K-State Breaks Big 12 Three-Point Record in First Round Win

Wednesday, March 4

Kansas City, Mo.

11 a.m.

Kansas State University

16-16,8-10Big 12

Cincinnati

11-20,6-12Big 12

Cincinnati

Kansas St.

Photo by: K-State Photo

K-State Breaks Big 12 Three-Point Record in First Round Win

Mar 04, 2026 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (pdf)K-State Postgame Quotes Cincinnati Postgame Quotes Photo Gallery

KANSAS CITY, Missouri – K-State went wild from long range against Cincinnati on Wednesday in the first round of the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Tournament, as the Wildcats buried 17 three-pointers in a 91-66 win at T-Mobile Center.

K-State (16-16) set the Big 12 Tournament single game record and school record for a Big 12 Tournament game with 17 three-point field goals made. The Wildcats shot 53.1 percent (17-of-32) from long range. This was the highest 3-point field goal percentage by K-State in a Big 12 Tournament game since March 10, 2004, when the Wildcats shot 56.3 percent (9-of-16).

The 17 three-pointers tied the school record for 3-pointers made in any game, as the Wildcats made 17 against Columbia on November 27, 2025 in Cancun, Mexico.

For the first time in program history, K-State had three players make five or more 3-pointers in a game as Jordan Speiser (6-of-8), Nastja Claessens (5-of-7) and Taryn Sides (5-of-11) achieved the feat. Speiser and Claessens each made a career-high, while Sides tallied her fourth game this season with five or more 3-point field goals made.

Speiser tied the school record for 3-point field goals made in a Big 12 Tournament game, joining Laurie Koehn who made six against Baylor on March 12, 2003.

Since 1999-00, K-State is the 11^th team in the nation and the first Big 12 team to have three or more players make five or more 3-pointers in the same game.

Speiser and Sides each carded 20 points, while Claessens added 18 points and eight rebounds. Sides added five rebounds, five assists and two steals to her final line. Freshman guard Gina Garcia tied her career-high with 10 assists, while freshman guard Brandie Harrod added nine points, seven rebounds, four steals and two blocks.

Cincinnati (11-20) was led by 2026 All-Big 12 Third Team selection Mya Perry with 23 points.

HOW IT HAPPENED
- Sides sparked K-State in the first quarter, scoring 11 of the first 14 points. The Wildcats would end the opening stanza on a 14-2 run to build a 25-14 advantage. As part of its 25 first quarter points, K-State tallied 15 from long distance, including three from Sides.
- The 25 first quarter points were the second-highest for a first quarter by K-State in a Big 12 Tournament game.
- The Bearcats sliced the K-State lead to six, 27-21, with 5:24 to play in the second. The Wildcats responded with a 10-2 run over the next minute and a half to push its lead to 13, 37-24, with 3:41 remaining in the second quarter. Aniya Foy buried a corner 3-poiner to cap the run and force Cincinnati into calling a timeout.
- K-State would end the opening half with a 40-29 lead. The Wildcats were bolstered by a 53.3 percent (8-of-15) effort from beyond the arc in the first half.
- The Wildcats opened the third quarter with a 7-0 run to build a 47-29 advantage with 7:29 left. Sides buried her fourth 3-pointer of the game to begin the run, while Brandie Harrod and Gina Garcia added layups.
- Beginning at 4:12 of the third, Speiser buried three of K-State next four 3-pointers as part of a 12-2 run to push its lead to 62-38 with 2:43 remaining in the third.
- Claessens would connect on her fifth 3-pointer of the game with 1:28 remaining in the third quarter. This three-pointer set the Big 12 Tournament record for 3-pointers made in a game.
- K-State would win the third quarter, 27-13, and hold a 67-42 lead entering the fourth quarter. The 27 points were the second-highest for a third quarter by K-State in a Big 12 Tournament game.
- The Wildcats kept the Bearcats at arm's length for the entirety of the fourth quarter, as the two teams split the final frame, 24-24.
- K-State shot 61.3 percent (19-of-31) from the field in the second half, including 52.9 percent (9-of-17) from long distance. For the game, the Wildcats shot 50.8 percent (33-of-65) with 56 percent of its points coming from beyond the arc.

QUICK FACTS
- K-State leads the series with Cincinnati, 5-0. Head coach Jeff Mittie is 9-1 in his career against Cincinnati. This was the first meeting between the schools in the Big 12 Tournament.
- K-State head coach Jeff Mittie owns a career record of 688-394 (.636), including a mark of 234-159 (.595).
- The Wildcats are 25-28 in its history in Big 12 Women's Basketball Championship games. K-State has now advanced at least one round at the Big 12 Tournament in 22 of the 29 tournaments. The Wildcats are 16-16 in its history in Big 12 Women's Basketball Tournament games played in Kansas City.
- The Wildcats are 145-110 (.569) in games played in the month of March. Under head coach Jeff Mittie, K-State is 28-26 (.519) in games during the third month.

