Kansas State University Athletics
Monday, November 15
Manhattan, Kan.
6:30 p.m.
Kansas State University
4-0,0-0Big 12
73
vs
49
North Carolina A&T
0-4,0-0Big South
1
2
3
4
F
N.C. A&T
15
9
11
14
49
Kansas St.
24
20
12
17
73
K-State Completes Unbeaten Home Stand on Monday Night
Nov 15, 2021 | Women's Basketball
MANHATTAN, Kansas – K-State used a double-double from Ayoka Lee and a strong second quarter to build a sizable margin to improve its winning streak to four games with a 73-49 win over North Carolina A&T on Monday night in the 2021 Preseason WNIT at Bramlage Coliseum.
The reigning Big 12 Player of the Week, Lee finished the night with 31 points on 13-of-17 shooting, 13 rebounds and tied her career-high with seven blocks. This was Lee's ninth career game with a double-double and five or more blocks.
With her 31 points, Lee tied the school record for career 30 point games, joining Brittany Chambers (2009-13) with six career games with 30 or more points.
K-State (4-0) held a 24-15 lead entering the second quarter, but quickly boosted the advantage to 33-15 with 6:45 remaining with the assistance of a 9-0 run. Lee started the run with a hook shot, followed by a layup. Lee then found a cutting Emilee Ebert for an easy layup for a 30-15 lead. Rebekah Dallinger buried an open 3-pointer to cap the run.
K-State extended the lead to 20 at halftime, 44-24. Serena Sundell finished an old-fashioned 3-point play with 4:27 remaining in the first half. Lee added a 3-point play of her own with 1:54 to play. The Wildcats shot 53.3 percent (8-of-15) from the field in the second quarter.
In the first half, Lee recorded 17 points, eight rebounds and four blocks, while Sundell added 11 points, six assists, two rebounds and a block. Sundell ended the night with a career-best 15 points while also dishing out seven assists, pulling in four rebounds and blocking two shots.
After the Aggies cut the K-State lead to 17, 50-33, with 3:57 remaining in the third quarter, the Wildcats used six straight points to improve its lead to 23, 56-33, with 1:33 to play. Lee score four of the six points on a layup and putback.
The game was then delayed with 1:10 remaining in the third quarter, as North Carolina A&T teammates Shayla Nelson and Jazmin Harris collided on a rebound, leaving Nelson on the floor for several minutes. Nelson was attended to by medical personnel and carefully loaded onto a stretcher for further evaluation.
K-State held a 56-35 lead entering the fourth quarter and increased the advantage to 67-39, as Lee scored eight of K-State's first 11 points of the final frame. The Wildcats shot 77.8 percent (7-of-9) in the final 10 minutes.
For the night, the Wildcats shot 45.0 percent (27-of-60) from the field and recorded 19 assists. As a team, K-State registered 11 blocked shots, which is the 12th time since 2014-15 in which the Wildcats have blocked 10 or more shots in a game.
The Wildcats have won seven straight games in the Preseason WNIT, which have all come inside Bramlage Coliseum.
K-State will embark on its first road trip of the 2021-22 season, as the Wildcats conclude its 2021 Preseason WNIT slate with a trip to (5/4) North Carolina State on Friday, November 19, at 6 p.m. Friday's game can be seen on ACCx Network and can heard on the K-State Sports Network and for free at kstatesports.com and on the K-State Sports app.
UT Martin 63, Western Kentucky 47
UT Martin used a 13-2 first quarter to keep Western Kentucky at arm's length on Monday afternoon in the final game of the 2021 Preseason WNIT for both squads.
The Skyhawks (2-1) were led by Hayley Harrison with a game-high 17 points, while Holly Forbes chipped in with 16 points.
The Lady Toppers (1-3) were paced by Meral Abdelgawad with 12 points and 19 rebounds.
What They Said
JEFF MITTIE, HEAD COACH
Opening Statement…
"Well it's been a productive weekend in that I think we've gotten better as a basketball team. We knew coming in we would face different styles and I kind of felt like as this set up that playing the biggest, most athletic team towards the end would benefit us because we needed to face that and we needed to face some athletic rebounders. I felt like that would be good for us, especially having to do it on the third game in four days. I thought that would test our playing through physicality, playing through contact and I thought we were solid tonight. I think there's areas we can certainly get better at but I thought we were pretty good at times."
On Ayoka Lee so far this season...
"Well, I think she's progressed like you would expect, she works hard. Her positioning is really good, but I think all those things. I thought tonight really the jump hook away from the rim was a big, big move for her tonight against the size. She's been maybe overpowering some smaller players the last couple games but tonight she had a little more size on her. But I also think our guards are really getting her the basketball and I think we've got a passing group that really moves the ball well. So, I think the ball is moving to the right spots and feel good about our intentions where the ball is moving. I think there's just a good awareness."
On making adjustments in game...
