COLLEGE STATION, Texas — In an impressive display, Taryn Sides contributed significantly off the bench by scoring 19 points, including five 3-pointers, as No. 13 Kansas State triumphed over Texas A&M with a commanding score of 89-50 on Sunday.
Sides matched her personal best with seven rebounds and also provided six assists during the game. Zyanna Walker shone with a career-high 17 points, while Serena Sundell added 16 points along with five assists. Jaelyn Glenn rounded out the scoring with 12 points for Kansas State, which now boasts a record of 10-1. The Wildcats have demonstrated resilience, winning their last five outings since suffering a 73-62 defeat against then-No. 13 Duke on November 25 at the Ball Dawgs Classic.
On the other hand, Texas A&M, now sitting at 5-5, continues to struggle against ranked teams, having lost 18 consecutive times to such opponents. Their last victory against a ranked team came on February 14, 2021, when they defeated then-No. 16 Tennessee with an 80-70 scoreline.
The turning point in the game came when Temira Poindexter sank a 3-pointer with 5:20 remaining in the first quarter, giving Kansas State a 7-5 lead that they would not relinquish. After Aicha Coulibaly made one of two free throws for Texas A&M, both Poindexter and Sides nailed three-point shots within a half-minute, finishing a decisive 17-2 run. Walker capped off the first quarter with a jumper as time expired, extending Kansas State’s lead to 26-10.
The Aggies struggled significantly, managing only 26.7% shooting from the field and committing ten turnovers against eight field goals made during the first half. Coulibaly was the standout performer for Texas A&M, finishing with 12 points.
Kansas State’s center Ayoka Lee, who is the preseason favorite for Big 12 player of the year, encountered difficulty after receiving her second personal foul with 6:48 left in the first quarter. She was sidelined until the second half and finished the game with her season-low of six points during her ten minutes on the court.
