The Kansas State women’s basketball team will travel to Norman to play a morning game against the Oklahoma Sooners tomorrow morning with tip-off scheduled for 10:30 a.m.
K-State comes into the game with a record of 12-9 and 4-6 in conference play. Oklahoma enters this matchup with a 12-11 record and are 5-5 in the Big 12. The Sooners played the Wildcats in Manhattan on Jan. 17 and won with a score of 76-71.
The last game for the Wildcats was a come from behind, 63-59 overtime win in Lawrence against their in-state rival, the Kansas Jayhawks. The Jayhawks were 11-9 and 2-7 in conference play before Sunday’s game. K-State has now won eight straight against Kansas.
Freshman guard Rachel Ranke sent the game into overtime by hitting two key three-pointers for K-State. Senior guard Shaylen Martin was able to hit two free throws that closed the gap in the last 10 seconds of the game. The Wildcats outscored the Jayhawks 12-8 to come away with the overtime win. Sophomore forward Peyton Williams scored a game-high of 23 points against the Jayhawk’s defense.
K-State is only allowing 64 points per game to their opponents, while Oklahoma is allowing 10 more on average. The Wildcats will have to look better shooting free throws if the game comes down to a few possessions as they are only shooting 42 percent from the free-throw line, while the Sooners are shooting 68 percent from the line.
Senior guard Gabbi Ortiz sees the most game action for the Sooners averaging 37 minutes and is their leading three-point shooter at 42 percent from beyond the arc. K-State will have to try to keep Ortiz from getting to the line as she is a 94.6 percent free-throw shooter.
On the defensive senior center, Vionise Pierre-Louis leads Oklahoma with 118 defensive rebounds and 48 blocks this season. Pierre-Louis is able to help on the offensive side as well averaging 15 points a game.
Williams has not only started every game for K-State, but also leads the team shooting 55.7 percent from the floor and has made 82.8 percent of free throws attempted. Williams also leads in rebounding on both sides of the court with 56 offensive boards and 92 defensive boards.
Junior guard Kayla Goth averages the most playing time for the Wildcats with 35 minutes on the floor a game. Goth has contributed to the team’s offense with 140 assists this season, as well as 42 steals to get the ball back in the hands of K-State.
Fans not able to make it to the game can watch it on Fox Sports Oklahoma or listen live on the K-State Sports Network and on kstatesports.com.
After traveling to Norman, the Wildcats will host two games in Manhattan, one against Iowa State on Saturday at 7 p.m. and next against Texas Tech at Feb. 7 at 7 p.m.