Kansas State University Athletics
Sunday, February 20
Manhattan, Kan.
3 p.m.
Kansas State University
18-8,8-6Big 12
56
vs
38
Oklahoma State
8-15,3-11Big 12
1
2
3
4
F
Oklahoma St.
4
2
17
15
38
Kansas St.
13
9
19
15
56
K-State Locks Down Cowgirls for 14th Home Win
Feb 20, 2022 | Women's Basketball
MANHATTAN, Kansas – K-State used one of its best defensive performances of the season to register its 14th home win in front of the largest home crowd of the season, 5,868, on Sunday afternoon at Bramlage Coliseum, as the Wildcats downed Oklahoma State, 56-38.
K-State (18-8, 8-6 Big 12) held Oklahoma State to a season-low for points in a game. The 38 points are tied for the fewest points K-State has allowed in a Big 12 game in the Jeff Mittie era, which spans eight seasons beginning in 2014-15. Sunday's opponent point total matches the fewest in a K-State Big 12 game since the Wildcats held Texas Tech to 38 in Lubbock on Jan. 31, 2015.
"I think our defense was good," said K-State head coach Jeff Mittie. "I think that we were really active and then I think as we struggled a little bit offensively, we let that affect us a little bit and I didn't think we were as good defensively in the second half."
For the afternoon, K-State held the Cowgirls to 20.0 percent shooting (11-of-55) and a 22.7 percent (5-of-22) performance from 3-point range.
The 14 home wins by the Wildcats this season are the most since the 2016-17 season and marks the fifth time in the 34-season history of Bramlage Coliseum in which the Wildcats have won 14 or more home games.
In the first half, K-State (18-8, 8-6 Big 12) locked down the Oklahoma State (8-15, 3-11 Big 12) offensive attack by holding the Cowgirls to an 8.0 percent (2-of-25) shooting effort and forcing 12 turnovers to build a 22-6 lead at the half.
In the second quarter, K-State held Oklahoma State without a made field goal for the entirety of the quarter, 0-of-12 from the field. Since collegiate women's basketball switched to the quarter system in the 2015-16 season, this marked the first time K-State has held an opponent without a made field goal in an entire quarter.
The two points scored by the Cowgirls in the second quarter tied the K-State school record for fewest points scored by an opponent in a quarter, tying the mark set on January 20, 2016, when K-State held Kansas to two points in the first quarter.
All-America candidate Ayoka Lee registered 13 of her game-high 17 points in the first half. She also pulled in eight of her game-high 13 rebounds in the opening 20 minutes. Lee tallied her 16th double-double of the season, which ranks as the third-highest single-season double-double total at K-State.
With her 17 points on Sunday, Lee has now recorded 612 points this season and joins Nicole Ohlde as the only two players in program history to score 600 or more points in a junior season. Among all players, Lee's 612 points rank fifth for a single-season.
With her 13 rebounds, Lee increased her career total to 820 rebounds and moved past Marlies Gipson (2005-09; 811) for eighth on the K-State career rebounds list.
To open the third quarter, Emilee Ebert connected on a corner 3-pointer to expand the K-State lead to 25-6. Ebert would score K-State's first eight points of the third stanza to increase the lead to 30-15 with 4:31 remaining.
Ebert would end the day with her fifth game in double figures this season with 13 points, all in the second half, while also chipping in with three rebounds.
"We talked about taking better in-rhythm shots," said Ebert about her mind-set in the second half. "That was an emphasis for us and that's what we came out and did. To see them go through the net obviously felt pretty good."
Laura Macke then jumped into the fray with six points of her own to bolster the lead to 38-21 with 1:34 left in the third. The Wildcats would end the quarter with a 3-pointer from Brylee Glenn to give K-State a 41-23 lead. Macke ended the afternoon with eight points and five rebounds off the bench.
