LEXINGTON, Ky. — Ayoka Lee made a strong comeback to Kansas State’s lineup, contributing 17 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, as the Wildcats powered past Fairfield with an 85-41 triumph in the opening round of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament on Friday.
Lee, who stands at 6-foot-6, was in action for the first time since a brief four-minute appearance in their game against Kansas on February 22, a match they won 90-60. Her performance was impressive, considering she has been managing foot injuries. Lee logged 15 minutes in the match against Fairfield before exiting with just over two minutes to go in the third quarter.
Kansas State, holding a fifth seed, now advances to face the host team, Kentucky, this Sunday as part of the second-round matches. Meanwhile, Fairfield, seeded 12th, ended their tournament journey with an uninspired shooting performance, managing a season-low 29.4% from the floor.
The Wildcats set the pace early with a dominant 17-4 start, and thanks to an 11-2 burst, stretched their lead to 50-29 in the second half. Serena Sundell spearheaded Kansas State’s effort with 18 points and nine assists, while Taryn Sides chipped in 14 points.
Fairfield, renowned for having the nation’s 10th-best scoring defense at 54 points per game, struggled against the more physically imposing Kansas State. The Wildcats took full advantage of their size, outrebounding Fairfield 44-19 and outscoring them in the paint 44-20.
These performances should quell any remaining doubts concerning Lee’s health, setting the stage for a challenging matchup against a more formidable opponent in Kentucky this weekend.