The Kansas State women’s basketball team increased its record to 2-0 Monday night with a 81-60 victory over the University of Nebraska Omaha.
K-State started off the game with a wide-open layup for sophomore forward Peyton Williams.
The Wildcats used a 15-2 run over almost three minutes to build a nine-point lead, scoring 24 points total in the first quarter. K-State shot a blistering 66 percent in the first quarter.
Omaha started the game 3-3 from the three-point arc. The team cooled down considerably in the minutes afterward. By the end of the first quarter, the Mavericks were shooting 3-9 from the three-point arc.
“We talked a little about what we might do with [Omaha’s Ellie] Brecht to deny her a little bit,” head coach Jeff Mittie said. “Ultimately we just felt we needed to get to her more quickly.”
K-State struggled in the second quarter, scoring 14 points. However, the defense managed to hold Omaha at 15 points, limiting the damage.
At halftime, the Wildcats were leading 38-30 and shooting 55 percent from the floor and 46 percent from the three-point line. Despite the great shooting, K-State was being out-rebounded by the Mavericks, 18-13.
“It’s more of a frustration on our part that we’re not getting those box outs and that we’re not getting to those boards,” junior guard Kayla Goth said.
By the break, senior forward Kaylee Page led K-State in scoring. She recorded 9 points in the first half, all from three-pointers. Her final stat line was 13 points and six rebounds.
In the third quarter, a three-pointer from Omaha’s freshman guard Claire Killian cut the K-State lead to four points. K-State responded with a 11-2 run to go back up by 13.
The leading scorer for Omaha was junior guard Ellie Brecht who scored 20 points and three rebounds.
K-State’s leading scorer was freshman guard Rachel Ranke, who recorded 20 points and two rebounds. She was 6-for-12 from behind the arc.
“What I liked about her better tonight was that her feet were set to shoot the ball better,” Mittie said.
Behind an offensive explosion led by Ranke, K-State outscored the Mavericks 24-14 in the fourth quarter.
Senior guard Shaelyn Martin provided a lift for K-State recording 12 points, nine rebound and eight assists.
“If you look at the stat sheet, everyone contributed. We have four players in double digits,” Martin said. “I think we’ve made big strides since the first game.”
Appearing as a point guard, Goth also came close to a double-double; she recorded 16 points, nine assists and one turnover.
“I am definitely getting more comfortable playing the point guard position and getting settled in a little bit,” Goth said. “Definitely looking for players a lot better than I was two, three games ago.”
K-State will be in action again Friday against Florida A&M. Tipoff will be at 5:30 p.m. The men’s basketball team will host UC Irvine immediately after.
