By Randy Peterson K-State Athletics Communications
(File Photo)
Kansas State used one of its best defensive efforts of the season on Thursday night to begin a stretch of three games in five days with a 61-41 win over UT Arlington on Thursday night in Bramlage Coliseum.
Kindred Wesemann led K-State with her fourth straight game in double figures with 19 points. Shaelyn Martin pulled in 10 rebounds and dished out five assists for K-State.
Limited possessions in the first quarter resulted in K-State leading 15-6 at the end of the first quarter. The six points were the fewest allowed by K-State in a quarter this season.
Breanna Lewis and Wesemann started to click late in the quarter, scoring all seven points during a 7-2 run to end the opening frame.
Both teams’ struggles on offense continued into the second quarter, as the teams combined for two made field goals in the first five minutes.
K-State ended its drought, outscoring the Lady Mavericks 8-3 in the final 2:15 of the quarter to hold a 25-12 lead at the half. Kaylee Page started the run with a mid-range jumper, while Wesemann added a pair of 3-pointers.
The Wildcats shot 33.3 percent in the opening half (9-of-27), while holding UT Arlington to 22.7 percent (5-of-22). The 12 first half points allowed by K-State are the fewest in a half since K-State held Kansas to 12 first half points on March 6, 2015 at the Big 12 Championships.
K-State used a 7-2 run to open the third quarter to expand its lead to 18, 32-14, with 6:58 to play. Wesemann recorded five points during the run, including her fourth connection from beyond the arc.
A 9-2 burst by the Wildcats extended the lead to 41-18 with 3:42 to play and forcing a UT Arlington timeout. The nine points came off three straight 3-pointers, as Kelly Thomson, Page and Wesemann all connected from deep.
The Lady Mavericks outscored K-State in the final quarter, 18-16. Pacing K-State in the final frame were Erica Young and Anna Hammaker with five points apiece.
K-State shot 35.7 percent (20-of-56) from the field, including 9-of-23 (39.1 percent) from 3-point range. The ldcats held the Lady Mavericks to 27.3 percent (15-of-55), including 4-of-19 from three.
The Wildcats registered 13 steals and eight blocks.
Kansas State registered a season-high 12 second chance points, as the Wildcats outrebounded the Lady Mavericks, 40-39.
The Wildcats travel to Chicago to face Chicago State on Saturday at 2 p.m. The game will be available on the K-State Sports Network.
K-State returns to Bramlage on Monday to host UT Rio Grande Valley at 7 p.m. To purchase tickets to Monday’s game, contact the K-State Athletics Ticket Office at (800) 221-CATS, visit the ticket office in Bramlage Coliseum or purchase them online at www.kstatesports.com/tickets.
