MANHATTAN, Kan. (KStateSports.com) – (13/12) K-State collected its seventh straight home win by downing Eastern Illinois, 90-43, but the highlight of Tuesday’s night game came in the third quarter as Ayoka Lee broke K-State’s career scoring record.
Lee registered 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting, making her final seven shots of the night including the record-setting layup with 6:59 to play in the third quarter.
With the career scoring record of 2,336 points, Lee becomes the fifth player since 1980 to hold the K-State career scoring record, surpassing Kendra Wecker (2001-05; 2,333 points) who held the mark for 19 years. Lee now ranks 10th in career scoring for Big 12 history.
Lee’s journey to the K-State scoring record began on November 8, 2019, against Omaha, as she registered her first career point on a free throw with 8:27 to play in the first quarter and finished her debut with 11 points.
In addition to setting the school record for career points, Lee also holds the school career mark for scoring average (19.1 ppg), most career games with 40 or more points (2), most career games with 30 or more points (14), most points scored in a junior season (727) and the NCAA Division I, Big 12 and school records for points in a single game (61).
Sophomore Zyanna Walker, who assisted on the record-setting basket, finished the night with her first career double-double by notching a game-high 16 points and 10 assists. She also added four steals and two blocks.
Senior Jaelyn Glenn was the third starter in double figures by adding 11 points, which included 3-of-4 from long range and also hauled in six rebounds and three steals.
Sophomore Taryn Sides (12 points) and senior Kennedy Taylor (11 points) paced a K-State bench that tallied 36 points. Taylor added seven rebounds, while Sides collected four.
HOW IT HAPPENED
– K-State (8-1) used a 15-3 run midway through the second quarter to build a 35-11 advantage. The run was highlighted by five points from Glenn.
– The Wildcats would hold a 41-19 lead at halftime, as Temira Poindexter made a driving baseline layup before the halftime buzzer. Poindexter would finish the night with eight points.
– Eastern Illinois (2-5) was held to 28.6 percent (8-of-28) shooting in the first half, while the Wildcats shot 57.1 percent (16-of-28), including 57.1 percent (4-of-7) from 3-point range.
– The record-breaking layup from Lee came with 6:59 remaining in the third quarter brought the crowd and the K-State bench to its feet. The layup was part of a 17-0 run by the Wildcats to open the third stanza and build a 58-19 lead with 3:10 to play.
– Defensively, K-State held the Panthers without a point until the 2:58 mark of the third quarter. The Wildcats would win the frame, 24-8, and hold Eastern Illinois to 19.0 percent (4-of-21) shooting in the third on the way to a 65-27 advantage.
– K-State would win the fourth quarter, 25-16, on 55.6 percent (10-of-18) shooting including 50.0 percent (4-of-8) from long range.
– The Wildcats shot 54.5 percent (36-of-66) from the field, including 55.0 percent (11-of-20) from long range. Kansas State handed out 27 assists on its 36 made field goals, which is the seventh time this season the Wildcats have dished out 20 or more assists.
– K-State held Eastern Illinois to 28.1 percent (18-of-64), including 16.7 percent (2-of-12) from long range.
QUICK FACTS
– K-State leads the series with Eastern Illinois, 2-0. The Wildcats are 20-2 against current members of the Ohio Valley Conference.
– K-State is 403-156 (.721) in its 37-season history inside Bramlage Coliseum. The Wildcats own a 236-30 (.887) record against non-conference opponents inside Bramlage.
– K-State head coach Jeff Mittie owns a career record of 652-371 (.637). During his time in Manhattan, Mittie has collected a mark of 198-136 (.593). Mittie is 407-113 (.783) in games played in his home venue, including a 133-48 (.735) mark in Bramlage Coliseum.
– K-State owns a record of 256-96 (.727) as an AP ranked team. K-State is 18-3 (.857) all-time when ranked 13th in the nation.
– The Wildcats are 246-103 (.705) in games played in the month of December, including an active nine-game winning streak dating back to the start of December 2023. Under Mittie, K-State is 45-18 (.714) in games during the 12th month.
TEAM NOTES
– K-State’s starting five consisted of guards: Zyanna Walker, Jaelyn Glenn and Serena Sundell; forward Temira Poindexter and center Ayoka Lee. This was the eighth time this lineup has started together this season. This was the 122nd career start for Lee, the 112th career start for Sundell, the 108th career start for Jaelyn Glenn, the 96th career collegiate start and ninth at K-State for Poindexter and the ninth career start for Walker. With her 122nd career start at K-State, Lee remains in eighth in program history for career starts.
– K-State improves to 60-0 in the Jeff Mittie era when holding an opponent to 49 points or less. During the last four seasons, K-State is 52-3 (.945) when holding foes to 60 points or less.
– The Wildcats held a 41-19 lead at halftime on Tuesday. Under Mittie, K-State is 158-19 (.893) when leading at halftime. The Wildcats have led at the half in eight games this season (8-0).
– K-State has scored 20-or more points in a quarter 22 times this season, including all four quarters on Tuesday. Since the start of the quarter-system in 2015-16, the Wildcats are 140-62 (.693) when scoring 20 or more points in any quarter of a game.
– K-State shot 50.0 percent or better in a quarter in all four quarters. The Wildcats have 21 quarters this season of 50.0 percent or better shooting.
– Over the last four seasons, K-State is 50-3 (.943) when holding the advantage on the glass.
– K-State improved to 99-8 (.925) when handing out 20 or more assists in a game. The Wildcats have dished out 20 or more assists in seven games this season (7-0).
PLAYER NOTES
– Lee tallied her 112th career game with 10 or more points. Lee has scored in every game of her career (122 games).
– Lee hauled in three rebounds on Tuesday. Lee’s career total for rebounds stands at 1,166, improving upon her own school record for career rebounds. Lee is seventh in Big 12 history for career rebounds.
– Walker recorded her 16th career game, all at K-State, and her fifth this season with 10 or more points.
– Walker tallied four steals on Tuesday. This was her fourth career game with four or more steals and her 15th career game with two or more steals.
– With her 11 points on Tuesday, Glenn improved her career total to 942 points. She needs 58 points to become the 46th player in program history to score 1,000 or more career points at K-State. This was her 44th career game with 10 or more points and her fifth this season.
– Glenn hauled in six rebounds on Tuesday. This was her 49th career game with five or more rebounds and her sixth this season. Glenn boosted her career rebounding total to 513 with is tied for 30th on the K-State career rebounds list (Margo Jones; 1975-78; 513).
– Glenn recorded three steals on Tuesday. With her three steals on Tuesday, Glenn boosted her career total to 219 and is tied for seventh in school history for career steals with Brit Jacobson (1994-98; 219). This was her 63rd career game with two or more steals.
– Glenn dished out three assists on Tuesday. Her career assists total stands at 240 and ranks tied for 22nd in school history with Chelsea Domenico (2001-05; 240) for career assists.
– Sundell’s eight assists on Tuesday improved her career total to 602 and became the second player in program history with 600 or more career assists (Shalee Lehning, 800; 2005-09). This was her 71st career game with five or more assists.
– Sides reached double figures for points for the fifth time in the last six games and for the eighth time in her career.
– Sides connected on four 3-point field goals on Tuesday. This marks her 15th career game with two or more connections from long range. This was her second career game with four or more connections from distance.
– Taylor notched her fifth game this season and the 48th of her career with 10 or more points.
– Taylor recorded her seventh game this season and the 60th of her career with five or more rebounds.
FROM THE HEAD COACH
K-State Head Coach Jeff Mittie
On the passing of former K-State Football Coach Dana Dimel…
“The day started with a phone call bringing the sad news of Dana Dimel’s passing. I just want to say that when Dana was here, he was a good friend. I got to know him about 20 years ago when he was coaching at Houston and I was in Conference USA. We had mutual friends and he coached with my brother-in-law, Brad Seib, when Brad was here. Over the years, even when I wasn’t at Kansas State, Dana was someone we often talked about. This morning, when Brad called me with the news, it was heartbreaking. Dana was too young, and it’s a loss that came far too soon. My prayers go out to his family. Dana was a man with a great passion for young people, coaching and the community in Manhattan. It was a rough start to the day, but as life goes, we still find moments to celebrate something good tonight.”
