Sundell Stars But Continues to Grow
Mar 03, 2022 | Women's Basketball, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
This is a story about Serena Sundell. This time a year ago, Sundell was finishing a monster high school career at Maryville High School in Maryville, Missouri. She stood with her parents at a Senior Night celebration. She was 2021 Miss Show-Me Basketball. She was back-to-back Class 4 Player of the Year. She finished her career with 2,358 points. She was a star.
Now Sundell continues to grow on an entirely different stage.
She entered Wednesday as the only player in the nation to average at least five assists and possess an assist-to-turnover ratio of at least 2.0. She has earned Big 12 Freshman of the Week four times and she has established herself as of the more notable freshmen in Division I women's basketball. She has been a key part in why K-State has engineered the third-largest season-to-season turnaround in program history.
"What she's meant to our team, you could make an argument in the discussion across the country of what she's meant for our team," K-State head coach Jeff Mittie says. "What she doesn't get a lot of credit for is just the overall game. She fills up the stat sheet."
Sundell scored 15 points and dished out seven assists to go along with six rebounds, two steals and one block in 49 minutes, as K-State suffered a 74-62 double-overtime loss to West Virginia during Senior Night on Wednesday at Bramlage Coliseum. K-State recognized the careers of seniors Cymone Goodrich, Laura Macke, Rachel Ranke and Savannah Simmons in a postgame ceremony. Nobody thought they'd witness the first double-overtime game in the Mittie era.
On the court, Sundell was trying to help everybody — literally — one assist at a time, while fighting through nine turnovers. She fought. She grinded. She rebounded. She did a little bit of everything.
She gave K-State its first lead of the game when she stole a pass in the open court, drove 50 feet, drew a foul, and sank two free throws to make it 41-40 with 3 minutes, 38 seconds remaining in the third quarter. She gave K-State a 59-58 lead with 45.2 seconds left in overtime. Her free throw made it 60-58 with 27.2 to go before the teams headed into double overtime.
And then, all at once, it was over. An up-and-down game ended in a heartbreaking loss.
"She's got to handle a few situations better and that's the adjustment going forward, but we wouldn't be where we are without her," Mittie says. "That's just plain and simple. We wouldn't be where we are without a lot of our young players. It's a tough learning experience."
Ayoka Lee is a legend. She had 24 points, 10 rebounds, one assist and one block against the Mountaineers. She's the All-American candidate and one of the best players in school history. But if you're looking for Lee's running mate, she is a 6-foot-1 point guard who wears a braided ponytail and the No. 4 jersey.
And who knows what Sundell might achieve by the time she enjoys her own Senior Night in Manhattan.
One thing is for certain: For the Wildcats, she already means plenty.
"She's terrific," Mittie says. "She's been great all year. She battles like crazy. It matters to her. She's as disappointed as anybody at this finish. I love coaching this kid. I love the way she competes and plays."
On Monday we'll know. On Monday, the Big 12 will reveal its individual season awards. Sundell, of course, is a worthy candidate for the Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors. Sundell entered the week leading all Big 12 freshmen in 3-pointers (41), 3-point percentage (.350), free-throw percentage (.825), assists (155), assists per game (5.5), assist-to-turnover ratio (2.12), blocks (21) and minutes per game (31.6).
She would become the third player in school history to win Big 12 Freshman of the Year, joining Ayoka Lee (2020) and Nicole Ohlde (2001). That would be three Big 12 Freshman of the Year honorees in 21 years. That's a rare feat.
Could Mittie make an argument for Sundell to earn the top conference freshman honor?
"I think she's made the argument all year," Mittie says. "Four times conference freshman player of the week."
Sundell ranks second on the team with 10.2 points and leads the team in 3-pointers. She has four 20-point games and 16 double-digit scoring games. Her 162 assists currently rank second in the Big 12, second nationally among freshmen and second in K-State history among freshmen. Only Shalee Lehning had more. Her 2.12 assist-to-turnover ratio ranks second in the Big 12 and second in the nation among freshmen as well.
Last week, Sundell had 16 points, three assists and two blocks against No. 11 Texas and 24 points with a career high-tying five 3-pointers to go along with seven assists and two steals against No. 20 Oklahoma last to earn Big 12 Freshman of the Week — an honor she also earned once in November, December and January.
It hasn't been too much for Sundell this season — sharing the weight of the Wildcats. She has blossomed into one of the finest freshmen point guards in school history. Even when she encounters her rare tough game, as was the case against the feisty Mountaineers.
Sundell has been good from the start. Her nine assists against Central Arkansas on November 9 marked the most in K-State history by a player in her first game.
Later in the month, Sundell scored a career-high 25 points on 9 of 11 shooting, including 5 of 7 on 3-pointers to go along with 5 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists against Abilene Christian. Her performance included a 14-point effort in the first quarter, including 4 3-pointers, which set the school record for first-quarter points and first-quarter 3-pointers.
In December, she recorded her first double-double with 16 points and 10 assists at South Dakota State.
In January, she had a career-high 11 assists against No. 9 Iowa State, the most assists by a K-State player in nearly three years. She had 21 points, five rebounds, nine assists and two steals in the Wildcats' 71-61 win at West Virginia on January 8.
She wrapped up February with impressive outings against No. 11 Texas and No. 20 Oklahoma.
Now March is here. The Wildcats finish out the regular season at TCU on Saturday and begin the Big 12 Championship next Thursday at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri.
Even in defeat on Wednesday during Senior Night, K-State fans cheered on Sundell and the Wildcats. And Sundell and her teammates fought until the end.