TEAM NOTES
- K-State's starting five consisted of guards Gina Garcia, Brandie Harrod, Tess Heal, and Taryn Sides and forward Nastja Claessens. This was the ninth time this lineup has started together this season. This is the second-most used starting lineup for K-State this season. This was the 31^st career start for Sides. This was the 30^th career start for Garcia. Heal made her 19^th start this season and her 93^rd career start. Claessens made her 28^th career start. This was Harrod's 28^th career start.
- The Wildcats held a 40-29 lead at halftime on Wednesday. Under Mittie, K-State is 186-23 (.890) when leading at halftime, including a 10-2 mark this season.
- K-State's 91 points set the school record for points in a Big 12 Tournament game.
- K-State's 51 points in the second half marked the second time in program history in which the Wildcats scored 50 or more points in a half in the Big 12 Tournament and trails the record of 52 against Texas Tech on March 9, 2023.
- Since the start of the quarter-system in women's college basketball in the 2015-16 season, K-State is 174-75 (.699) when scoring 20 or more points in any quarter in a game, including a 14-10 mark this season. The Wildcats have 44 quarters this season with 20 or more points scored.
- This season, K-State owns 44 quarters with an effort of 50.0 percent or better shooting from the field, including the first (53.8), third (58.8) and fourth (64.3) quarters on Wednesday.
- With its 17 made three-pointers on Wednesday, K-State has made 10 or more 3-pointers in nine games this season (6-3). Since the 2014-15 season, K-State has made 10 or more 3-pointers in a game 60 times (51-9).
- K-State pocketed 11 steals on Wednesday. This was the 19^th time this season K-State has carded 10 or more steals. For the season, the Wildcats have recorded 312 steals, which is the second straight season K-State has tallied 300 or more steals in a season and the fourth time under head coach Jeff Mittie.

PLAYER NOTES
- Sides tallied 10 or more points for the 36^th time in her career and 18^th time this season.
- Sides connected on five 3-point field goals. This was her 14^th career game with four or more 3-point field goals made. This was her 20^th game this season and the 51^st of her career with two or more connections from long range. Sides remains in 10^th on the K-State career 3-point field goals list with 182 in her career.
- Sides hauled in five rebounds. This was her 28^th career game with five or more rebounds.
- With her five assists, Sides remains in 16^th on the K-State career assists list with 313. With her five assists on Wednesday, She moved into eighth for assists in a junior season at K-State with 123.
- Sides tied the school record for career games with five or more made 3-pointers and five or more assists, joining Brittany Chambers (2009-13).
- Sides pocketed two steals. This was 29^th career game, including her 17^th this season, with two or more steals.
- Speiser carded her 17^th game this season with double digits in points.
- Speiser made a career-high six 3-pointers on Wednesday. This was her 17^th game this season with two or more connections from long distance, including five games with four connections.
- Speiser pocketed two steals. This was her ninth game this season with two or more steals.
- Claessens reached double figures for the 17^th time this season.
- Claessens carded a career-high five 3-point field goals made. This marked her third game this season with four or more 3-point field goals made and her seventh game this season with two or more connections from long range.
- This was the eighth game this season in which Claessens shot 60.0 percent or better from the field and made at least one 3-point field goal.
- Claessens pulled in five or more rebounds for the 12^th time this season.
- Garcia tied her career-high with 10 assists. She moved into third in program history for assists in a freshman season with 161. Garcia owns the school record for assists in a season by an international player. This was her 17^th game this season with five or more assists, including her second game with 10 or more assists.
- Tess Heal scored nine points on Wednesday. Heal's collegiate career point total now stands at 1,786 points.
- Brandie Harrod hauled in five or more rebounds for the 17^th time this season. She carded four offensive rebounds and is the third freshman in program history with 70 or more offensive rebounds in their debut season (72).
- Harrod pocketed four steals. This was her fourth career game with four or more steals and her eighth career game with two or more.
- Harrod blocked two shots on Wednesday. This was her third career game with two or more blocks.

UP NEXT
K-State will face fifth-seed (21/21) Texas Tech on Thursday in the second round of the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament in T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

The game will air on ESPN+ and can be heard online at kstatesports.com, on the K-State Sports app and the flagship stations of K-State women's basketball in Manhattan, Sunny 102.5 and 1350 KMAN.

How to follow the Cats: For complete information on K-State Women's Basketball, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram.