From K-State
K-State opened its 24th season of Big 12 women’s basketball on Sunday afternoon in Bramlage Coliseum. The Wildcats were unable to spring the upset on (19/21) West Virginia, as the Mountaineers captured the win, 74-63.
West Virginia (11-1, 1-0 Big 12) was sparked in the first quarter by Kirsten Deans. The freshman came off the bench to record nine straight points for the Mountaineers to turn a one-point lead into a seven-point advantage, 19-12, heading into the second quarter.
K-State (6-6, 0-1) was led in the second quarter by Angela Harris, who scored eight of K-State’s 10 points in the frame. The Mountaineers would lead by as many as 15, 35-20, before an Ayoka Lee layup closed the Wildcats within 13 at the break, 35-22.
The Wildcats shot 29.6 percent (8-of-27) from the field in the opening half, while West Virginia turned in a 41.2 percent (14-of-34) effort.
West Virginia expanded its lead to 48-30 with 4:46 remaining in the third quarter, as Kyrse Gondrezick connected on three straight 3-pointers.
The Mountaineers would hold a 56-38 lead with 1:12 remaining, but a 7-0 K-State run closed the deficit to 56-45 entering the fourth quarter. Peyton Williams scored five or the seven points during the rally. In the quarter, Williams registered nine points as the Wildcats outscored the Mountaineers in the frame, 23-21.
In the fourth quarter, West Virginia kept K-State at arm’s length. The Wildcats closed to within 11, 58-47, on a layup from Ayoka Lee. The Mountaineers answered each time the Wildcats scored to keep the lead in double digits.
K-State featured four players in double figures, led by Harris with 16 points and four assists. Williams tallied her seventh double-double of the season with 15 points, 10 rebounds and two steals. With the effort, Williams pocketed her 28th career double-double and moved into third on the K-State career double-doubles list.
Senior Jasauen Beard made her third start of the season and responded with 13 points and six rebounds. This was her fourth game in double figures this season and a new season-high on the glass.
Redshirt freshman Ayoka Lee tallied 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting, nine rebounds and two blocks in her Big 12 debut.
West Virginia was led by the trio of Gondrezick, Tynice Martin and Madisen Smith. Gondrezick finished with a game-high 24 points on 9-of-14 shooting including 4-of-8 from beyond the arc, while also dishing out eight assists. Martin tallied 18 points and Smith poured in 15, including 10 in the fourth quarter.
K-State shot 57.1 percent in the second half, and tallied a 43.6 percent (24-of-55) overall shooting performance. West Virginia shot 43.1 percent (28-of-65) and were 10-of-28 from 3-point range.