By the time Sundell reaches her Senior Night, who knows what she might accomplish.
This is a story about Serena Sundell. This time a year ago, Sundell was finishing a monster high school career at Maryville High School in Maryville, Missouri. She stood with her parents at a Senior Night celebration. She was 2021 Miss Show-Me Basketball. She was back-to-back Class 4 Player of the Year. She finished her career with 2,358 points. She was a star.
Now Sundell continues to grow on an entirely different stage.
She entered Wednesday as the only player in the nation to average at least five assists and possess an assist-to-turnover ratio of at least 2.0. She has earned Big 12 Freshman of the Week four times and she has established herself as of the more notable freshmen in Division I women's basketball. She has been a key part in why K-State has engineered the third-largest season-to-season turnaround in program history.
"What she's meant to our team, you could make an argument in the discussion across the country of what she's meant for our team," K-State head coach Jeff Mittie says. "What she doesn't get a lot of credit for is just the overall game. She fills up the stat sheet."
Sundell scored 15 points and dished out seven assists to go along with six rebounds, two steals and one block in 49 minutes, as K-State suffered a 74-62 double-overtime loss to West Virginia during Senior Night on Wednesday at Bramlage Coliseum. K-State recognized the careers of seniors Cymone Goodrich, Laura Macke, Rachel Ranke and Savannah Simmons in a postgame ceremony. Nobody thought they'd witness the first double-overtime game in the Mittie era.
On the court, Sundell was trying to help everybody — literally — one assist at a time, while fighting through nine turnovers. She fought. She grinded. She rebounded. She did a little bit of everything.
She gave K-State its first lead of the game when she stole a pass in the open court, drove 50 feet, drew a foul, and sank two free throws to make it 41-40 with 3 minutes, 38 seconds remaining in the third quarter. She gave K-State a 59-58 lead with 45.2 seconds left in overtime. Her free throw made it 60-58 with 27.2 to go before the teams headed into double overtime.
And then, all at once, it was over. An up-and-down game ended in a heartbreaking loss.
"She's got to handle a few situations better and that's the adjustment going forward, but we wouldn't be where we are without her," Mittie says. "That's just plain and simple. We wouldn't be where we are without a lot of our young players. It's a tough learning experience."
Ayoka Lee is a legend. She had 24 points, 10 rebounds, one assist and one block against the Mountaineers. She's the All-American candidate and one of the best players in school history. But if you're looking for Lee's running mate, she is a 6-foot-1 point guard who wears a braided ponytail and the No. 4 jersey.
And who knows what Sundell might achieve by the time she enjoys her own Senior Night in Manhattan.
One thing is for certain: For the Wildcats, she already means plenty.
"She's terrific," Mittie says. "She's been great all year. She battles like crazy. It matters to her. She's as disappointed as anybody at this finish. I love coaching this kid. I love the way she competes and plays."
On Monday we'll know. On Monday, the Big 12 will reveal its individual season awards. Sundell, of course, is a worthy candidate for the Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors. Sundell entered the week leading all Big 12 freshmen in 3-pointers (41), 3-point percentage (.350), free-throw percentage (.825), assists (155), assists per game (5.5), assist-to-turnover ratio (2.12), blocks (21) and minutes per game (31.6).
She would become the third player in school history to win Big 12 Freshman of the Year, joining Ayoka Lee (2020) and Nicole Ohlde (2001). That would be three Big 12 Freshman of the Year honorees in 21 years. That's a rare feat.
Could Mittie make an argument for Sundell to earn the top conference freshman honor?
"I think she's made the argument all year," Mittie says. "Four times conference freshman player of the week."
Sundell ranks second on the team with 10.2 points and leads the team in 3-pointers. She has four 20-point games and 16 double-digit scoring games. Her 162 assists currently rank second in the Big 12, second nationally among freshmen and second in K-State history among freshmen. Only Shalee Lehning had more. Her 2.12 assist-to-turnover ratio ranks second in the Big 12 and second in the nation among freshmen as well.
Last week, Sundell had 16 points, three assists and two blocks against No. 11 Texas and 24 points with a career high-tying five 3-pointers to go along with seven assists and two steals against No. 20 Oklahoma last to earn Big 12 Freshman of the Week — an honor she also earned once in November, December and January.
It hasn't been too much for Sundell this season — sharing the weight of the Wildcats. She has blossomed into one of the finest freshmen point guards in school history. Even when she encounters her rare tough game, as was the case against the feisty Mountaineers.
Sundell has been good from the start. Her nine assists against Central Arkansas on November 9 marked the most in K-State history by a player in her first game.
Later in the month, Sundell scored a career-high 25 points on 9 of 11 shooting, including 5 of 7 on 3-pointers to go along with 5 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists against Abilene Christian. Her performance included a 14-point effort in the first quarter, including 4 3-pointers, which set the school record for first-quarter points and first-quarter 3-pointers.
In December, she recorded her first double-double with 16 points and 10 assists at South Dakota State.
In January, she had a career-high 11 assists against No. 9 Iowa State, the most assists by a K-State player in nearly three years. She had 21 points, five rebounds, nine assists and two steals in the Wildcats' 71-61 win at West Virginia on January 8.
She wrapped up February with impressive outings against No. 11 Texas and No. 20 Oklahoma.
Now March is here. The Wildcats finish out the regular season at TCU on Saturday and begin the Big 12 Championship next Thursday at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri.
Even in defeat on Wednesday during Senior Night, K-State fans cheered on Sundell and the Wildcats. And Sundell and her teammates fought until the end.
By the time Sundell reaches her Senior Night, who knows what she might accomplish.
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