In the first five minutes of the fourth quarter, K-State used a 13-2 run to build a 54-25 lead with 4:47 remaining. Ebert capped the run with an old-fashioned 3-point play to prevent any chance of a Cowgirl rally.
Sunday's crowd of 5,868 was the largest of the season inside Bramlage Coliseum and marked the third straight home game with over 5,000 fans.
K-State will complete its two-game home stand on Wednesday night, as the Wildcats host (14/14) Texas at 6:30 p.m. Tickets for Wednesday's game can be purchased at kstatesports.com/tickets, calling (800) 221-CATS or in person at the K-State Athletics Ticket Office in Bramlage Coliseum.
Wednesday's game will be broadcast on Big 12 Now on ESPN+. The game can also be heard on the K-State Sports Network, for free at kstatesports.com and on the K-State Sports app.
What They Said
JEFF MITTIE, K-STATE HEAD COACH
Opening Statement...
"Well it was good to get off to a good start. I thought early we had our legs and really were off in transition well. We just couldn't shoot the ball very well and we had a lot of opportunities at the rim that we didn't finish and so we just never could really get away from them in that first half like we wanted to, like you felt like we should. But they're a good defensive team. They have some athleticism to defend the rim and it's not easy to get there. I liked our look though. I think the one thing that bye week gave us was it looked like we got a little bounce back in our step. Then it was just good, I think, in the second half just to knock a few shots down. But (Emilee) Ebert and (Laura) Macke both played really well in the second half. They had trouble in the first half knocking shots down and they both played real well in the second half and kind of opened some things up for us."
On the defensive performance…
"That's kind of one of those things, Mitch. I think our defense was really good. I think probably that they had the same thing snowball on them. It gets contagious. Sometimes games are like this, especially in February. You have games where, look at the second half, we knock down two threes, then they come down and knock three down, you're like, 'Oh, now we're all just gonna make shots', right? Nobody could make them in the first half. So it gets a little contagious. I think our defense was good. I think that we were really active and then I think as we struggled a little bit offensively, we let that affect us a little bit and I didn't think we were as good defensively in the second half."
On the emotions of this pink game…
"I think every Play4Kay game is a big game in that as women's basketball players and coaches we recognize across the country that this is our movement. I got to meet Kay (Yow) before she passed and this has been a tremendous event going on across the country for breast cancer awareness. Obviously, personally that became something five weeks ago that kind of hit your heart when you hear that word. I just wanted to for me, personally, I just wanted to coach well today, and I just wanted them to play hard. I think they probably knew, I didn't bring it up once Shanna told them on Tuesday. We haven't talked about it, but they probably knew, they probably knew. But for me I just wanted to coach well and help them and yeah, just get them to play hard, play together, do those things. I'll go back to practicing, I thought our preparation this morning was excellent. I thought our practice yesterday was excellent. And so yeah, I just told them thank you in the locker room for playing that way."
On the importance of getting a victory today…
"Well, every game is important. I think that every single game but now we're down to the stretch where we've got four regular season games left and I talked to them for the first time the other day about, I wanted to wait till the bye week. We talked about it, we talked about five games left. We talked about practicing at an NCAA Tournament team level. I didn't think we had done that in the previous couple weeks. And they responded with a couple really good practices and we can carry that over. But every game is critical. Every game is critical for seeding. You want to be in the top six in the Big 12 because that means you get that first round bye and every win is critical for that and every game is critical for an NCAA Tournament berth."
EMILEE EBERT, K-STATE JUNIOR GUARD
On making shots in the second half…
"We talked about taking better in-rhythm shots. That was an emphasis for us and that's what we came out and did. To see them go through the net obviously felt pretty good."
On OSU daring her to shoot at times…
"You definitely have to keep your confidence up. Sometimes you can be caught off guard when you are that wide open. So just making sure that you're in rhythm and you're ready to shoot is how you go about it."
AYOKA LEE, K-STATE JUNIOR CENTER
On the emotions around this game...
