K-State women’s basketball welcome Oklahoma State to Bramlage Coliseum tonight, seeking vengeance for a loss to the Cowgirls earlier in the season.
The Wildcats (11-7, 1-6) last collided with Oklahoma State (12-6, 2-5) on Jan. 14 in Stillwater, Oklahoma, where the home team rode a dominant second-half performance to a 69-47 win.
In that meeting, an early start for Oklahoma State created too big of a hole for the Wildcats to climb out of. The Cowgirls started the game on a 16-4 run and maintained the lead the entire game.
Oklahoma State’s Liz Donohoe dominated in the win, recording a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Tonight is a must win for head coach Jeff Mittie and company. K-State enters last in the Big 12 and is currently riding a four-game losing streak.
The Wildcats have not secured a win since they were victorious over the Kansas Jayhawks on Jan. 11 at Bramlage Coliseum. K-State trailed for much of the game, though, mounting a late comeback during the second half to tally a win against its in-state rival.
K-State’s latest loss came in Waco, Texas this past weekend to the third-ranked team in the country in Baylor. The Bears used two double-digit runs to cruise by K-State 68-46 despite the best efforts from senior Haley Texada.
However, the Cowgirls, too, enter on a losing streak of their own. Oklahoma State has lost three-straight games to Big 12 opponents, as they prepare for a two-game road trip beginning in Manhattan.
Oklahoma State will look to hang its hat on the recent form of junior guard Brittney Martin, who is coming off a 15-point, nine-rebound performance in the Cowgirls’ loss to TCU on Saturday. Martin has had a solid year for her team, leading Oklahoma State in scoring and rebounds.
Meanwhile, K-State, despite its struggles of late, has seen production from the bench. In the loss to Baylor, Texada and and Ashia Woods combined for 20 points on 8-18 shooting.
Texada’s return to the court has been more than welcomed. The senior suffered a scary injury to her neck during the Sunflower Showdown. She is third overall in scoring for K-State and is averaging the second-best 3-point percentage for the Wildcats.
Kindred Wesemann will also look to continue her success of late. The sophomore guard is averaging 7.2 points per game this season, including a 13.5 average in K-State’s last two games.
A win over the Cowgirls will give K-State its 150th Big 12 victory while surpassing the Wildcats’ win total from 2013-14. K-State can also break a 31-31 all-time series deadlock with Oklahoma State.
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. from Bramlage Coliseum.