"I think the group did well. I think I've got to help them better. Some of it is just early in the year and I'm trying out some new lineups and so there were a couple times where they're in a triangle-and-two, and we've got a lineup out there that maybe we haven't had a player play the middle spot. Brylee (Glenn) got put in that position tonight. So there's some unfamiliarity with that, but I think early in the year we've got some players that I'm enjoying kind of moving around to see what they're capable of. So I think all in all, they're doing very well."
On preparation for playing three games in four days...
"Every tournament is a little bit different. But we spent a lot of time this weekend. We spent a lot of time in terms of our practice hours. We had a game and then a quick turn around. We came back for dinner and talked. We were up this morning. We really pushed them hard. And I pushed them hard physically to put them into a tough spot here. They're gonna get a good day off tomorrow. I'm sure they'll enjoy that. And I think we came through it physically pretty well. We've got 10 so we're able to keep them fairly fresh during the game. So I am able to push on them in practice a little more. I am able to do some things because we are able to keep this group pretty fresh during the games."
AYOKA LEE, JUNIOR CENTER
On what has changed from last season to this season...
"I think everyone's season is going to be different compared to last year just in general. But I think we have a lot of new faces on the team. The feel of the team, I think, is a lot different and I think it's showing in our games."
On being named national player of the week...
"I think it's an honor. People were telling me congrats this morning and I didn't know why so I had to figure that one out. But yeah, it's an honor. There's a lot of basketball left to play so we just have to keep improving and keep playing well as a team."
On what she learned from UT Martin that carried over to tonight vs. NC A&T...
"As a whole I think the team did a good job of knowing what we need to be in and getting that communicated and then running it."
SERENA SUNDELL, FRESHMAN GUARD
On scoring 15 points...
"I was just trying to play the same game that I'd been playing, looking to make the extra pass when I needed to and then also finding that balance being aggressive. So I haven't been shooting the ball very well, and I found the net a couple times tonight, which helps, but just trying to stay consistent."
On reading the defense...
"I mean, obviously at the beginning of the game and throughout the game, Coach [Mittie] is talking to us and telling us what he expects, but I think just coming on the court, you kind of read the defense and then we have plays that we are supposed to run, so it's just making sure you get that translated to everyone on the team."
The reigning Big 12 Player of the Week, Lee finished the night with 31 points on 13-of-17 shooting, 13 rebounds and tied her career-high with seven blocks. This was Lee's ninth career game with a double-double and five or more blocks.
With her 31 points, Lee tied the school record for career 30 point games, joining Brittany Chambers (2009-13) with six career games with 30 or more points.
K-State (4-0) held a 24-15 lead entering the second quarter, but quickly boosted the advantage to 33-15 with 6:45 remaining with the assistance of a 9-0 run. Lee started the run with a hook shot, followed by a layup. Lee then found a cutting Emilee Ebert for an easy layup for a 30-15 lead. Rebekah Dallinger buried an open 3-pointer to cap the run.
K-State extended the lead to 20 at halftime, 44-24. Serena Sundell finished an old-fashioned 3-point play with 4:27 remaining in the first half. Lee added a 3-point play of her own with 1:54 to play. The Wildcats shot 53.3 percent (8-of-15) from the field in the second quarter.
In the first half, Lee recorded 17 points, eight rebounds and four blocks, while Sundell added 11 points, six assists, two rebounds and a block. Sundell ended the night with a career-best 15 points while also dishing out seven assists, pulling in four rebounds and blocking two shots.
After the Aggies cut the K-State lead to 17, 50-33, with 3:57 remaining in the third quarter, the Wildcats used six straight points to improve its lead to 23, 56-33, with 1:33 to play. Lee score four of the six points on a layup and putback.
The game was then delayed with 1:10 remaining in the third quarter, as North Carolina A&T teammates Shayla Nelson and Jazmin Harris collided on a rebound, leaving Nelson on the floor for several minutes. Nelson was attended to by medical personnel and carefully loaded onto a stretcher for further evaluation.
K-State held a 56-35 lead entering the fourth quarter and increased the advantage to 67-39, as Lee scored eight of K-State's first 11 points of the final frame. The Wildcats shot 77.8 percent (7-of-9) in the final 10 minutes.
For the night, the Wildcats shot 45.0 percent (27-of-60) from the field and recorded 19 assists. As a team, K-State registered 11 blocked shots, which is the 12th time since 2014-15 in which the Wildcats have blocked 10 or more shots in a game.
The Wildcats have won seven straight games in the Preseason WNIT, which have all come inside Bramlage Coliseum.
K-State will embark on its first road trip of the 2021-22 season, as the Wildcats conclude its 2021 Preseason WNIT slate with a trip to (5/4) North Carolina State on Friday, November 19, at 6 p.m. Friday's game can be seen on ACCx Network and can heard on the K-State Sports Network and for free at kstatesports.com and on the K-State Sports app.
