(16/16) K-State Faces West Virginia in Big 12 Quarterfinals

GAME #31 | 2024 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Championship - Quarterfinals
West Virginia (24-6, 12-6 Big 12) vs. (16/16) Kansas State (24-6, 13-5)
Saturday, March 9, 2024 | 8 p.m. | T-Mobile Center | Kansas City, Missouri

TELEVISION
Big 12 Now on ESPN+
Play-by-Play: Brenda VanLengen
Analyst: Sheryl Swoopes

RADIO
K-State Sports Network
Flagship: Sunny 102.5 & 1350 KMAN
Online: kstatesports.com
Play-by-Play: Brian Smoller
Analyst: Kristin Waller

LIVE STATS
www.kstatesports.com

SERIES HISTORY vs. West Virginia
8-18
• West Virginia leads the series, 18-8, including a 2-1 mark in the Big 12 Championship.
• Head coach Jeff Mittie is 8-21 in his career against West Virginia.
• K-State won the only meeting in 2023-24, 73-64 in overtime, in Manhattan.

KANSAS CITY, Missouri - (16/16) K-State (24-6, 13-5 Big 12), the 3-seed, will face the 6-seed, West Virginia, in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Championship on Saturday at 8 p.m., at T-Mobile Center.

• With a win on Saturday, K-State will secure the 10th season in program history with 25 or more wins and the most since the 2008-09 season (25).
• The Wildcats have improved by five wins over its 2022-23 win total (19).
• Saturday's game can be seen on Big 12 Now on ESPN+, as Brenda VanLengen (play-by-play) and Sheryl Swoopes (analyst) will have the call.

Starting 5
Five names, numbers or storylines about K-State women's basketball
1. Wildcats in the Big 12 Championships
• K-State is 22-26 in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Championships and have advanced at least one round in 19 of the previous 26 championships.
2. Trio Earn All-Big 12 Honors
• Ayoka Lee (1st; Defense), Serena Sundell (1st) and Gabby Gregory (HM) collected All-Big 12 honors from the league's coaches. Lee joins Nicole Ohlde and Kendra Wecker as the only players in program history with four All-Big 12 selections.
3. K-State Approaching Blocks Record
• With five blocked shots, K-State will set the school single-season record for blocks. The current record for 170 was set in 2021-22.
4. Happy Helpers
• Sundell (160) and Gregory (104) have combined for 264 assists this season, which is fourth in school history for combined assists by two players in a season.
5. 20x5 From Long Range
• K-State has recorded the fourth season in program history with five or more Wildcats with 20 or more 3-point field goals made in a season (Gregory, Jaelyn Glenn, Sundell, Taryn Sides, Brylee Glenn). This is is the first time K-State has achieved this in consecutive seasons.

Number to Know
561
• K-State has dished out 561 assists (18.7 apg) this season, which ranks fourth in school history for a single season. The 561 assists are the most in the Jeff Mittie era.
• This marks the third straight season K-State has handed out 500 or more assists. This is the second time the Wildcats have registered 500 or more assists in three or more straight seasons and the first time since carding five straight seasons of 500 or more assists from 2001-06.
• K-State's 18.7 assists per game would rank second in school history for a single season.
• The Wildcats feature four players with 50 or more assists this season: Serena Sundell (160), Gabby Gregory (104), Taryn Sides (88) and Jaelyn Glenn (62).

At a Glance: West Virginia
• West Virginia (24-6, 12-6 Big 12) picked up a 70-55 win over Cincinnati in the second round of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship.
• On the sideline, West Virginia is led by first-year head coach Mark Kellogg. The 1998 graduate of Austin College owns a career record of 469-126 (.788).
• The Mountaineers are led on the floor by junior guard JJ Quinerly and sophomore guard Jordan Harrison.
• Quinerly, a product of Norfolk, Virginia, is averaging a team-high and career-best 19.4 points per game and 3.0 steals per game. Against Cincinnati, Quinerly led the Mountaineers with 18 points.
• Harrison, a guard from Oklahoma City, Okla., is averaging 13.8 points, a team-high 5.3 assists and is second on the team in rebounding with 4.1 per game. Against the Bearcats, Harrison tallied 14 points, three rebounds and three assists.