On Ayoka Lee’s growth since her first game…
“One of the things that has made her such a great player is you really don’t have to tell her too many things twice. So I haven’t had that conversation with her very often, although there are games where you know you have to, as a coach say, ‘hey you’re not getting the position that you need to in this game.’ Ayoka had a tremendous ability to take coaching. She’s had a terrific ability of being able to adjust when needed.”
On Ayoka Lee’s legacy with other K-State legends…
“We should appreciate what all these athletes have done in their era, because the game’s different. The game’s changed. Kendra Wecker, in my book, is the greatest athlete to come through here and so they’re both terrific players. I think there’s the assumption, because [Ayoka] Lee’s been here the extra year, that she’s had so many more games, and that just isn’t factual. We lost games during COVID and she certainly lost games with injuries. So for her to do it in 122 games, a very similar number as Wecker, is just a tribute to both of them, how great of players they are and both are K State legends and Ayoka still has some ways to go here, but certainly it was a special night to get it done and glad to get it done.”
On figuring out the game plan knowing that Lee was close to breaking the scoring record…
“I think with the extra games this week, we wanted to manage minutes carefully. I wanted to get it done tonight and at home, especially during this stretch of home games. You just never know what will happen, and as we’ve seen, you have to seize the opportunity to get the record when you can. The game plan itself wasn’t much different, except for emphasizing that we needed to pound the ball inside, which, to be honest, is always part of our approach. I didn’t like our movement in the first half. I didn’t feel like we understood why we were moving the ball, where it needed to go, or to who. As the game progressed, we improved. We actually took yesterday off, which is unusual for us the day before a game. But considering the stretch of games we have and coming off the Vegas trip, it made the most sense. I do think that break had a bit to do with our lack of timing in the first half.
On what he will tell people when they ask about coaching Ayoka Lee…
“When you ask me that question, the first thing that comes to mind is just what an incredible person she is. We often hear phrases like ‘a better person than player,’ but in her case, my highest compliment would be that she’d have to be an extraordinary person to surpass the kind of player she is—because she’s phenomenal at both. Coaching her has been a joy, but it hasn’t always been easy. When you have an athlete go through so much, like injuries and COVID and the emotional and physical toll that comes with persevering through those challenges, it’s hard, not just for the athlete but also for the coach. We’ve had tough moments together, after surgeries, during rehab and in those moments of uncertainty. Watching an athlete go through that is never easy, it hasn’t been a fairy tale without adversity. This has been a story of resilience and overcoming obstacles. Social media highlighted her journey with ‘The Comeback,’ showcasing the hours she spent alone in the weight room, grinding through the agonizing process of recovery. Those are the moments that make her story one of the most meaningful I’ll ever be able to share as a coach and I’m grateful to be able to tell it. But it won’t be as simple as ‘boy it was [so] great,’ it was hard. Hard for her and hard for me, as we navigated those difficult times together. But that only deepens the appreciation for what she’s achieved. And I know that she, like she always is, is grateful for every part of the journey. I’m happy for her and happy for our program.”
FROM THE FLOOR
K-State Graduate Student Center Ayoka Lee
On breaking the Kansas State all-time scoring record…
“It’s crazy, I am so grateful. It takes a lot of games, it takes a lot of passes, it takes a lot of everything, you know, to get to that point. It’s crazy.”
On if she knew the shot was for the record…
“During halftime Zy [Zyanna Walker] said ‘we’re breaking that record.’ It was a great reflection of how I cannot do it on my own. None of the records I have I can do on my own. Everybody was pretty locked in.”
On what Head Coach Jeff Mittie told her after her record breaking shot…
“He said congrats and that he’s proud.”
On how it feels to be in the same conversation as other K-State legends…
“It’s crazy, I have so much respect for them and the trail they blazed. K-State wouldn’t have such a rich history without players like that, so it’s really cool. I also remember Nicole Ohlde telling a story about how, when she was playing, there would be lines of fans outside waiting to get into the game. I think it was during my sophomore or redshirt year when she told that story and I remember thinking, ‘Dang, I want us to get back to that.’ I wanted K-State to reach that level again. And I think we have, I think we’ve been able to build a program that’s worthy of that kind of support, one that fans are excited to come and watch. So, yeah, it’s really cool.”
