CATS WIN!!!#KStateWBB pic.twitter.com/BrvJg16tgY
— K-State Women's Basketball (@KStateWBB) November 13, 2021
Team Stats
UTM
KState
FG%
.244
.321
3FG%
.167
.115
FT%
.800
.700
RB
30
39
TO
14
9
STL
4
3
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
5
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
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