‘We Have a Lot of Basketball Left’
Feb 29, 2024 | Women's Basketball, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
It was a moment of raw tears on a milestone night of formality. It was two senior players moments after concluding their final home game together, wracked in an array of emotions. It was two competitors, once on other teams, joined together through their passion for basketball. It was Kansas State seniors Ayoka Lee and Gabby Gregory sitting together, the best of friends, sharing their feelings for one another moments after hoisting their commemorative framed basketball jerseys at midcourt on Senior Night.
"It's just been such a joy having Gabby here," Lee said, pausing to collect herself. "Just the energy she brings is what we needed as a team. I've never had a teammate like her. I'm just grateful to have played with her."
Lee entered the night as just the third player in Big 12 Conference history to reach 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 250 blocks in a career. She either owns school records or ranks in the top-5 in at least a dozen statistical categories. She will forever be remembered for scoring a Division I women's basketball record 61 points against Oklahoma on January 23, 2022.
Lee will forever be linked to Rebekah Dallinger and Gregory as one of the most memorable senior classes to come through Manhattan in many years.
"I've said it hundreds of times, but I came to Kansas State to play with her," Gregory said, sniffling. "She was one of the main reasons I chose to come to K-State because I wanted to play with Ayoka Lee."
Gregory's journey has been well chronicled. The native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, played basketball at Oklahoma before coming to K-State last season. She actually played for Oklahoma when Lee went for 61 points against the Sooners in 2022. When Gregory transferred to K-State, it was determined that Lee would miss last season while recovering from knee surgery. So, they had to wait until this year to demonstrate their competitive prowess together on the basketball court. Gregory became the first player to transfer to K-State and then reach the 1,000- and 1,500-point marks in her collegiate career. She is also the founder of the heralded Gap Goat.
"Even though I've only gotten to play with her for one season, it's exceeded my expectations," Gregory said. "Obviously, before I came here, I knew the incredible basketball player she was, and I watched her from the bench of another team score 61 points, just incredible things. I knew how good of a basketball player she was, but I had no idea the incredible person she was until I came here.
"I just feel so lucky that I was able to come to K-State and have (her be) one of my best friends. She's turned into just such an incredible teammate and friend, and she'll be one of my best friends for life. I'm so thankful."
Lee and Gregory's words came after No. 15 K-State came up just short in an 82-76 loss to Iowa State. The Wildcats wrap-up the regular season when they travel to Texas Tech at 2 p.m. Saturday.
K-State head coach Jeff Mittie called seniors Lee, Gregory and Dallinger "as good as I've coached."
"They come in every day, they work, they're good teammates, they're quality people on campus, and the community loves them," he said.
K-State fans have adored them as well, as evidenced by fan attendance at home women's basketball games this season. K-State entered Wednesday's home finale ranked 24th in the nation and fifth in the Big 12 for total attendance (73,878). K-State also entered 25th in the nation and fifth in the Big 12 in average attendance (4,925).
"Fans have been fantastic all year," Mittie said. "Another solid crowd tonight. I appreciate that for the seniors. I've really been impressed with the energy that's been in the building from the students and season ticket holders, all the above.
"I think we have to give our team credit for creating that enthusiasm. We got all the way to No. 2, and it's tough to go all the way to No. 2 and drop and not play as well now, but we've done an awful lot of good things. So, we can get this magic back, we can make tougher plays, and Yokie said it best, we feel like we have a lot of basketball left."
After concluding the regular season, the Wildcats will focus on the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City, Missouri. The NCAA Tournament Section Show special is Sunday, March 17 at 7 p.m. on ESPN.
Senior Night proved understandably emotional, a mile marker along the path for any student-athlete. But there could be several more tomorrows for Lee, Gregory, Dallinger, and the Wildcats.
"We just have to take our motivation to the next level here these next few weeks and just get it done," Gregory said. "This one hurts, and we should use that as motivation to push us through these next few weeks."