UT Martin 63, Western Kentucky 47
UT Martin used a 13-2 first quarter to keep Western Kentucky at arm's length on Monday afternoon in the final game of the 2021 Preseason WNIT for both squads.
The Skyhawks (2-1) were led by Hayley Harrison with a game-high 17 points, while Holly Forbes chipped in with 16 points.
The Lady Toppers (1-3) were paced by Meral Abdelgawad with 12 points and 19 rebounds.
What They Said
JEFF MITTIE, HEAD COACH
Opening Statement…
"Well it's been a productive weekend in that I think we've gotten better as a basketball team. We knew coming in we would face different styles and I kind of felt like as this set up that playing the biggest, most athletic team towards the end would benefit us because we needed to face that and we needed to face some athletic rebounders. I felt like that would be good for us, especially having to do it on the third game in four days. I thought that would test our playing through physicality, playing through contact and I thought we were solid tonight. I think there's areas we can certainly get better at but I thought we were pretty good at times."
On Ayoka Lee so far this season...
"Well, I think she's progressed like you would expect, she works hard. Her positioning is really good, but I think all those things. I thought tonight really the jump hook away from the rim was a big, big move for her tonight against the size. She's been maybe overpowering some smaller players the last couple games but tonight she had a little more size on her. But I also think our guards are really getting her the basketball and I think we've got a passing group that really moves the ball well. So, I think the ball is moving to the right spots and feel good about our intentions where the ball is moving. I think there's just a good awareness."
On making adjustments in game...
"I think the group did well. I think I've got to help them better. Some of it is just early in the year and I'm trying out some new lineups and so there were a couple times where they're in a triangle-and-two, and we've got a lineup out there that maybe we haven't had a player play the middle spot. Brylee (Glenn) got put in that position tonight. So there's some unfamiliarity with that, but I think early in the year we've got some players that I'm enjoying kind of moving around to see what they're capable of. So I think all in all, they're doing very well."
On preparation for playing three games in four days...
"Every tournament is a little bit different. But we spent a lot of time this weekend. We spent a lot of time in terms of our practice hours. We had a game and then a quick turn around. We came back for dinner and talked. We were up this morning. We really pushed them hard. And I pushed them hard physically to put them into a tough spot here. They're gonna get a good day off tomorrow. I'm sure they'll enjoy that. And I think we came through it physically pretty well. We've got 10 so we're able to keep them fairly fresh during the game. So I am able to push on them in practice a little more. I am able to do some things because we are able to keep this group pretty fresh during the games."
AYOKA LEE, JUNIOR CENTER
On what has changed from last season to this season...
"I think everyone's season is going to be different compared to last year just in general. But I think we have a lot of new faces on the team. The feel of the team, I think, is a lot different and I think it's showing in our games."
On being named national player of the week...
"I think it's an honor. People were telling me congrats this morning and I didn't know why so I had to figure that one out. But yeah, it's an honor. There's a lot of basketball left to play so we just have to keep improving and keep playing well as a team."
On what she learned from UT Martin that carried over to tonight vs. NC A&T...
"As a whole I think the team did a good job of knowing what we need to be in and getting that communicated and then running it."
SERENA SUNDELL, FRESHMAN GUARD
On scoring 15 points...
"I was just trying to play the same game that I'd been playing, looking to make the extra pass when I needed to and then also finding that balance being aggressive. So I haven't been shooting the ball very well, and I found the net a couple times tonight, which helps, but just trying to stay consistent."
On reading the defense...
"I mean, obviously at the beginning of the game and throughout the game, Coach [Mittie] is talking to us and telling us what he expects, but I think just coming on the court, you kind of read the defense and then we have plays that we are supposed to run, so it's just making sure you get that translated to everyone on the team."
CATS WIN!!!#KStateWBB pic.twitter.com/2u56lS2rcd
— K-State Women's Basketball (@KStateWBB) November 16, 2021
4⃣-0⃣#KStateWBB pic.twitter.com/FQFTebPhib
— K-State Women's Basketball (@KStateWBB) November 16, 2021
ON. BOTH. ENDS.#KStateWBB x @Yokie50 pic.twitter.com/KaOkJXlUJa
— K-State Women's Basketball (@KStateWBB) November 16, 2021
Extra pass ➡️ Buckets#KStateWBB x @serena_sundell pic.twitter.com/8VLpy3xotS
— K-State Women's Basketball (@KStateWBB) November 16, 2021
YOKIE AND 1#KStateWBB x @Yokie50 pic.twitter.com/FPYsH8VXh1
— K-State Women's Basketball (@KStateWBB) November 16, 2021
Team Stats
NCA&T
KState
FG%
.300
.450
3FG%
.125
.200
FT%
.600
.652
RB
36
51
TO
17
20
STL
12
7
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
15
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
5
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
7
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
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