Last Time Out
(15/14) K-State 73, at Texas Tech 49 (March 2, 2024; Lubbock, Texas)
• K-State snapped a four-game road skid and clinched the 3-seed in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Championship with its win at Texas Tech.
• This was the largest margin of victory (24 points) for K-State since Jan. 3, against Houston (32 points).
• All nine players that saw action on Saturday scored. K-State featured four players in double figures and were led by Serena Sundell and Gabby Gregory with 13 points each. Ayoka Lee added 11 points and Jaelyn Glenn carded 10 points.

Wildcats Solid From the Arc
• The Wildcats have continued to spread the floor from long range after a record pace a season ago.
• This season, K-State is shooting 31.2 percent (199-of-637) from 3-point range. K-State's 199 made 3-pointers (6.6 per game) represents 27.4 percent of its point total.
• The Wildcats have made a season-high 11 three-pointers three times this season: vs. Wisconsin (Nov. 19), at Oklahoma (Jan. 31) and vs. Iowa State (Feb. 28).
• K-State has had seven different players register at least one game with three or more connections from long range this season (Gabby Gregory, 6x; Jaelyn Glenn, 4x; Gisela Sanchez, 2x; Taryn Sides, 2x; Brylee Glenn; Serena Sundell; Zyanna Walker).
• The 2023-24 Wildcats are the fourth team in program history to have five or more players make 20 or more 3-pointers in a season. When combined with the effort of the 2022-23 season, this marks the first time in program history K-State has recorded consecutive seasons with five or more players on the roster making 20 or more 3-pointers in a season.
• In the Jeff Mittie era, the Wildcats have made five or more 3-pointers in a game 228 times in 321 total games including 38 games with 10 or more connections (w-l: 32-6) from deep.
• In the 10 seasons under Mittie, K-State has buried 1,955 three-pointers which is 6.09 per game.
• K-State fired away from beyond the arc in 2022-23, as they tallied a 265-of-898 (.295) effort from long range.
• The Wildcats made 265 three-point field goals, surpassing the 250-mark for the third time in program history and the first time in the Mittie era. K-State's 265 three-point field goals made were the second-most in school history and the most since the 2012-13 season when K-State made a school record 325.

K-State Attacking the Paint
• With the return of 2022 All-American center Ayoka Lee, the Wildcats continue to find buckets in the paint.
• K-State has scored 1,128 points (37.6 ppg) in the paint through 30 games which is 51.7 percent of K-State's overall point total this season.
• The 1,128 points in the paint are the most scored in the lane in Jeff Mittie's 10 seasons in Manhattan. K-State has scored 1,000 or more points in the paint in four of Mittie's 10 seasons.
• The Wildcats recorded a season-high of 58 against McNeese State on Dec. 6, 2023. This was the most points in the paint since scoring 58 against Oklahoma on Jan. 23, 2022.
• The Wildcats have scored 30 or more points in the paint in 23 games this season. K-State has outscored its opponents in 24 games.

Sharing is Caring
• K-State continues to be an unselfish squad at the start of the 2023-24 season.
• The Wildcats have 561 assists (18.7 apg) and own an assist to turnover ratio of 1.38. K-State has tallied an assisted shot rate of 67.8.
• K-State is fourth in the Big 12 and 14th in the nation for assists per game and are third in the league and rank eighth in the nation for assisted shot rate. K-State also leads the Big 12 and ranks 13th in the nation for assist to turnover ratio.
• Since assists became an officially tracked stat in 1981-82, K-State has registered an assisted shot rate of 60.0 percent or higher at the end of a season 23 times in its history.
• Serena Sundell (160) and Gabby Gregory (104) have combined for 264 assists this season, which is fourth in school history for combined assists by two K-State players in a season.
• Against McNeese State, K-State dished out 29 assists on 40 made field goals. The 29 assists were the most since handing out 30 against Incarnate Word on Dec. 3, 2019.
• Over the last 16 years, the Wildcats are 91-8 (.919) when handing out 20 or more assists.

