ORLANDO, Florida – K-State used a big first quarter to propel themselves to a 93-67 win over UCF on Wednesday night at Addition Financial Arena.
The 93 points were the most by the Wildcats in a Big 12 game since carding 97 against UCF on Feb. 15, 2025.
K-State (15-13, 8-7 Big 12) saw four players reach double figures and were led by senior guard Tess Heal with 19 points. Junior forward Nastja Claessens added 16 points, freshman guard Jordan Speiser notched 15 points and freshman guard Gina Garcia tallied 10 points and seven assists.
HOW IT HAPPENED
– K-State made 12 straight field goals in the first quarter to tie its season-high for field goal percentage in a quarter at 81.3 percent (13-of-16). The Wildcats would end the frame with a 30-14 lead at the end of the first stanza. This was K-State’s fourth 30-point quarter this season.
– UCF (10-16, 2-13) would cut the K-State lead to 12, 38-26, with 3:51 remaining in the second quarter. The Wildcats would close the second stanza on a 10-2 run to hold a 48-28 lead at halftime.
– K-State shot 64.5 percent (20-of-31) from the floor in the opening half, including 55.6 percent (5-of-9) from 3-point range.
– The Wildcats outscored the Knights, 15-6, in the first two and a half minutes of the third quarter to build a 63-34 advantage with 7:32 remaining. K-State would eventually win a high-scoring third quarter, 29-28, shooting 64.7 percent (11-of-17) from the field including 62.5 percent (5-of-8) from beyond the arc and hold a 77-56 lead entering the fourth.
– K-State would hold serve in the fourth, winning the frame 16-11.
– For the night, K-State shot a season-best 58.7 percent from the field (37-of-63) including 55.0 percent (11-of-20) from 3-point range.
QUICK FACTS
– K-State leads the series, 4-0. Head coach Jeff Mittie is 6-0 in his career against UCF.
– K-State head coach Jeff Mittie owns a career record of 687-391 (.637), including a mark of 233-156 (.599).
– In its 30th season of play in the Big 12, K-State owns a record of 253-254 (.499) in Big 12 action.
– The Wildcats are 305-334 (.477) in road games during its 58-season history. Under Mittie, K-State is 56-77 (.421) in road games.
– The Wildcats are 241-205 (.540) in games played in the month of February. Under head coach Jeff Mittie, K-State is 44-46 (.489) in games during the second month.
TEAM NOTES
– K-State’s starting five consisted of guards Gina Garcia, Brandie Harrod, Tess Heal, and Taryn Sides and forward Nastja Claessens. This was the fifth time this lineup has started together this season. This was the 27th career start for Sides. This was the 26th career start for Garcia. Heal made her 15th start this season and her 89th career start. Claessens made her 24th career start. This was the Harrod’s 24th career start.
– The Wildcats held a 48-28 lead at halftime on Wednesday. Under Mittie, K-State is 185-22 (.894) when leading at halftime, including a 9-1 mark this season.
– Since the start of the quarter-system in women’s college basketball in the 2015-16 season, K-State is 173-73 (.703) when scoring 20 or more points in any quarter in a game, including a 13-8 mark this season. The Wildcats have 38 quarters this season with 20 or more points scored.
– This season, K-State owns 40 quarters with an effort of 50.0 percent or better shooting from the field, including the first (81.3) and third (64.7) quarters on Wednesday.
– This was the 17th time (11-6) this season K-State has scored 70 or more points in a game. Since the 2014-15 season, K-State is 142-26 (.845) when scoring 70 or more points in a game.
– K-State carded a 44-32 advantage in points in the paint. The Wildcats have had the edge in the paint in 16 games and have tallied 30 or more points in the paint in 16 games.
PLAYER NOTES
– Heal reached double figures for the 88th time in her career, including her 14th time this season. Heal’s collegiate career point total now stands at 1,730 points.
– Heal knocked down three 3-pointers on Wednesday. She has 29 career games with two or more connections from long range, including her sixth this season.
– Garcia reached double figures for the seventh time this season.
– Garcia handed out seven assists on Wednesday. This was her 14th game this season with five or more assists. Garcia has dished out 134 assists this season, which is sixth in program history by a freshman.
– Sides dished out nine assists. She is 17th on the K-State career assists list with 303 assists. This was her 26th career game, including her 11th this season, with five or more assists.
– Speiser tallied 16 points. This was her 14th game this season with 10 or more points.
– Speiser connected on three 3-pointers. This was her 13th game this season with two or more connections from long distance.
– Claessens reached double figures in scoring for the 15th time this season.
UP NEXT
K-State returns to Bramlage Coliseum on Saturday at 4 p.m., as the Wildcats host Kansas in the Dillons Sunflower Showdown. Saturday’s game will be Senior Night, as the Wildcats will honor Tess Heal and Mikayla Parks. For tickets, call (800) 221-CATS or visit kstatesports.com/tickets.
The game will air on ESPN+ and can be heard online at kstatesports.com, on the K-State Sports app and the flagship stations of K-State women’s basketball in Manhattan, Sunny 102.5 and 1350 KMAN.
