K-State lost its first matchup of the season to Iowa State to begin Big 12 play. On Wednesday, the Wildcats avenged that loss with an exclamation point.
Junior center Breanna Lewis and sophomore forward Kaylee Page led K-State in the victory. Lewis had 25 points and a career-high 16 rebounds in her 11th career double-double. She also added six blocks. Page recorded her second career double-double with 13 points and 10 assists, which led the Wildcats in that department.
The Cyclones and the Wildcats played a very even first quarter. K-State jumped out to an early 10-3 lead, but Iowa State fought back and tied it up at 10. In turn, the Cyclones pushed their lead up to 17-10, just to have the Wildcats come back and tie it up at 17 to end the first quarter of play.
K-State then used a huge second quarter to separate from Iowa State. A 13-0 run put the Wildcats up by 15 before the Cyclones finally answered. The quarter ended with the Wildcats leading 38-23.
In the third, K-State continued to play strong on both sides of the ball. Iowa State scored the first basket of the half before another run by the Wildcats pushed the lead out even further. This time it was an 11-0 run for a lead of 49-25. K-State headed into the fourth quarter with a 23-point lead. The Wildcats had total domination in the second and third quarters, only allowing a total of 16 Cyclone points.
In the fourth quarter, Iowa State outscored the Wildcats for the first time all night, but it was not enough. K-State started the quarter out strong before the Cyclones ended the game on a little run.
This is the first time the Wildcats have won in Ames, Iowa, since 2008, snapping a seven-game road losing streak to the Cyclones. This is another game that will bolster their NCAA Tournament resume come March.
With the victory, K-State improves to 18-9 overall and 8-8 in conference play. Iowa State drops to 13-14 overall and 5-11 in Big 12 play.
The Wildcats will play their final home game on Saturday as they host No. 4 Baylor on Senior Day.
