MANHATTAN – Kansas State bookended Friday night’s win over North Texas at Bramlage Coliseum, as the Wildcats tallied solid offensive and defensive performances in the first and fourth quarters to down the Mean Green, 60-42.
K-State (2-0) featured three players in double figures led by 2019 Nancy Lieberman Award candidate Kayla Goth with a game-high 21 points, seven assists, four rebounds and three steals. This was Goth’s 13th career game with 20 or more points. With her seven assists, Goth moved into 12th on the K-State career list with 325 assists, passing Salinan Betsy Sloan (1979-83; 322).
Joining Goth in double figures was senior forward Kali Jones with her first career double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds. Jones tallied career-highs in both points and rebounds. She also added two steals and a pair of assists.
Sophomore Rachel Ranke also added a diverse stat line with 13 points on 3-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc, eight rebounds, a block, a steal and an assist.
Kansas State continued its strong scoring output from the end of Monday’s game against Omaha into the first quarter against North Texas (1-2). The Wildcats ended the opening quarter with a 22-10 lead.
K-State was paced in the opening quarter by Goth and Ranke with nine and seven points, respectively, on a combined 6-of-8 shooting. Goth capped the quarter with a jumper in the lane as time expired.
In the fourth quarter, K-State held the Mean Green to five total on a 1-of-12 (.083) effort from the field. North Texas went the final 8:39 of the game without a made field goal. This was the second straight game K-State held an opponent to five points in the fourth quarter.
Kansas State backed up their defense in the fourth quarter by pounding the ball into the paint. The Wildcats tallied 12 of their 14 total points in the final quarter from inside the lane. Jones led the way in the quarter with seven points and three rebounds.
For the night, K-State shot 22-of-48 (.458) from the floor on Friday night and held North Texas to a 16-of-55 (.291) effort. Overall, K-State held a 30-16 advantage in points in the paint and tallied a 10-0 led in fastbreak points.
Kansas State will end its three-game home stand on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m., against UMKC. Sunday’s game is part of a “Wildcat Weekend,” as fans can show their game ticket to the K-State football game against Texas Tech on Saturday and purchase a women’s basketball general admission ticket for $3.
Sunday’s game will be broadcast on ESPN3. The game will also be available on the K-State Sports Network and for free at kstatesports.com.
– kstatesports.com –