Wildcats' Defense Forges Identity
• K-State has continued to be a force on the defensive end during head coach Jeff Mittie's 10 seasons on the bench.
• In the 2023-24 season, K-State is holding opponents to 57.0 points per game and a field goal percentage of .356.
• The Wildcats lead the Big 12 and rank 29th in the nation for scoring defense, leads the Big 12 and are 13th in the nation for field goal percentage defense and are second in the Big 12 and 10th in the nation for 3-point field goal percentage defense (.261). According to HerHoopStats, K-State is sixth in the nation and second in the Big 12 in opponent points per 100 possessions (78.8).
• K-State's 57.0 points allowed would rank as the fourth-lowest in program history since the 1981-82 season. K-State's field goal percentage defense would rank second in program history since the 1981-82 season.
• Under Mittie, K-State is 126-15 (.894) when holding its foes to 60 points or less including a 46-3 (.939) record over the last three seasons and a 20-1 record this season. During K-State's 14-game winning streak this season, the Wildcats held 13 opponents to 60 or fewer points.
• The 21 games holding foes to 60 points or less this season are the most since the 2010-11 season (21; 18-3). In total, K-State owns eight seasons in its history of 21 or more games holding opponents to 60 points or less.
• In the season-opener, K-State held Presbyterian to 35 points. This marked the fewest points allowed by the Wildcats since holding UT Martin to 30 points on November 12, 2021.
• During the last 21 seasons, K-State is 136-3 (.978) when holding an opponent to 49 points or less including a 55-0 mark in the Mittie era. During Mittie's tenure K-State has held 18 opponents to 40 or fewer points.
• The Wildcats held Iowa on Nov. 16 to 58 points, 34 points below its 2023-24 season average and their fewest points since 2019.

Cats Send Back Shots Under Mittie
• During the Jeff Mittie era, K-State has dealt out rejection to its opponents and has maintained a high rate in the 2023-24 season.
• This season, K-State has registered 166 blocked shots (5.5 bpg) and lead the Big 12 and are 11th in the nation for blocks per game and tied for ninth for total blocks. Of the 13 active players on the roster, 11 have recorded at least one blocked shot.
• K-State has a blocked shot differential of +92 this season (166-74). Since blocks became official in 1982-83, K-State has 21 seasons with a positive blocked shot differential including a school record +73 (163-90) in the 2005-06 season.
• With five blocks, K-State will set the school record for blocked shots in a season. K-State's total this season stands as the second most in the Jeff Mittie era and the second-highest single-season total in program history.
• The Wildcats have four games with 10 or more blocks, with 12 against McNeese State on Dec. 6 and Oklahoma on Jan. 10, 11 blocks against Presbyterian on Nov. 6 and 10 against Oral Roberts on Dec. 18. The 12 blocks against McNeese State and Oklahoma are tied for the third-most for a single-game in program history. The 12 blocks against Oklahoma set the school record for blocked shots in a conference game.
• Under Mittie, K-State has blocked 10 or more shots in a game 16 times, including a school record of 14 at Tulsa on Nov. 13, 2015. K-State is 15-1 during the Mittie era when blocking 10 or more shots.
• During the Mittie era, Kansas State has sent back 1,515 shots for 4.72 per game in the 321 games. K-State has blocked 120 or more shots in each of Mittie's 10 seasons, the longest streak of 120 or more blocks in program history.
• The 1,515 blocks in the 10 seasons are the most in any 10-season span in program history.

