From K-State Athletics
A layup from Peyton Williams with under 30 seconds to play sent K-State to a come from behind 48-46 win in exhibition play against Fort Hays State at Bramlage Coliseum on Thursday night.
After Fort Hays State used a 7-0 run to rally back into a 46-46 tie with 45 seconds remaining, K-State found Williams in the low block on a post-up. Williams gathered and used two dribbles across the lane to finish a right-hand layup with 25 seconds to play.
Fort Hays State was unable to convert on its final possession, as Williams blocked the game-tying layup attempt by the Tigers. Williams finished the night with eight points, eight rebounds and three blocks.
For the night, Kansas State was led by sophomore Rachel Ranke with 12 points, six rebounds and two steals. Redshirt junior Jasauen Beard narrowly missed a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds.
Fort Hays State was led by Tatyana Legette with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Kansas State and Fort Hays State each struggled from the field in the opening quarter, as the teams combined to shoot 9-of-33 from the field. K-State would tie the game late in the first quarter at 10, as Cymone Goodrich converted a free throw with 1:14 to play. Fort Hays State would end the quarter with a three-point lead, as Hailey Walker hit a corner three-pointer with seconds remaining.
The Wildcats quickly took a one-point lead in the second quarter, as Kali Jones and Beard each knocked down a jumper. The Tigers would then use a 9-0 run to build a 22-14 lead and force a K-State timeout with 3:34 remaining until halftime.
K-State closed the first half with a 6-1 run. Maary Lakes started the rally with a jumper in the lane. Goodrich followed with a jumper of her own at 1:35 of the quarter. Ranke closed the scoring in the half with a backdoor layup to bring K-State to within three at the half, 23-20.
The Wildcats continued its run into the second half to take a 27-25 lead with 7:27 remaining in the third quarter. Ranke tallied K-State’s first two baskets, while Christianna Carr ended K-State’s 0-of-14 drought from beyond the arc with a three-pointer.
Fort Hays State would quickly regain the lead, using a 9-0 run to build a 34-27 lead with 2:51 to play in the third quarter. Belle Barbieri started the run with a 3-point play and Kacey Kennett capped the run with a layup and jump shot.
Kansas State narrowed the deficit to three by the end of the third quarter, using a 6-0 run. Beard ended Fort Hays State’s run with a baseline jumper. Goodrich and Williams each converted a pair of free throws to narrow the game to 36-33 in favor of Fort Hays State.
In the fourth quarter, K-State’s defense held the Tigers to a 1-of-12 effort from the field. The Wildcats strung together a 13-2 run over the first six minutes of the fourth quarter to register its largest lead of the night, 46-39. The Tigers would then use their 7-0 run to tie the game before Williams provided the game-winning layup.
For the night, K-State shot 30.6 percent (19-of-62) from the field including a 1-of-20 effort from beyond the arc. Fort Hays State was held to a 23.4 percent (15-of-64) performance including a 4-of-22 effort from 3-point range. The Wildcats held the advantage on the boards, 55-40.
