Playing in the home state of senior guard Kayla Goth, Kansas State looked to pull the upset over (17/19) Arizona State but the Sun Devils held back the Wildcats with a 65-51 win at Mitchell Hall Gym in the Battle by the Bluff on the campus of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
Kansas State (7-3) dashed out to a four-point lead midway through the first quarter, 15-11, as Goth registered a layup with 3:58 remaining in the opening frame to card her seventh point of the quarter.
Arizona State (8-2) used a 10-0 run to power into a 21-15 lead with 1:32 to play. K-State ended the run and pulled within four at the end of the first, 21-17, as Williams converted a jumper with 29 seconds left.
The second quarter was a low-scoring battle, as neither team reached double figures in the frame with the Wildcats winning the quarter, 9-8. K-State used a 7-0 run to jump back into the lead, 24-23, with 5:35 remaining. The Sun Devils answered by ending the first half with a 6-2 run to hold a 29-26 lead.
The eight points scored by Arizona State were the fewest points a K-State opponent has tallied in a second quarter this season.
K-State was able to tie the game twice early in the third quarter, but Arizona State used a 7-0 run to build an eight-point lead, 40-32, with 4:49 remaining in the frame. The Wildcats closed to within four points, 42-38, on a Jasauen Beard jumper with 2:53 to play. The Sun Devils held a seven-point lead entering the fourth quarter after Robbi Ryan beat the buzzer with a jumper.
In the final frame, K-State used a quick start to pull within three, 48-45, with 9:20 remaining on a Goth jumper. The teams exchanged baskets, as the Sun Devils held the Wildcats at arm’s length at six points over a three-minute stretch.
Arizona State used a 11-2 run to end the game, holding the Wildcats without a field goal for the final 5:26 of the game.
K-State was led by Goth with 19 points on 7-of-16 shooting. The DeForest, Wisconsin, native also recorded a career-high three blocked shots.
Also in double figures was junior forward and 2019 Katrina McClain candidate Peyton Williams with 17 points and 12 rebounds. This was her fifth double-double of the season.
Arizona State had a balance attack with four players in double figures and paced by Sophia Elenga with 12 points off the bench.
K-State ended the day shooting 35.3 percent (18-of-51) from the field. The Wildcats were 1-of-11 from three-point range. Arizona State was 43.3 percent (26-of-60) from the field. The Sun Devils held the edge on the glass, 39-31.
