MANHATTAN, Kan. — In a strong showing to kick off their Big 12 season, the Kansas State Wildcats, ranked 13th, triumphed over the Cincinnati Bearcats with a final score of 76-59 on Sunday. Temira Poindexter led the Wildcats with an impressive 23 points, while teammate Serena Sundell contributed a double-double with 11 points and 11 assists.

The Wildcats, boasting a record of 13-1, maintained control for 32 minutes of the game. Their dominance was solidified during a pivotal 16-0 run in the third quarter. This stretch included two 3-pointers and a pair of layups from Poindexter, propelling Kansas State to a commanding 55-25 lead with just under five minutes remaining in the period, thanks to their effective shooting of seven out of nine attempts.

Despite Kansas State extending their lead, Cincinnati fought back in the latter part of the quarter with A’riel Jackson scoring 11 of Cincinnati’s last 13 points, narrowing the deficit to 57-38 by the end of the third. The Bearcats opened the fourth quarter with the initial eight points but could not reduce the lead to single digits.

In addition to Poindexter and Sundell, Kansas State had further contributions from Jaelyn Glenn and Ayoka Lee, who both added 11 and 10 points, respectively. The team displayed outstanding ball movement, achieving 27 assists on 29 baskets and maintaining an efficient shooting percentage of 50%. Leading into this game, they were the top team in the nation with an average of 22.9 assists per game.

For Cincinnati, reserve player Chloe Mann contributed 13 points, while Jackson capped her performance with 11 points. The Bearcats, however, struggled to find their rhythm, finishing the game with a shooting percentage of just 31%.

The Wildcats had a sluggish start, leading only 14-8 after the first quarter. However, they bounced back decisively with 22 points in the second quarter, significantly benefiting from hitting 7 of 11 free throws, to take a 36-24 lead into halftime. This win marks Kansas State’s eighth consecutive victory, keeping the momentum strong as they continue their season.