No. 13 Kansas State women’s basketball officially opened the season with an early Monday matinee against Green Bay, recording a 92-45 home win over Green Bay.
“Good first game, (in) the first half there wasn’t a whole lot to be disappointed about,” head coach Jeff Mitte said. “I thought our team played really well. Thought they played together.”
The Phoenix were not your typical mid-major opponent, coming off a 27-win NCAA Tournament season as a No. 11 seed. Still, entering with the program’s highest preseason ranking since 2003-04, K-State established itself as the dominant team from the jump.
Tulsa transfer Temira Poindexter, a member of the nation’s top small forward watch list, recorded her first official Wildcat bucket from beyond the arc. Seven more Wildcats would record points in the first quarter, leading to a 28-7 score at the first quarter’s end.
Star center Ayoka Lee led scoring early, but she exited with a minor ankle injury. Mittie said there was a pop in the ankle.
“I think we’re fine,” he said. “They told me she was available … We’re hopeful that it wasn’t anything that is lingering, but that’s where it sits today.”
Lee’s backup at the five, Missouri State transfer Kennedy Taylor recorded eight points and seven rebounds in just seven minutes of play in the first half. She finished with a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, becoming the third Wildcat in program history to accomplish the feat, joining all-time greats in Kendra Wecker and Peyton Williams.
Taylor and sophomore guard Taryn Sides finished with eight points each in the first half, leading the Wildcats to a 49-12 mark. The second half was more of the same as K-State received help from all-around.
Senior guard Jaelyn Glenn nearly joined Taylor with a double-double, recording nine rebounds and 17 points on 6-12 shooting, including 4-9 from beyond the arc.
Glenn’s twin sister, Brylee Glenn, will currently is planning redshirt her senior season, Mittie announced after the game.
“In our conversations, there were things she wanted to improve,” Mittie said. “Obviously we’ve got a pretty deep team, (so) those opportunities might be limited …That was about three weeks ago when we had the initial conversation … She also knows that she’s got to keep herself ready… she could always change her mind … It was a tough decision for but that’s where she’s at sitting here today.”
Poindexter finished with 15 points on 6-10 shooting, 3-6 from deep. All Big-12 senior guard Serena Sundell was the last Wildcat in double-figures, scoring 12 points on 5-8 shooting.
Up next for K-State is a matchup with Belmont on Thursday at Bramlage Coliseum, broadcasting on ESPN+ at 6:30 p.m.
