Temira Poindexter came to Kansas State to play in the biggest games and deliver in the biggest moments. That she did, knocking down eight 3-pointers in the Wildcats’ one-point overtime win over Kentucky to advance to the Sweet 16.
“It was a good feeling that I was able to help my team, with the threes being so open, all I wanted to do was hit them, so it felt good,” Poindexter said.
Poindexter, a native of Sapulpa, Oklahoma, committed to play basketball at Tulsa out of high school, where she played three seasons and started in 87 of 93 games. At Tulsa, Poindexter quickly became a standout star, with 16.8 points per game over the span of her career.
Temira scored 1,560 career points at Tulsa, which ranks third in school history. After her last season as a Golden Hurricane, Poindexter entered the transfer portal, hoping to achieve her goal of playing in the NCAA tournament.
“I’m grateful to be a part of something that is bigger than myself,” she said. “That was a goal of coming here to K-State, to reach the NCAA tournament. I know this team has been through a lot the past couple of years, so I was glad we could win that game and keep dancing.”
Not only did Temira knock down eight 3’s, but she also recorded six blocks in the win against Kentucky, becoming the first player in NCAA women’s tournament history to record six blocks and six threes in the same game.
With the ‘Cats, Poindexter was an All-Big 12 third team selection. Poindexter shot a career-high 41% from beyond the arc, which is one of the reasons head coach Jeff Mittie and staff recruited her.
“We needed shooting, a high-volume shooter that could knock them down,” Mittie said.
Switching from a mid-major in Tulsa to an established Top 25 program with seniors aplenty, Poindexter noted that the change of mindset was the biggest difference in making the jump.
“At Tulsa, it was very different,” she said. “I kind of did whatever I wanted to do. Coming in here, I wanted to provide in the areas that the team needs me for that game or do whatever I can to help the team and get to where we are at now.”
Poindexter has a quick release that allows her to get her shot off, coming off screens easily. She also stands at 6-foot-2, which gives her the ability to shoot over smaller defenders.
Against Kentucky, Poindexter missed her first six shots of the game before going on a tear, finding in a zone that Kentucky couldn’t stop.
“It was honestly tough for me, after missing the first couple, I wanted to stop shooting,” she said. “My teammates really had my back in that game. They told me to let it fly, so that’s what I did, and it was a good feeling to help the team in that way.”
One of those teammates, point guard Serena Sundell, who just recently became the all time assist leader in K-State history, has a great deal of faith in Poindexter and others on the team.
“I have the most confidence in them, and I want to share that with them,” Sundell said. “I think Temira gets to a point where we need her not to think, we just need her to shoot the ball if she’s open.”
Poindexter and the Wildcats travel to Spokane, Washington, to face No. 1 seed USC in the Sweet 16. The game will tip off at approximately 7 p.m. on Saturday on ESPN.
