With very little time to prepare for their replacement game opponent, the Wildcats weren’t sure what they would see from the NCAA Division-II Cardinals.
William Jewell (4-4) shot 13 of 23 from 3-point range, however, a strong interior game (30 points) from K-State (6-0) helped them overcome one of the best 3-point shooting performances in Bramlage Coliseum history with a 66-53 victory.
The Wildcats will hit the road for the final time in nonconference play on Friday, as they head to Wichita to face the Shockers for a 7:05 tipoff.
Sophomore forward Breanna Lewis anchored the paint for the Wildcats as she scored a season-high 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Senior forward Ashia Woods also continued her strong play with 12 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
K-State fought their way to a 16-8 lead with 10 minutes remaining in the first half, but the hot shooting from beyond the 3-point line kept the Cardinals within reach through the entire game.
Hayli Jo Smith, a 3-point specialist for William Jewell, knocked down seven shots from beyond the arc – the most for a K-State opponent since Iowa State’s Heather Ezell knocked down the same amount in a Big 12 tournament quarterfinal matchup on March 12, 2008.
William Jewell cut the halftime deficit to 31-25 and came as close as 56-53 with 4:25 remaining.
The Wildcats put their foot on the gas pedal in the final stretch as they ended the game on a 10-run, which included six of Lewis’ points on the night.
