In a dominant display, backup guard Taryn Sides contributed a crucial 21 points, hitting 6 out of 7 three-pointers, leading the No. 14 ranked Kansas State Wildcats to a commanding 97-67 victory over UCF on Saturday. This win marked the Wildcats’ 16th consecutive triumph at home, showcasing their impressive performance.
The Wildcats (24-3, 12-2 in the Big 12) quickly established their dominance by scoring the first seven points of the third quarter, extending their lead to 28 points. They concluded the third period with a powerful 10-0 run, finishing the quarter at 81-44. During this pivotal stretch, Sides shined with three three-pointers, registering 10 points and four assists. Over the course of the game, she not only scored 21 points but also recorded six assists, four rebounds, four steals, and two blocks, making her an essential part of the team’s success.
Temira Poindexter and Jaelyn Glenn also made significant contributions, scoring 16 and 14 points respectively. Both players impressively shot 4 of 6 from beyond the arc, helping the Wildcats convert 14 of 20 three-point attempts as a collective. Kansas State exhibited exceptional shooting, finishing with a 58% shooting percentage from the field and sinking 13 of 16 free throws.
Zyanna Walker added another 14 points for the Wildcats, who shared the ball exceptionally well; Walker, Glenn, and Sides each dished out six assists, with Kansas State ultimately achieving 27 assists on 35 field goals.
For UCF, Kaitlin Peterson led the scoring with 19 points, while Nevaeh Brown and Achol Akot each chipped in 12 points. The Knights faced challenges throughout the game, particularly in the first quarter, where Kansas State capitalized on UCF’s turnovers, scoring 11 points off those mistakes and establishing an early 32-16 lead.
Before halftime, Sides spearheaded a 9-0 run with a layup and a three-pointer that pushed K-State’s advantage to 50-27. At the intermission, the Wildcats were shooting an impressive 59% from the floor and had made 7 of their 12 three-point attempts (58%).
Looking ahead, Kansas State is set to face No. 18 West Virginia on Monday, while UCF will travel to Kansas on Tuesday. The Wildcats continue to solidify their position in the rankings with such performances, looking forward to maintaining their winning momentum.