"Going into this game there were just a lot of things to play for. We always try to play for each other, but today just meant a little bit more. With it being the pink game, it just means so much more and it hits a little bit closer to home. Everyone kind of knew that and it just meant a lot more."
On the presentation of her 1,500 point ball..
"I have so much gratitude to just have these moments and celebrate these moments with my teammates, fans, and my family. It is not something that every college basketball player will get to experience, so I am just blessed with that opportunity."
On the guards getting shots early in the game…
"I think it was great. We came out super aggressive and I love to see it. It definitely helps make it harder on the other team on defense. They can't guard two things at once."
On her billboard in Kansas City…
"It's crazy. It's not everyday that you look on social media and your head is on a billboard. It's just kind of surreal. It's really exciting and I am just thankful and enjoying it."
JIM LITTELL, OKLAHOMA STATE HEAD COACH
On the difficulties of the first half…
"Making a shot. I don't want to over simplify it, but I thought we had some decent looks and their size caused us to shoot the ball a little quicker. We didn't have a really good tempo on our shots, and we didn't do a very good job of attacking the high post in the first half, playing the game inside out."
On how pleased he was in the second half…
"I'm not really pleased. When you look up and you score 38 points and you get beat by 18 points and you shoot 20 percent from the floor, I'm not going to be a really happy camper over that."
On K-State's defense…
"They're good defensively. They are really good at what they do. I think it was a combination. They make you earn shots and make shots from the perimeter and we didn't do it so credit them. But there's things we could've done a lot better as well."
On adjustments at halftime…
"We went to something a little different offensively, and tried to get a threat on the baseline, tried to get the ball at the high post, and get some touches inside. We were better at doing it but when it comes down to it you have to make some shots, and when you do get it inside, they've got a kid (Lee) who alters shots and changes the dynamic of the game. She's good offensively but she changes the game as well. We had one of those last year in (Natasha) Mack, and Ayoke Lee, she just changed the game on both ends. She's a difference maker on both ends."
K-State (18-8, 8-6 Big 12) held Oklahoma State to a season-low for points in a game. The 38 points are tied for the fewest points K-State has allowed in a Big 12 game in the Jeff Mittie era, which spans eight seasons beginning in 2014-15. Sunday's opponent point total matches the fewest in a K-State Big 12 game since the Wildcats held Texas Tech to 38 in Lubbock on Jan. 31, 2015.
"I think our defense was good," said K-State head coach Jeff Mittie. "I think that we were really active and then I think as we struggled a little bit offensively, we let that affect us a little bit and I didn't think we were as good defensively in the second half."
For the afternoon, K-State held the Cowgirls to 20.0 percent shooting (11-of-55) and a 22.7 percent (5-of-22) performance from 3-point range.
The 14 home wins by the Wildcats this season are the most since the 2016-17 season and marks the fifth time in the 34-season history of Bramlage Coliseum in which the Wildcats have won 14 or more home games.
In the first half, K-State (18-8, 8-6 Big 12) locked down the Oklahoma State (8-15, 3-11 Big 12) offensive attack by holding the Cowgirls to an 8.0 percent (2-of-25) shooting effort and forcing 12 turnovers to build a 22-6 lead at the half.
In the second quarter, K-State held Oklahoma State without a made field goal for the entirety of the quarter, 0-of-12 from the field. Since collegiate women's basketball switched to the quarter system in the 2015-16 season, this marked the first time K-State has held an opponent without a made field goal in an entire quarter.
The two points scored by the Cowgirls in the second quarter tied the K-State school record for fewest points scored by an opponent in a quarter, tying the mark set on January 20, 2016, when K-State held Kansas to two points in the first quarter.
All-America candidate Ayoka Lee registered 13 of her game-high 17 points in the first half. She also pulled in eight of her game-high 13 rebounds in the opening 20 minutes. Lee tallied her 16th double-double of the season, which ranks as the third-highest single-season double-double total at K-State.
