MANHATTAN, Kan. – The Kansas State women’s basketball team endured a fourth quarter rally from South Dakota on Thursday night and iced the game with a perfect effort from the free throw line in overtime to win 84-81 at Bramlage Coliseum.
K-State has opened a season 3-0 for the second straight season and the 23rd time in program history. Head coach Jeff Mittie is the second coach in program history (Lynn Hickey) to begin their first two seasons at K-State with 3-0 records.
Kindred Wesemann led all scorers with 28 points, including a 12-of-12 performance from the free throw line, a career-high seven assists and three steals. Breanna Lewis tallied 22 points and seven rebounds, while Megan Deines notched her third straight game in double figures with 17.
South Dakota was led by Caitlin Duffy with 21 points on 7-of-13 shooting from 3-point range and Nicole Seekamp with 20 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds and three assists.
The Wildcats trailed early, as the Coyotes opened with a 6-0 run. K-State ended the first quarter on a 15-3 run to hold a 15-9 lead. Deines paced K-State with five points, while Lewis and Wesemann added four each.
K-State extended its lead to 11, 23-12 with 7:19 to play in the second quarter, as Wesemann knocked down her second 3-point field of the quarter.
South Dakota used a 22-5 run to take a 37-30 lead at the half. The Coyotes hit five 3-pointers on five consecutive possessions to build their lead.
After the Coyotes extended their lead to nine, K-State used a 9-2 run over a two-minute stretch to pull to within 41-39 with 7:46 to play in the third quarter. Wesemann drained her fourth 3-pointer of the night during the run while Lewis added four points.
A fast break layup by Deines gave K-State a 45-43 lead with 5:31 to play in the third quarter. Kaylee Page followed with a three-pointer to give K-State a 48-43 lead with 5:01 to play in the third.
The Wildcats entered the fourth quarter with a 58-51 lead and held a 69-64 advantage following a Lewis layup with 1:51 remaining in regulation.
South Dakota ended the fourth quarter on a 6-1 run, highlighted by three free throws by Seekamp with 2.8 seconds remaining to tie the game at 70.
In the extra session, Wesemann was a perfect 8-of-8 from the foul line, while Lewis added four points and Shaelyn Martin registered her only made field goal on a layup.
The Coyotes’ Seekamp made a late layup to narrow the game to 82-81 with four seconds remaining, but Wesemann drained two free throws for the final margin.
K-State travels east to face No. 1/1 Connecticut on Monday at 6 p.m.
— KSU Athletics —