Glenn Finds the Range
• Jaelyn Glenn continued to be a perimeter threat for K-State.
• This season, the product of Kansas City, Missouri, is shooting 41-of-120 (.342) from beyond the arc. She has 13 games with two or more connections from long range including a season-high three five times.
• In her career, Glenn is 154-of-454 (.339) from long range. She has 47 career games with two or more connections from 3-point range including five games with four or more.
• With 13 connections from long range, Glenn will move into 10th on the K-State career 3-point field goals made list.
• Glenn is the fourth player in school history with 150 or more 3-point field goals made and 175 or more career steals. (Claire Coggins, Kendra Wecker & Kindred Wesemann.).
• The guard from Kansas City, Missouri, shot 71-of-195 (.364) from 3-point range in the 2022-23 season. Her 71 three-point field goals made last season were a personal single-season high and tied for fourth-most in a sophomore season in program history.
• Glenn was one of 13 sophomores in the nation in the 2022-23 season with 70 or more connections from 3-point range, including one of four in a Power 5 conference.
• Last season, she had a career-best 23 games with two or more connections from long range, including a season-high four against Northern Arizona on Nov. 25, at Iowa State on Jan. 11 and at West Virginia on Feb. 25.
• Glenn was unique nationally, as she was the only player in NCAA Division I with 70 or more 3-point field goals made and 90 or more steals.

Sundell Approaching Top-25
• In addition to her distribution skills, guard Serena Sundell adds a scoring punch to the K-State lineup.
• During her career, Sundell has scored 1,210 points (12.2 ppg) and was the 45th player in school history to score 1,000 points in her career and currently ranks 26th on the K-State career scoring list. She has tallied double figures in 67 career games, including 15 career games with 20 or more points.
• This season, Sundell is second on the team in scoring with 11.9 points on a career-high .535 field goal percentage. She registered a personal season-high 22 points at UCF on Jan. 6 and has scored in double figures in 22 games, including three games with 20 or more. She scored in double figures in 13 straight games from Jan. 3 to Feb. 25. In Big 12 games, Sundell averaged 13.8 points per game on a .539 field goal percentage. She ranked 12th in the league in scoring and is fourth in the league in field goal percentage.
• During the 2022-23 season, Sundell was second on the team and 12th in the Big 12 in scoring with 13.9 points per game on a career-best .489 field goal percentage. In Big 12 games, she averaged 15.11 points and ranked eighth in the league.
• Sundell recorded a personal career-high 501 points last season. She was the seventh player in program history to score 500 or more points in their sophomore season. Her total ranked tied for sixth for a sophomore season at K-State.
• At Oklahoma on March 1, Sundell carded a career-high 33 points on 11-of-17 shooting. She joined Gabby Gregory as the only Wildcats last season with 30 or more points in a game.
• Against Kansas on Feb. 22, Sundell registered the most unique stat line in the nation. According to Stats Perform, Sundell was the only player last season, one of four since 1999-00 and the only player in the Big 12 since 1999-00 to record 24 points on 80 percent shooting and also registering seven assists, five rebounds, four steals and one block.

Lee Nears Career Boards Record
• Ayoka Lee has continued to own the glass in her K-State career and is moving closer to the top spot in program history.
• Lee ranks second in school history for career rebounds with 1,077 and was the second player in school history with 1,000 or more career rebounds.
• With 11 rebounds, Lee will surpass Kendra Wecker (2001-05; 1,087) for the school record for rebounds in a career.
• She owns the school record for career rebounding average and ranks fourth in Big 12 history at 9.8 rebounds per game.
• Among active NCAA Division I players, Lee ranks eighth in the nation for career rebounding average and 11th for total rebounds.
• She owns the school record for career games with 15 or more rebounds (8).
• This season, Lee leads the Wildcats with 8.3 rebounds per game and is sixth in the Big 12.
• In her last active season of 2021-22, Lee ranked second in the Big 12 and 31st in the nation with 10.3 rebounds per game. She ranked 17th in the nation in total rebounds (339). In Big 12-only games, Lee was second in the league in rebounding with 9.78 per game.
• With her 339 rebounds during the 2021-22 season, Lee set a new career single-season high and broke the school record for rebounds in a single-season.
• Lee was the eighth player in school history with three or more consecutive seasons with 200 or more rebounds and was the second player in program history (Peyton Williams) with two or more seasons with 300 or more rebounds.

(16/16) K-State Faces West Virginia in Big 12 Quarterfinals

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Players Mentioned

Brylee Glenn

Jaelyn Glenn

Gabby Gregory

Ayoka Lee

Gisela Sanchez

Taryn Sides

Serena Sundell

Zyanna Walker

Kansas State University Athletics