With her 17 points on Sunday, Lee has now recorded 612 points this season and joins Nicole Ohlde as the only two players in program history to score 600 or more points in a junior season. Among all players, Lee's 612 points rank fifth for a single-season.
With her 13 rebounds, Lee increased her career total to 820 rebounds and moved past Marlies Gipson (2005-09; 811) for eighth on the K-State career rebounds list.
To open the third quarter, Emilee Ebert connected on a corner 3-pointer to expand the K-State lead to 25-6. Ebert would score K-State's first eight points of the third stanza to increase the lead to 30-15 with 4:31 remaining.
Ebert would end the day with her fifth game in double figures this season with 13 points, all in the second half, while also chipping in with three rebounds.
"We talked about taking better in-rhythm shots," said Ebert about her mind-set in the second half. "That was an emphasis for us and that's what we came out and did. To see them go through the net obviously felt pretty good."
Laura Macke then jumped into the fray with six points of her own to bolster the lead to 38-21 with 1:34 left in the third. The Wildcats would end the quarter with a 3-pointer from Brylee Glenn to give K-State a 41-23 lead. Macke ended the afternoon with eight points and five rebounds off the bench.
In the first five minutes of the fourth quarter, K-State used a 13-2 run to build a 54-25 lead with 4:47 remaining. Ebert capped the run with an old-fashioned 3-point play to prevent any chance of a Cowgirl rally.
Sunday's crowd of 5,868 was the largest of the season inside Bramlage Coliseum and marked the third straight home game with over 5,000 fans.
K-State will complete its two-game home stand on Wednesday night, as the Wildcats host (14/14) Texas at 6:30 p.m. Tickets for Wednesday's game can be purchased at kstatesports.com/tickets, calling (800) 221-CATS or in person at the K-State Athletics Ticket Office in Bramlage Coliseum.
Wednesday's game will be broadcast on Big 12 Now on ESPN+. The game can also be heard on the K-State Sports Network, for free at kstatesports.com and on the K-State Sports app.
What They Said
JEFF MITTIE, K-STATE HEAD COACH
Opening Statement...
"Well it was good to get off to a good start. I thought early we had our legs and really were off in transition well. We just couldn't shoot the ball very well and we had a lot of opportunities at the rim that we didn't finish and so we just never could really get away from them in that first half like we wanted to, like you felt like we should. But they're a good defensive team. They have some athleticism to defend the rim and it's not easy to get there. I liked our look though. I think the one thing that bye week gave us was it looked like we got a little bounce back in our step. Then it was just good, I think, in the second half just to knock a few shots down. But (Emilee) Ebert and (Laura) Macke both played really well in the second half. They had trouble in the first half knocking shots down and they both played real well in the second half and kind of opened some things up for us."
On the defensive performance…
"That's kind of one of those things, Mitch. I think our defense was really good. I think probably that they had the same thing snowball on them. It gets contagious. Sometimes games are like this, especially in February. You have games where, look at the second half, we knock down two threes, then they come down and knock three down, you're like, 'Oh, now we're all just gonna make shots', right? Nobody could make them in the first half. So it gets a little contagious. I think our defense was good. I think that we were really active and then I think as we struggled a little bit offensively, we let that affect us a little bit and I didn't think we were as good defensively in the second half."
On the emotions of this pink game…
"I think every Play4Kay game is a big game in that as women's basketball players and coaches we recognize across the country that this is our movement. I got to meet Kay (Yow) before she passed and this has been a tremendous event going on across the country for breast cancer awareness. Obviously, personally that became something five weeks ago that kind of hit your heart when you hear that word. I just wanted to for me, personally, I just wanted to coach well today, and I just wanted them to play hard. I think they probably knew, I didn't bring it up once Shanna told them on Tuesday. We haven't talked about it, but they probably knew, they probably knew. But for me I just wanted to coach well and help them and yeah, just get them to play hard, play together, do those things. I'll go back to practicing, I thought our preparation this morning was excellent. I thought our practice yesterday was excellent. And so yeah, I just told them thank you in the locker room for playing that way."
