Playing its second game in three days, Kansas State showed no signs of strain as the Wildcats scored a season-high 99 points to defeat Chicago State, 99-51. The 99 points were the most since K-State scored 102 against Florida Atlantic on Dec. 13, 2015.
Kansas State (8-2) had three players reach double figures, as freshman Rachel Ranke scored a career-high 24 points and buried a career-best seven 3-pointers in 23 minutes off the bench. Ranke is the first Wildcat to make seven or more 3-pointers in a game since Brittany Chambers knocked down nine against Texas Southern on March 21, 2013.
Joining Ranke’s effort was equaled by junior Kayla Goth and sophomore Peyton Williams, as each notched a double-double. Goth tallied 19 points, a career-high 11 assists, five rebounds, four steals and a block. Goth is the first K-State player with 10 or more assists in three or more games since Shalee Lehning in the 2008-09 season.
Williams tallied her third career double-double and her second this season with 15 points and 10 rebounds while also handing out three assists. Williams has surpassed double figures in points in four of K-State’s last five games.
Chicago State (0-13) was led by Tyeshia Bowers with 15 points.
For the night, K-State shot 49.3 percent from the field (34-of-69), while carding a 11-of-28 effort from beyond the arc. The 11 connections from beyond the arc are the second-highest total this season for K-State, as the Wildcats knocked down 12 against Omaha on Nov. 13.
Kansas State spanned the first and second quarters with a 13-2 run to establish a 31-12 lead with 7:26 remaining in the first half. During the opening quarter, senior guard Karyla Middlebrook made her season debut and tallied three points in the first frame. Middlebrook finished the night with five points, two rebounds, one assist and one steal in 13 minutes.
K-State held a 51-21 lead at the half, as Ranke connected on a pair of 3-point field goals in the final minute to send the Wildcats to their largest lead of the opening half. The 51 first half points were a season high and marked the most since K-State scored 51 against West Virginia on January 1, 2017.
The Wildcats shot 53.1 percent (17-of-32) from the field in the opening half and were boosted by a 21-2 edge in points off turnovers. This is the fifth game this season K-State has scored 20 or more points off opponent turnovers.
K-State was led in the opening half by Ranke and Goth with 15 and 13 points, respectively. Goth added five assists, four rebounds and three steals to her first half stat line. All nine Wildcats that played in the first half registered at least two points.
The Wildcats would hold off the Cougars in the third quarter, 19-16, for a 70-37 lead after three. Williams and Shaelyn Martin combined to score 16 of K-State’s points in the third quarter, as Williams tallied nine and Martin added seven.
Martin finished the night with nine points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals. With her four assists, Martin improved her career total to 347 and is tied for ninth in program history for career assists with Carlisa Thomas (1983-87).
In the fourth quarter, K-State scored a season-high 29 points by shooting 61.1 percent in the final stanza. The Wildcats were 4-of-5 from beyond the arc in the final quarter, as Ranke connected on three attempts and Goth added the fourth.
