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K-State Women’s Basketball starts off the season 2-0 after a strong first half performance. The Wildcats handled their second opponent of the season, the Belmont Bruins, 82-56.
Transfers, Temira Poindexter and Kennedy Taylor, helped carry the load of missing Ayoka Lee and Taryn Sides, both sidelined with injuries. Poindexter led K-State to a strong first half, scoring 19, 15 of which came from beyond the arc. With a pair of double-digit scoring runs and a strong showing in the second quarter, K-State stretched their lead out to 18 and never let up on the gas pedal, winning by 26.
Wildcat Warm-Up
Opponent Matchup
K-State's second non-con game of the season was Belmont, a program with 10 combined conference championships over the last eight seasons. Belmont University, located in Nashville, Tenn. has been home to one of the winningest programs in Women’s College Basketball, ranking 16 all-time. Belmont finished the 2023 season with a 26-9 record. The Bruins open the season on a short two game trip to Kansas, playing K-State then Wichita State. Belmont was voted third in the 2024-25 Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll. The Bruins roster three 2024-25 Preseason All-MVC Second Team players.
Tip-Off to Buzzer
Quarter Breakdowns
First Quarter-
Belmont started off quick, with Kendall Holmes hitting two 3s to take an 8-4 lead. The Cats responded with a 15-2 run, helped by six from Poindexter. Belmont responded with a 6-0 run to end the quarter down 19-16.
Second Quarter-
K-State’s defense woke up in the second quarter, only allowing eight from the Bruins all quarter. The Wildcat’s offense shined with great ball movement and solid defense led to a 12-0 run to start the quarter. Poindexter led the way again going five for five and scoring 13. K-State finished the half with 11 assists, six steals, and 19 boards. Even with a two-minute scoring drought to end the half, K-State led 42-24.
Third Quarter-
The Wildcats started the third a little slow. Playing a seven player rotation, different from the 10 player rotation in the first game, with Taylor getting a long break. Belmont cut the lead down to 15, with Jaelyn Glenn picking up her third foul at the five-minute mark of the quarter. K-State closed out the third on a tear, going on a 12-3 run. Of that 12, Taylor scored 8 bringing her total to 17 through three quarters. The late run drew K-State back out to a 65-40 lead.
Fourth Quarter-
K-State played almost a strictly six player rotation to start the fourth. K-State’s lead held around the 22 point mark for the majority of the quarter. The Wildcat’s scored 17, with five from Glenn. The Cats shot over 50% in the fourth to hold onto the big lead and the win, 82-56.
Courtside Conclusions
There are several stories to highlight looking back at this game. K-State had more players injured and in street clothes than suited up. The two injuries of Lee and Sides are concerning, but Head Coach Jeff Mittie talked about those in this post game press conference.
"Fortunately, I think our two injuries, they probably could have gone tonight. But because of the opportunity to have a week where we don’t play again, we didn’t want to have a setback there. Yoki could have gone in tonight, but I just would feel better if she wasn't 85%, and I think that she'll be really, really good here through the weekend, and that'll give her good practice time. Taryn, I think will be the same way,” Mittie said.
K-State’s transfer portal work shined tonight with the big games from Poindexter and Taylor. Taylor carried the load in the paint with Lee out, scoring 18 with five rebounds and a block in only 18 minutes of play. Poindexter’s massive first half allowed her to finish out scoring 23 and a full stat sheet, with four boards, two assists, two blocks, and two steals.
K-State Leaders
The Wildcats were led in scoring by Poindexter, 23, and Taylor, 18. Sundell led the Cats with six assists to go along with her six points. Zyanna Walker and Glenn both hit double digits in scoring, Walker with 14, Glenn with 10. Three Cats were tied on top with six rebounds, Walker, Sundell, and Gisela Sanchez. K-State’s team total turned out to be: shooting 51% from the field, 40% from three, just under 80% from the charity stripe, 41 rebounds, 11 steals, and a concerning 17 turnovers.
Future Focus
A Look Ahead at the K-State Schedule
No. 13 K-State gets a week off before having a ranked match up against No. 21 Creighton. This will be the Cats first true test of the season. The early season week-long break is perfect with Lee and Sides being banged up, allowing plenty of time to recover. The game next Thursday, Nov. 14, is a doubleheader with the Men’s team playing LSU after the conclusion of the Women’s game. Both the ranked women's matchup and the SEC-Big 12 showdown will be live here on Wildcat 91.9.
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