MANHATTAN, KAN. (KStateSports.com) – K-State exorcised its road demons from last season with an emphatic 77-39 win over Little Rock on Saturday afternoon at Jack Stephens Center.
With its victory on Saturday, the Wildcats snapped an 11-game road losing streak dating back to the 2022 NCAA Tournament Second Round loss at NC State on March 21, 2022.
Senior center Ayoka Lee registered her 50th career double-double with game-highs of 32 points on 13-of-16 shooting and 10 rebounds and two blocks.
HOW IT HAPPENED
– K-State (2-0) used a 22-3 run in the second quarter to build a 30-point lead at halftime, 46-16. The Wildcats shot 55.9 percent (19-of-34) from the field including a 30-6 advantage in points in the paint.
– Ayoka Lee led the charge with 18 points on 8-of-9 shooting in the opening 20 minutes.
– Despite the third quarter turning into a free throw shooting contest, K-State increased its lead to 32 points, 66-34. Both teams reached the bonus with 6:48 to play in the third, as the Wildcats were 12-of-14 from the foul line while Little Rock was 7-of-9.
– K-State opened the fourth quarter with an 8-0 run to increase its advantage to 40, 74-34, with 6:15 remaining.
– For the afternoon, K-State shot 45.9 percent (28-of-61) from the field and held Little Rock to 25.5 percent (13-of-51).
– The Wildcats outrebounded the Trojans, 47-28, and held a 46-12 advantage in points in the paint.
QUICK FACTS
– K-State is 4-1 in the series against Little Rock. The Wildcats are 18-2 against current members of the Ohio Valley Conference.
– The Wildcats are 287-321 (.472) all-time in road games. K-State is 38-64 (.373) in road contests in the Jeff Mittie era.
– K-State is 5-0 in games played on Veteran’s Day.
TEAM NOTES
– K-State’s starting five consisted of guards: Jaelyn Glenn, Serena Sundell, Brylee Glenn, Gabby Gregory and center Ayoka Lee. This was the second time this starting five has been used this season. This was the 89th career start for Lee, the 80th collegiate career start and the 34th start at K-State for Gregory, the 71st career start for Sundell, the 67th career start for Jaelyn Glenn and the 61st career start for Brylee Glenn.
– The Wildcats held a 46-16 lead at halftime on Saturday. Under head coach Jeff Mittie, K-State is 131-17 (.885) when leading at halftime.
– Over the last 21 seasons, Kansas State is 130-3 (.977) when holding opponents to 49 points or less.
PLAYER NOTES
– With her double-double on Saturday, Lee became the second Wildcat in program history to achieve 50 or more double-doubles in a career with her 50th joining Kendra Wecker (2001-05; 52). This was Lee’s 25th career double-double with 20 or more points and 10 or more rebounds.
– With her 32 points on Saturday, Ayoka Lee moved into sixth on the K-State career points list with 1,707. This was Lee’s 81st career game with 10 or more points.
– With her 10 rebounds on Saturday afternoon, Ayoka Lee became the sixth player in K-State women’s basketball history with 900 or more career rebounds (904).
– Junior guard Serena Sundell handed out four assists. With her total on Saturday, Sundell moved into 10th on the K-State career assists list (370).
– Redshirt freshman Zyanna Walker carded her second career double figure scoring game with 10 points.
FROM THE HEAD COACH
K-State Head Coach Jeff Mittie
On the ball movement…
“We’re starting to get there. I think one of the things that we’ve continued to emphasize to them is good ball movement, keep moving the basketball, get your eyes to the rim on certain passes. Quick ball reversal because that’s going to be a problem for any defense to get their help to the post if you get quick ball reversal. Skip passes those things. So yeah, I think like I said, all of our players are starting to get that so yeah, I liked our ball movement most of the day.”
On the defense…
“I think pretty good. I thought our centers did a good job of rotating over. I thought that our guards were in the gap most of the day. I felt pretty good about it.”
On Taryn Sides running the offense…
“I think she’s doing good. I think that the growth of a young guard particularly a point guard, it just takes some time and you know, it’s good to see a shot go in because from that same point she’s been pressing a little bit but I think she’s doing an excellent job of finding the open player. So that’s another good sign.”
UP NEXT
The Wildcats complete its two-game road trip on Thursday night, as K-State visits (3/3) Iowa. Thursday’s game can be seen live on FS1 and can be heard on the K-State Sports Network, on the K-State Sports app and on kstatesports.com.
