K-State Women’s Basketball Falters Late in Loss to Iowa State

The K-State women's basketball team huddles during a timeout. Courtesy: Paige Mueller

A K-State women's basketball player dribbles the ball towards the goal. Courtesy: Paige Mueller

A K-State women's basketball player shoots the ball. Courtesy: Paige Mueller

K-State women's basketball players celebrate on the sideline. Courtesy: Paige Mueller

A K-State women's basketball player holds the ball below the goal. Courtesy: Paige Mueller

Kansas State ended regular-season play on Sunday afternoon with a loss to rival Iowa State, as

Audi Crooks (ISU) put up 41 points, and the Wildcats struggled to make shots late in the fourth

quarter. It was a very winnable game for the Wildcats, as they led or tied the Cyclones from

early on in the second quarter to late in the third quarter.

Iowa State went with its bread and butter to start the game, with two field goals in the paint

from preseason Big 12 Player of the Year Audi Crooks to get the Cyclones out early. While Iowa

State, led by Crooks and Jada Williams on offense, started off strong, and Kansas State found

themselves in foul trouble early in the quarter, which only helped Iowa State maintain control of

the first quarter.

The Cyclones eventually found themselves on the struggle bus late in the first quarter as they

missed field goal after field goal, but it did not matter as they were continually sent to the charity stripe and the Wildcats could not make shots of their own.

With just over one minute left in the quarter, Jordan Speiser snapped the Wildcats’ cold streak

from the field with two three-pointers, followed by another three from Nastja Claessens. The

two were catalysts for a struggling offense that brought the Wildcats to a 24-22 deficit by the end of the first quarter.

The beginning of the second quarter was all Kansas State. The Wildcats forced turnovers early

and capitalized on them to jump out ahead for their first lead of the game, 29-28. Speiser

continued to dominate on both ends of the court for the Wildcats as she completed a three-point play off a layup and continued to stunt the Cyclones on defense.

The efforts of Speiser and company brought the Wildcats a 12-0 run that resulted in a 34-28

The lead was eventually halted temporarily by Kenzie Hare of the Cyclones, who hit a three-pointer to bring the Cyclones their first points in several minutes.

K-State went on a 12-0 scoring run midway through the quarter to get out to a 34-28 lead before Kenzie Hare broke up the streak with a three-pointer of her own. The momentum did not last long as Aniya Foy hit a huge three to bring the Cats' lead back to 6. Iowa State continued to make mistake after mistake, missing shots consistently and getting into foul trouble quickly. K-State then found themselves in the same spot after they went 1-12 from the field for a stretch late in the half.

Iowa State responded by cutting the Wildcats’ lead to one, until again Foy hit a big three to stunt

any momentum the Cyclones had. Gina Garcia was fouled on a made layup and

successfully completed the three-point play to send K-State into halftime with a 43-37 lead. To start the third quarter, Iowa State retook its first lead since 8:50 in the second following four

straight made field goals from the likes of A. Crooks and company.

A couple of Speiser three’s put the Cats back up in the meantime, until Crooks found a groove late in the quarter. Crooks put the Cyclones up 63-62, which would be the final lead change of the game. While Crooks dominated, the Cats faltered. In the same stretch that the Cyclones extended their lead, K-State missed four straight and continued to fail to capitalize on repeated Iowa State mistakes and turnovers, which surpassed 20.

Coming out of a K-State timeout, the Wildcats continued to miss shot after shot, while Iowa State

was the exact opposite. A three-pointer from Williams put the Cyclones up 85-74 while K-State

couldn't find the 3-point groove they had in the 2nd quarter.

A late 3-point play from Taryn Sides kept the energy in Bramlage Coliseum as she made both

her layup and free throw after, but the Wildcats continued to make mistake after mistake in the

In the final minutes of the fourth quarter, the Cyclones only built on their lead. Iowa State closed it out as Crooks nailed the final points of the game on two free throws to put her at 41 points and

the Cyclones up 93-79.

The Wildcats now look to the Big 12 tournament in Kansas City, which starts this Wednesday, March 4. Kansas State will play Cincinnati at 11:00 a.m. on ESPN+ at the T-Mobile Center. Iowa

State secured a bye with the win and an Arizona State loss. They will play on Thursday, March 5

against the winner of BYU/Houston.