Kansas State women’s basketball opened its season with a 69-35 win against Presbyterian in an impressive defensive debut.
K-State came out fast defensively, forcing turnovers and creating easy shot opportunities. The return of center Ayoka Lee after missing the 2022-23 season to knee surgery helped in the Wildcats’ efforts.
By the end of the first quarter, the Wildcat defense caused seven turnovers, resulting in the Wildcats holding a 13-point lead entering into half.
Out of the half, K-State’s defense continued applying pressure while its offense kept Presbyterian’s defense in check.
The first half offensively started slow, with both teams shooting under 33%. For the Wildcats, shooting beyond the arch was their greatest challenge, going 1-11.
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K-State’s offense exploded in the third quarter, hitting multiple shots, increasing the lead to 23. Louisville transfer guard Zyanna Walker heavily contributed to the Wildcat’s offense, scoring 13 points in 12 minutes of play time.
K-State answered the 3-point shooting struggles in the first half as the Wildcats went 6-8 on 3-point shots in the second half.
The Wildcats’ defensive pressure kept the game out of reach, forcing 11 turnovers in the match. Lee helped improve K-State’s rebounding, primarily in offensive rebounding and second-chance points.
Depth became the greatest advantage for the Wildcats, with multiple bench players getting rotational minutes. K-State outscored Presbyterian 18-4 in bench points.
K-State women’s basketball plays their next game against Little Rock at 1 p.m. Saturday in Little Rock, Arkansas.