On if breaking the record played into her decision to return for her 5th season…
“No, it really wasn’t something I was focused on. But I remember talking to [PA Announcer] Mitch [Fortner] and he asked me about it. He said, ‘if I were you, that’s something I’d want to go after.’ So, it wasn’t [initially], but it’s definitely a great accomplishment.”
On what younger Ayoka Lee would say about breaking the K-State all-time scoring record…
“Probably, like, no way. How? What? There’s no way. I would be in a little bit of shock.”
On breaking the record with Serena Sundell…
“Just so cool. I remember the first phone call I ever had with Serena [Sundell]. Right when COVID hit, and Staci [Gregorio Foss] being like, can you please talk to this recruit from Missouri? So it’s just been so cool to watch her, grow and see everything she’s accomplished. She’s also very humble and doesn’t give herself enough credit for everything she does and her ability to make things happen. It is not easy to be a point guard. It’s really special. My first couple years, we didn’t have a true point guard after Kayla Goth graduated, so for her to come in and just fill that role so well, was a game changer. Such a big game changer.”
On the postgame water dunking in the locker room…
“They got me so good. I came into the locker room, and they were all acting nonchalant. I even looked in the fridge and thought, ‘Oh, it looks like a lot of water bottles are gone,’ but I couldn’t tell for sure. I started looking at their hands, and in the lockers, thinking, ‘Okay, no one has anything, I’m good.’ Meanwhile, there was a whole cooler right behind me, and I had no idea. Yeah, they got me really good.”
K-State Senior Guard Serena Sundell
On moving into second in assists in K-State history…
“It’s just so fun playing on the court with Yokie [Ayoka Lee], she makes my job so easy. Sometimes it feels like I’m just throwing up a prayer, but her hands are so good, and her touch on the ball is amazing. I mean, you all see it, it’s very rare. And then there’s the way she goes about it, with so much joy. She’s so humble and works incredibly hard. But if you talked to her on the street, basketball probably wouldn’t even come up unless you brought it up. She has so many other things going for her. For her to achieve this record is just incredible.”
On how Lee acts about her records when she isn’t in press conferences…
“Literally the same thing. When she came back, that was her very honest answer. She doesn’t want to come back to break the all-time scoring record, but she’s going to do that. She said, ‘I want to win a Big 12 championship.’ She just wants to win, that’s the best part about her. She just wants to compete, she wants to win. She wants to bring everyone around her up, and she does it so well. Like, just the standard of our program, from the time I’ve been here to now it has been raised and it’s the little things that Ayoka [Lee] is gonna be on you about and she just gives it so well. She knows how to lead. And then she can also take criticism too. There’s just a level of respect that she has for us that is very easy to listen to and makes you just get better, to win games and do what we want to do.”
On if breaking the record was an emphasis in the game plan…
“I think we were all very aware of it going into the game and at the beginning, I think we were trying just a little too hard. Coach Mittie didn’t say it directly, but he was like, ‘we need to get the ball moving.’ He told me during shootaround today that we were going to get the record by going inside. So that’s why we were all, like, forcing it to her. But then he said, ‘Don’t force it, but we’re getting the record tonight."”
On how she felt after Lee broke the scoring record…
“I got emotional during the game. It was the same feeling I had when she scored 61 points, you just get chills. You feel so happy for that person because we’ve grown very close. We see each other all the time; we’re always together. She’s one of my very dear friends and to see her succeed and achieve this record, it’s incredible. To be even a small part of it, I just feel so fortunate to have played with her over the last four years.”
On the video that played after Lee broke the scoring record…
“[I recorded it] at the beginning of the week, before the last game. We assumed she’d get [the scoring record] either then or today, so it’s been on our minds. But yeah, I thought there were going to be more people involved in the video. I’m sure they have a longer one too, but when I saw it was just me and Nicole [Ohlde], I was like, ‘What the heck?’ Then Coach Mittie came into the huddle and was like, ‘all right, all right. Very good, very cute. Let’s focus.’ It was so emotional, but yeah, good times.”
On if she got the video correct on the first try…
“Pretty much, I just spoke from the heart. No script, it’s pretty easy to talk about her.”
UP NEXT
K-State closes out its three-game homestand on Thursday at 6:30 p.m., against USC Upstate. For tickets, visit kstatesports.com/tickets.
