After losing both of their games in Cancun, the Wildcats went into Saturday night’s game looking to get back on the winning track. The Wildcats found themselves in another overtime against a Big Ten Conference opponent. This time, though, K-State made the plays down the stretch to defeat the Iowa Hawkeyes 81-78 on Saturday night.
Junior Brittany Chambers led the Wildcats as she scored a game high 23 points to go along with her six rebounds. She talked after the game about what this win can do for the team.
“In Cancun we played pretty well. Against Purdue, we were right there, but just didn’t make the plays down the stretch,” she said. “This game tonight shows that when we do what we need to and make the plays in the big moments, we can beat some very good teams.”
Senior Jalana Childs also had a good game for the Wildcats as she scored 20 points before fouling out. Coach Deb Patterson has come to expect these types of games out of Childs.
“It is almost to the point where I am shocked when she misses a shot,” she said. “She has been playing so well that you expect her to make everything.”
After a competitive first half that saw the two teams tied at 32, the Wildcats erupted in the second half. Sparked by a 15-2 run to open the half, the Wildcats seemed to have the game under control. The Hawkeyes, led by the 3-point shooting of junior Jaime Printy and the quickness of senior point guard Kamie Wahlin, the Hawkeyes were able to get back into the game and even take a four-point lead late in the game. However, it was a coaching decision by Patterson that played a key role late. A layup by K-State junior Mariah White with just less than a minute tied the game at 74.
In overtime, with the score tied at 76, the Wildcats lost Childs to her fifth foul. With the Wildcats holding on to a 79-78 lead, sophomore Chantray Caron iced the game with two free throws to help the Wildcats prevail. Despite the plays made at the end of the game, it may have been a coaching decision by Patterson that won the game for the Wildcats.
Freshman Ashia Woods guarded Wahlin in regulation and overtime and this caused the Hawkeyes not to be able to get into their offense. Patterson went into detail about her freshman after the game.
“You can see it, or at least I can see that the light is going on with her,” she said. “The practice after the Hofstra game it seemed to click for her. She is starting to realize that with her ability to play defense, she can stay on the court for long periods of time.”
The Wildcats will look to build off this win as they take on the Wichita State Shockers on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. in Bramlage Coliseum.