On the importance of getting a victory today…
"Well, every game is important. I think that every single game but now we're down to the stretch where we've got four regular season games left and I talked to them for the first time the other day about, I wanted to wait till the bye week. We talked about it, we talked about five games left. We talked about practicing at an NCAA Tournament team level. I didn't think we had done that in the previous couple weeks. And they responded with a couple really good practices and we can carry that over. But every game is critical. Every game is critical for seeding. You want to be in the top six in the Big 12 because that means you get that first round bye and every win is critical for that and every game is critical for an NCAA Tournament berth."
EMILEE EBERT, K-STATE JUNIOR GUARD
On making shots in the second half…
"We talked about taking better in-rhythm shots. That was an emphasis for us and that's what we came out and did. To see them go through the net obviously felt pretty good."
On OSU daring her to shoot at times…
"You definitely have to keep your confidence up. Sometimes you can be caught off guard when you are that wide open. So just making sure that you're in rhythm and you're ready to shoot is how you go about it."
AYOKA LEE, K-STATE JUNIOR CENTER
On the emotions around this game...
"Going into this game there were just a lot of things to play for. We always try to play for each other, but today just meant a little bit more. With it being the pink game, it just means so much more and it hits a little bit closer to home. Everyone kind of knew that and it just meant a lot more."
On the presentation of her 1,500 point ball..
"I have so much gratitude to just have these moments and celebrate these moments with my teammates, fans, and my family. It is not something that every college basketball player will get to experience, so I am just blessed with that opportunity."
On the guards getting shots early in the game…
"I think it was great. We came out super aggressive and I love to see it. It definitely helps make it harder on the other team on defense. They can't guard two things at once."
On her billboard in Kansas City…
"It's crazy. It's not everyday that you look on social media and your head is on a billboard. It's just kind of surreal. It's really exciting and I am just thankful and enjoying it."
JIM LITTELL, OKLAHOMA STATE HEAD COACH
On the difficulties of the first half…
"Making a shot. I don't want to over simplify it, but I thought we had some decent looks and their size caused us to shoot the ball a little quicker. We didn't have a really good tempo on our shots, and we didn't do a very good job of attacking the high post in the first half, playing the game inside out."
On how pleased he was in the second half…
"I'm not really pleased. When you look up and you score 38 points and you get beat by 18 points and you shoot 20 percent from the floor, I'm not going to be a really happy camper over that."
On K-State's defense…
"They're good defensively. They are really good at what they do. I think it was a combination. They make you earn shots and make shots from the perimeter and we didn't do it so credit them. But there's things we could've done a lot better as well."
On adjustments at halftime…
"We went to something a little different offensively, and tried to get a threat on the baseline, tried to get the ball at the high post, and get some touches inside. We were better at doing it but when it comes down to it you have to make some shots, and when you do get it inside, they've got a kid (Lee) who alters shots and changes the dynamic of the game. She's good offensively but she changes the game as well. We had one of those last year in (Natasha) Mack, and Ayoke Lee, she just changed the game on both ends. She's a difference maker on both ends."
CATS WIN!!#KStateWBB pic.twitter.com/JF1tgAlpdC
— K-State Women's Basketball (@KStateWBB) February 20, 2022
Team Stats
OSU
KState
FG%
.200
.338
3FG%
.227
.211
FT%
.647
.667
RB
40
45
TO
15
10
STL
7
7
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballK-State WBB | Postgame Press Conference vs USC (NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen)
Saturday, March 29
K-State WBB | Postgame Highlights vs USC (NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen)
Saturday, March 29
K-State WBB | Player Press Conference (NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen - USC Preview)
Friday, March 28
K-State WBB | Jeff Mittie Press Conference (NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen - USC Preview)
Friday, March 28