From K-State Athletics
K-State built a 16-point lead early in the first quarter, then held back a furious comeback from Little Rock to secure its first road win of the season, 53-47, on Saturday at the Jack Stephens Center. K-State improved its winning streak to four with the victory.
Kansas State (7-2) came out strong in the first quarter, jumping in front of the Trojans with a 12-2 lead in the first five minutes. Little Rock was 1-of-8 from the field in the opening five minutes.
K-State continued to lock up the Trojans in the first quarter and held an 18-7 lead. The Wildcats held Little Rock to 23.1 percent shooting (3-of-13).
In the second quarter, K-State built a 29-11 lead midway through the second quarter as Rachel Ranke buried a pair of 3-pointers for six of her 11 first half points to take the 18-point lead with 4:29 remaining. The Trojans rallied with a 9-2 run to cut K-State’s lead at the half to 11, 31-20.
Little Rock (2-6) captured the third quarter, 16-11 to narrow the game to six points, 42-36, heading to the fourth. The Trojans closed to within five, 31-26, after a layup from Raeyana DeGray. After a K-State timeout with 6:56 remaining, the Wildcats scored six straight points to rebuild the lead to 11, 37-26, with 3:39 to play.
The Trojans ended the third quarter with a 10-5 run, including a three-pointer from Kyra Collier as time expired.
K-State increased its lead to seven, 45-38, on a Williams layup with 7:45 to play in the fourth quarter. This would be K-State’s last made field goal of the afternoon.
Little Rock narrowed the game to one following a Sydney Chastain’s fourth 3-pointer of the afternoon with 1:46 remaining. K-State was able to go 8-of-10 from the free throw line in the last 2:23 of the game to keep the Trojans from completing the comeback.
The Wildcats were led by senior guard Kayla Goth with 15 points, six rebounds and three assists. Junior forward Peyton Williams carded 12 points and eight rebounds, while Ranke added 12.
Kansas State finished the day shooting 37.8 percent (17-of-45) from the field and were 14-of-18 (.778) from the free throw line. Little Rock ended the game at 33.3 percent (17-of-51).
The 47 points allowed by K-State marked the third time this season the Wildcats have surrendered 49 or fewer points.
