K-State Sports
K-State held off an upset bid by Arizona on Thursday night at Bramlage Coliseum, 62-47, as Serena Sundell joined an exclusive scoring club in program history. The win improves K-State's win streak to 13. The 13-game win streak is tied for the fifth-longest win streak in program history.
K-State improved its overall record to 18-1 for the second time under the direction of head coach Jeff Mittie. This is the second straight season K-State has opened with a 18-1 record. In its history, K-State has opened a season 18-1 or better four times.
Sundell, an All-America candidate and the national leader in assists and assists per game, led K-State with 16 points, eight assists, four rebounds, a block and a steal. With her point total on Thursday, Sundell surpassed the 1,500-point mark (1,507) in her K-State career, becoming the 14th player in program history to reach the milestone.
Joining Sundell in double figures was senior forward and Cheryl Miller Award candidate Temira Poindexter with 14 points including 4-of-8 from long range and two rebounds. In her last three games, Poindexter is 12-of-25 (.480) from behind the three-point line.
Senior center Ayoka Lee chipped in on the defensive end by tying her career-high and equaling the school record for blocks in a conference game by sending back eight shots. The eight blocks were tied for the most in any game by a Big 12 team this season and were the most in a league game this season. She also carded six rebounds, two steals and six points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- K-State (18-1, 6-0 Big 12) held a four-point lead, 14-10, entering the second quarter. The Wildcats were sparked to start the second frame by Gisela Sanchez, as she made three straight field goals including two 3-pointers to push the Wildcats into a 22-13 lead. Sanchez finished the night with nine points and three rebounds to lead a K-State bench that outscored the Arizona bench, 19-10.
- The Wildcats would build a 13-point advantage twice in the second quarter, the last coming on a 3-pointer from Taryn Sides with 1:13 remaining in the frame to give K-State a 36-23 lead.
- K-State shot 69.2 percent (9-of-13) from the field in the second quarter, including four connections from long range.
- Arizona (11-8, 2-4) opened the third quarter with an 11-4 run, which included a span of four straight made field goals, to pull to within four, 40-36, with 5:28 to play in the third stanza.
- Arizona would win the third quarter, 16-11 and hold K-State to 27.3 percent (3-of-11) shooting in the third stanza. The 11 points were a season-low for a third quarter this season for K-State.
- K-State would open the fourth quarter on an 8-0 run, as Poindexter buried a pair of 3-pointers to force an Arizona timeout with 6:59 to play and K-State leading, 55-41.
- K-State would push its lead to 18, 61-43, with 4:26 to play on a layup by Sundell. The Wildcats would hold Arizona to six points and 3-of-13 (.231) shooting in the final frame.
- K-State ended the night shooting 45.1 percent (23-of-51), including 38.1 percent (8-of-21) from long range.
- Arizona was held to 32.2 percent (19-of-59) shooting including a 14.3 percent (1-of-7) performance from distance.