Kansas State’s Kayla Goth, Peyton Williams and Rachel Ranke were recognized by the Big 12 coaches for their performances in the 2017-18 season, as the league office announced the 2017-18 Phillips 66 All-Big 12 Women’s Basketball Awards on Wednesday. Goth was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team, Williams an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection and Ranke was chosen for the Big 12 All-Freshman Team.
This is the second straight season K-State had three student-athletes earn All-Big 12 honors. Since the formation of the Big 12 in 1996-97, Kansas State has received 48 All-Big 12 honors by 24 different players. Of the 48 All-Big 12 citations, 20 have been on the first team, 11 second team honors, four third team recipients and 13 honorable mention honors.
During the 2017-18 season, Goth has set career season-highs in 14 statistical categories including points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals. Goth’s assist total of 199 (6.9 apg) leads the Big 12 and ranks ninth in the nation. Her 199 assists are the third-highest total in school history for a single season.
In addition to pacing the team in assists, Goth leads the team in scoring with 16.7 points per game. Her 483 points this season ranks ninth in program history for points by a junior. For the season, Goth is responsible for 53.1 percent of K-State’s made field goals this season and is the only player in the Big 12 that is responsible for 50.0 percent or more of her team’s made field goals. That’s according to a release from K-State Athletics.
The guard from DeForest, Wisconsin, is the first player in school history to register 400 or more points and 175 or more assists in a season. Her scoring average increase of 10.9 points per game from last season to this season is the second highest increase from one season to the next in program history.
Williams has also had a career season, as she has set season-highs in 16 statistical categories including points, rebounds, blocks and steals.
The forward from Topeka, Kansas, has increased her scoring average from last season to this season of 10.5 points per game. This is the fourth highest increase from one season to the next in program history. She leads the team and ranks among the Big 12 top 15 in field goal percentage (.545), points per game (14.2), rebounds per game (6.8) and free throw percentage (.837).
Ranke leads all Big 12 freshmen in 3-point field goals made per game (2.9; 83 3-pt FGs made). Her 83 made 3-point field goals are second in program history among freshmen, behind Laurie Koehn’s school record 122 three-point field goals made. A three-time Big 12 Freshman of the Week recipient, ranks tied for ninth in program history for 3-point field goals made in a season.
The guard from Burnsville, Minnesota, is third among the league’s freshmen in scoring (12.1 ppg). Ranke is the first K-State freshman to surpass 350 or more points in her rookie season since the 2013-14 season and is the ninth freshman in program history to score 350 or more points in her rookie season.
With the guidance of fourth year head coach Jeff Mittie, Kansas State (15-14, 7-11 Big 12) is postseason eligible for the fourth straight season. K-State recorded seven Big 12 wins, which marks the fourth straight season K-State has tallied seven or more wins in league play.
K-State, as the No. 8 seed, will face the No. 9 seed Kansas (12-17, 3-15 Big 12) in the first round of the 2018 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Championship in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, at Chesapeake Energy Arena with a tip time of 6 p.m. Friday’s game will be broadcast on FOX College Sports Central.
Friday’s game will also be broadcast on the radio through the K-State Sports Network and for free online at kstatesports.com.
2017-18 Phillips 66 All-Big 12 Awards
Coach of the Year: Kim Mulkey, Baylor
Player of the Year: Kalani Brown, Baylor
Freshman of the Year: Shaina Pellington, Oklahoma
Newcomer of the Year: Loryn Goodwin, Oklahoma State
Defensive Player of the Year: Lauren Cox, Baylor
Sixth Man Award: Amy Okonkwo, TCU
