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No. 13 K-State records the largest margin of victory in school history in a blowout over the USC-Upstate Spartans. The Wildcats dominated another home non-con game, improving to 9-1 on the season. This size of margin of victory is almost unheard of, the Cats won by 86, 110-24. After last night's matchup, K-State is outscoring opponents 730-364.
The blowout win led to a full stat sheet for the Cats. On a night when Ayoka Lee got a rest day, Serena Sundell recorded the first triple-double in 15 years for K-State WBB. Tayrn Sides broke her career scoring high, thanks to knocking down seven from behind the arc. Another showing of stout K-State defense led to 32 forced turnovers and held the Spartans to just 21 percent from the field, scoring only two in two different quarters.
Wildcat Warm-Up
Opponent Matchup
USC-Upstate came into Bramlage with a knowing tall task. The Spartans (2-9) are led by Rebekah Gordon. Gordon finds herself averaging 10.1 points per game and 9.6 rebounds per game, just under a double-double.
Tip-Off to Buzzer
Quarter Breakdowns
First Quarter-
The Wildcats opened the game on a 25-0 run over the Spartans. K-State shot 10 for 19 in the quarter, knocking down three shots from the arc. The Spartans could not find any sort of life against the K-State defense, making only one shot in the quarter and turning the ball over eight times. Temira Poindexter led the way with nine, while Sundell had seven with five rebounds to lead 27-2 after 10 minutes.
Second Quarter-
K-State continued their dominance in the game, forcing six more turnovers in the second quarter. The Spartans found the bottom of the net a little better in this quarter, scoring 11, but the top 15 Wildcat squad was just too much. Scoring 23 in the quarter, and seeing Sides knock down two three-balls. Sundell assisted five times in the quarter to bring her total to seven at the half. The Cats lead 50-13 after quarters one and two.
Third Quarter-
Even though leading by 37 at the half, K-State did not let up. The Cats again held the Spartan offense down, allowing only two made shots and forcing eight more turnovers. K-State’s offense stayed hot shooting 61 percent and finding four three-pointers, three of which came from the hand of deadeye shooter Sides. Sides and Eliza Maupin both had nine in the quarter to help K-State to an 81-22 lead.
Fourth Quarter-
The Spartans only found the net one time in the fourth to finish off the night with 24, going scoreless in the last eight minutes of play. Over the stretch, K-State went on a 24-point run, nine of which came from Sundell. The Wildcat defense forced 10 turnovers in the final quarter and held the Spartan shooting percentage to just 11. K-State won the final quarter 29-2 to cap off an 86-point margin of victory in the 110-24 score game.
Courtside Conclusions
The 86-point win did not come from perfect shooting from K-State, it was the defense. 49 points came from the 32 forced turnovers, 18 steals, and 25 points in the fast break. Granted the Wildcats shot 58 percent, knocking down 13 from three-point land, but it was the defense that stood out.
“That's just fun basketball,” Sundell said in the post-game press conference. “That feeling you get when everything is going well is kind of the reason that you play. I couldn't do it without my teammates and them knocking down shots, being in the right spots, rebounding, and giving me good passes.”
Sundell achieved a triple-double, something that hadn’t happened since 2009. A high-scoring night from the Wildcats without Lee on the court is good to see. This game shows that even if Lee isn’t on the court the Wildcats will find ways to win.
K-State Leaders
A full stat sheet would be an understatement after scoring 110. Sundell finished her triple-double night with 26 points, 13 assists, and 10 boards. Sides scored 23, 21 of which from the three balls. Poindexter finished her night with 17, followed by Maupin at 15, and the final Wildcat in double figures was Kennedy Taylor with 11. Surprisingly, Imani Lester led the team with six of the 18 total steals.
Future Focus
A Look Ahead at the K-State Schedule
K-State is wrapping up its fourth game of the week against former Big 12 foe, Texas A&M. The Aggies are 5-4 on the season, winning the last two outings. The first true road test for the Wildcats tips off at 3 p.m. on Saturday. The Wildcats won’t be back in Bramlage until December 18, this game and every other home game will be aired live here on Wildcat 91.9 FM.
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