By Randy Peterson, K-State Athletics Communications
Kansas State found its offensive legs in the second half and extended its winning streak to four games with a 61-43 win over UT Rio Grande Valley on Monday night.
Sophomore forward Kaylee Page recorded K-State’s first double-double of the season and the first of her career with 13 points, a career-high 12 rebounds and two assists. Junior center Breanna Lewis added a game-high 15 points, pulled in nine rebounds, tied her season-high with six blocks and equaled her career-high with four steals. Senior guard Megan Deines added 12 points, four rebounds and three assists.
The Vaqueros took an early 8-3 lead, but K-State closed out the opening quarter on a 15-2 run to secure an 18-10 lead.
The Wildcats 15-2 run was highlighted by three consecutive 3-point field goals, as Page drained the first and Deines connected on the next two.
Offensively in the second quarter, both teams stalled out with K-State shooting 23.1 percent and UTRGV 25.0 percent in the frame. K-State scored a season-low for a quarter with six points in the second frame but held a 24-20 lead at the half.
All six points were scored from the bench as Erica Young, Kayla Goth and Jessica Sheble all recorded a basket.
K-State shook off the rust in the third quarter and outscored the Vaqueros, 21-9, in the stanza to take a 45-29 lead. The Wildcat defense held UT Rio Grande Valley without a field goal for the final 4:38 of the quarter.
Page registered seven points in the quarter and sparked a 13-2 run to end the quarter. Shaelyn Martin and Young added four points in the quarter.
UTRGV climbed back into the game with an 8-2 run to start the fourth quarter and pull to within 10, 47-37.
The Wildcats halted the UTRGV comeback attempt with a 10-0 run with Page and Kindred Wesemann each knocking down a 3-pointer to push K-State’s lead to 57-37 with 3:17 to play. Lewis tallied four points during the run.
K-State pulled in a season-high 49 rebounds, including a season-best 36 defensive boards.
The Wildcats shot 23-of-55 (.418) from the field, while UTRGV shot 17-of-64 (.266). This is the third opponent K-State has held to under 30.0 percent shooting from the field.
The Wildcats pocketed 12 steals and blocked seven shots.
K-State continues its five-game home stand on Sunday, Dec. 13, against Florida Atlantic. Game time is 4 p.m.