It was a moment of raw tears on a milestone night of formality. It was two senior players moments after concluding their final home game together, wracked in an array of emotions. It was two competitors, once on other teams, joined together through their passion for basketball. It was Kansas State seniors Ayoka Lee and Gabby Gregory sitting together, the best of friends, sharing their feelings for one another moments after hoisting their commemorative framed basketball jerseys at midcourt on Senior Night.
"It's just been such a joy having Gabby here," Lee said, pausing to collect herself. "Just the energy she brings is what we needed as a team. I've never had a teammate like her. I'm just grateful to have played with her."
Lee entered the night as just the third player in Big 12 Conference history to reach 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 250 blocks in a career. She either owns school records or ranks in the top-5 in at least a dozen statistical categories. She will forever be remembered for scoring a Division I women's basketball record 61 points against Oklahoma on January 23, 2022.
Lee will forever be linked to Rebekah Dallinger and Gregory as one of the most memorable senior classes to come through Manhattan in many years.
"I've said it hundreds of times, but I came to Kansas State to play with her," Gregory said, sniffling. "She was one of the main reasons I chose to come to K-State because I wanted to play with Ayoka Lee."
Gregory's journey has been well chronicled. The native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, played basketball at Oklahoma before coming to K-State last season. She actually played for Oklahoma when Lee went for 61 points against the Sooners in 2022. When Gregory transferred to K-State, it was determined that Lee would miss last season while recovering from knee surgery. So, they had to wait until this year to demonstrate their competitive prowess together on the basketball court. Gregory became the first player to transfer to K-State and then reach the 1,000- and 1,500-point marks in her collegiate career. She is also the founder of the heralded Gap Goat.
"Even though I've only gotten to play with her for one season, it's exceeded my expectations," Gregory said. "Obviously, before I came here, I knew the incredible basketball player she was, and I watched her from the bench of another team score 61 points, just incredible things. I knew how good of a basketball player she was, but I had no idea the incredible person she was until I came here.
"I just feel so lucky that I was able to come to K-State and have (her be) one of my best friends. She's turned into just such an incredible teammate and friend, and she'll be one of my best friends for life. I'm so thankful."
Lee and Gregory's words came after No. 15 K-State came up just short in an 82-76 loss to Iowa State. The Wildcats wrap-up the regular season when they travel to Texas Tech at 2 p.m. Saturday.
K-State head coach Jeff Mittie called seniors Lee, Gregory and Dallinger "as good as I've coached."
"They come in every day, they work, they're good teammates, they're quality people on campus, and the community loves them," he said.
K-State fans have adored them as well, as evidenced by fan attendance at home women's basketball games this season. K-State entered Wednesday's home finale ranked 24th in the nation and fifth in the Big 12 for total attendance (73,878). K-State also entered 25th in the nation and fifth in the Big 12 in average attendance (4,925).
"Fans have been fantastic all year," Mittie said. "Another solid crowd tonight. I appreciate that for the seniors. I've really been impressed with the energy that's been in the building from the students and season ticket holders, all the above.
"I think we have to give our team credit for creating that enthusiasm. We got all the way to No. 2, and it's tough to go all the way to No. 2 and drop and not play as well now, but we've done an awful lot of good things. So, we can get this magic back, we can make tougher plays, and Yokie said it best, we feel like we have a lot of basketball left."
After concluding the regular season, the Wildcats will focus on the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City, Missouri. The NCAA Tournament Section Show special is Sunday, March 17 at 7 p.m. on ESPN.
Senior Night proved understandably emotional, a mile marker along the path for any student-athlete. But there could be several more tomorrows for Lee, Gregory, Dallinger, and the Wildcats.
"We just have to take our motivation to the next level here these next few weeks and just get it done," Gregory said. "This one hurts, and we should use that as motivation to push us through these next few weeks."
Players Mentioned
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