MANHATTAN, Kansas (Randy Peterson) – Kansas State had a difficult time in the first three quarters of Wednesday night’s game against UT-Arlington, but used a 17-9 final quarter to register a 62-49 win. With the win, K-State becomes the 20th NCAA Division I program to win 900 or more games and the second in the Big 12.
This is the fourth time in the 49-year history of the program that K-State has started a season with a 9-0 record. Head coach Jeff Mittie is 9-0 for the first time since the 1994-95 season, when he guided NCAA Division II school Missouri Western to a 9-0 start.
Kansas State had three players reach double figures led by Naismith Trophy candidate Breanna Lewis’s 15 points, 11 rebounds, four blocks, two steals and two assists. This was her second straight double-double and third this season.
Joining Lewis in double figures were sophomore guard Kayla Goth with 12 points and senior guard Kindred Wesemann with 10 points.
UT-Arlington (5-2) was paced by Rebekah VanDijk with 14 points and rebounds and Aysia Evans with 13 points off the bench.
Kansas State shot 46.7 percent (23-of-49) from the field and held UTA to a 37.7 (20-of-53) effort. The teams combined for 53 turnovers in the game, with K-State recording a 26-19 advantage in points off turnovers.
For the ninth straight game, the Wildcats had the advantage on the boards, 33-26.
K-State featured five different players registering points in the opening quarter, building a 13-10 lead. The Wildcats registered an 11-4 lead with 4:22 remaining in the first quarter, but the Lady Mavericks closed the period on a 6-2 run. The teams combined for 15 turnovers in the first 10 minutes of action.
UT-Arlington tied the game at 13-13 with 8:40 to play in the half. Wesemann buried a 3-pointer to start a 9-1 K-State run to take a 22-14 lead with 4:27 left. Shaelyn Martin scored the final four points of the quarter for the Wildcats to send K-State into the locker room with a 26-21 lead.
Kansas State held UT-Arlington to a 36.0 percent (9-of-25) from the field in the opening half, while shooting 45.5 percent (10-of-22). The teams combined for 30 turnovers in the first half, 15 each.
With a 7-2 run to begin the third quarter, Kansas State took its largest lead of the game at 33-23 with 8:38 to play in the frame. Lewis started with a layup and Eternati Willock followed with a three-point play, as she was fouled on a jump shot. Kayla Goth capped the run with a transition layup.
An 11-3 run by the Lady Mavericks, led by Cierra Johnson’s five points, brought UT-Arlington to within two, 36-34, with 4:10 left in the third. Kansas State rebuilt its advantage to nine, 43-34, with 2:47 remaining. Wesemann buried her second 3-pointer of the night, while Willock capped the run with a jumper in transition.
In the final quarter, Kansas State dashed out to a 17-4 run over a nine-minute stretch in the fourth quarter to build a 62-44 lead. Goth started the run with a layup and followed with an offensive rebound and putback. Lewis added a pair of layups and Karyla Middlebrook beat the shot clock with a running jump shot during the scoring burst.
Kansas State will continue its three-game home stand on Sunday, as the Wildcats host No. 1/2 Connecticut at 1 p.m. The game has been announced as a sell-out. The contest will be broadcast on FS1.
