SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota – K-State built an eight-point advantage midway through the third quarter, but (18/17) Minnesota used a big fourth quarter to edge past the Wildcats, 68-65, on Saturday afternoon in the MarketBeat Invitational at the Sanford Pentagon.
K-State (4-1) featured a season-high four players in double figures with senior forward Nastja Claessens leading the way with a game-high 20 points on 8-of-15 shooting. Senior guard Taryn Sides added 13 points, seven rebounds, six assists and two steals.
Sophomore guard Gina Garcia recorded 12 points, seven assists and four rebounds, while junior center Tzoana Tampakou added 10 points, seven rebounds and two blocks.
HOW IT HAPPENED
– Minnesota (4-0) built a six-point lead, 25-19, with 3:07 remaining in the second quarter, but the Wildcats closed the margin to two at the break, 29-27, as Claessens knocked down her second 3-pointer of the quarter. K-State shot 50.0 percent in the second stanza.
– K-State opened the third quarter on a 12-4 lead to go in front, 39-33, and forced the Gophers into a timeout with 7:15 remaining. Tampakou scored four in the run, while Claessens finished an old-fashioned 3-point play to put her in double figures for the afternoon.
– The Wildcats would fend off Minnesota late in the frame and hold a 47-45 lead entering the fourth quarter.
– The Gophers would use a 12-2 run to go in front 57-52 and force the Wildcats into a timeout with 5:35 to play after three-pointers from Grace Grocholski and Mara Braun.
– K-State chipped away at the margin and went in front, 61-60, on Sides’ third 3-pointer of the game with 2:56 remaining.
– The teams traded the lead four times in two minutes, with K-State holding a 65-64 lead with 55 seconds left after two free throws from Sides.
– Minnesota would get the final four points of the day, as Kennedy Klick hit a layup with 39 seconds and Mara Braun made two free throws with 21 seconds left. Late three-pointers from Sides and Claessens couldn’t find their mark.
– K-State shot 43.9 percent (25-of-57) from the field including 38.1 percent (8-of-21) from long distance.
QUICK FACTS
– The Wildcats lead the series with Minnesota, 11-7. Head coach Jeff Mittie is 0-2 in his career against Minnesota. K-State is 80-70 in games against current members of the Big Ten Conference.
– K-State head coach Jeff Mittie owns a career record of 695-397 (.636), including a mark of 241-162 (.598).
– The Wildcats are 175-61 (.742) in games played in the month of November. Under head coach Jeff Mittie, K-State is 61-17 (.782) in games during the 11th month.
– K-State is 98-253 (.279) against Associated Press top-25 ranked opponents, including a 26-76 (.255) mark under Mittie.
TEAM NOTES
– K-State’s starting five consisted of guards Gina Garcia, and Taryn Sides, forwards Nastja Claessens and Shaila Nde and center Tzoana Tampakou. This was the fifth time this lineup has started together this season. This was the 41st career start for Sides. This was the 40th career start for Garcia. Claessens made her 38th career start. Nde and Tampakou made their fifth starts.
– The Wildcats had three players reach double figures in the same game for the fourth straight game (3-1). Since the 2011-12 season, K-State is 218-100 (.686) when three or more players reach double figures in points in the same game.
– Since the start of the quarter system in 2015-16, K-State is 184-16 (.920) when leading entering the fourth quarter including a 4-1 mark this season.
– Over the last 13 seasons, K-State is 57-39 (.594) in games decided by five points or less including a 1-1 record this season.
PLAYER NOTES
– Claessens tallied her 25th career game with 10 or more points, including her fourth this season.
– Claessens knocked down three 3-pointers on Saturday. This was her ninth career game with two or more connections from long range.
– Garcia reached double figures in scoring for the ninth time in her career and first time this season.
– Garcia handed out seven assists. This was her 23rd career game with five or more assists. She has led K-State in assists in 27 games in her career.
– Nde knocked down a career-high two 3-pointers. This was her first career game with two or more connections.
– Nde registered her fifth game this season with five or more rebounds.
– Tampakou scored in double figures for the third time this season.
– Tampakou hauled in seven rebounds. This was her second game this season with five or more rebounds
– Tampakou blocked a career-high two shots. This was her first game with two or more blocked shots.
– Sides tallied 10 or more points for the 45th time in her career. Her career point total stands at 963. She needs 37 points to become the 47th player in program history with 1,000 or more career points at K-State.
– Sides connected on three 3-point field goals. She ranks ninth in program history for career 3-point field goals made with 206. This was her 59th career game with two or more connections from long distance.
– Sides dished out six assists on Saturday. With her total, she improved her career number to 349 and remains 13th on the K-State career assists list. This was her 31st career game with five or more assists.
– Sides pulled in six rebounds. This was her 32nd career game with five or more rebounds.
– Sides pocketed two steals. This was her 37th career game with two or more steals.
UP NEXT
K-State returns to Bramlage Coliseum on Tuesday evening to host SMU at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday’s game is K-State’s annual $5 game. General admission tickets ordered online in advance of gameday are just $5 each, and select concession items will be available for $5, while supplies last. For tickets, call (800) 221-CATS or visit kstatesports.com/tickets.
The game is also Survivor Night, as K-State celebrates the reality competition show with the first 500 fans in attendance receiving a K-State themed Survivor Buff.
Tuesday’s game will air on ESPN+. The game can be heard on the K-State Sports Network, online at kstatesports.com and on the K-State Sports app and the flagship stations of K-State women’s basketball in Manhattan, Sunny 102.5 and 1350 KMAN.
