Brittany Chambers scored 23 points and Haley Texada added 14 as the Kansas State Women’s Basketball team overcame a sluggish start and blew past Ball State 60-48 in the third round of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament before 1,453 Thursday Night at Bramlage Coliseum.
The Cardinals out of the Mid American Conference raced out to an early 13-4 lead but the Wildcats didn’t panic as they gradually cut into the deficit and finally took their first lead at 17-15 on a three-point play by Chambers. Ball State managed to tie the score just one more time before the Wildcats went into the locker room with a 31-20 hafltime advantage.
K-State struggled to find its offense in the early stages of the second half as the Cardinals closed to within four points at 39-35. After that K-State unloaded a barrage of three-point baskets to outscore Ball State 21-13 down the stretch and put the game away. Chambers who had never played more than two games in any postseason tournament before the WNIT has now scored a total of 93 points in the first three games. Ball State which sees its season end at 17-16 was led by Shanee’ Jackson’s 16 points.
Kansas State (18-17) continues its postseason dominance on its home court after improving to 12-0 all-time at Bramlage Coliseum in the WNIT. The Wildcats with the victory advance to the Quarterfinals against Big 10 foe Illinois. The Fighting Illini were 63-55 winners on the road Thursday night at Toledo. K-State has played Illinois once before in the WNIT winning 66-51 in Manhattan in the second round of the 2007 tourney.
Tipoff on Saturday at Bramlage Coliseum is set for 4 p.m.
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