Cheers usually from the Kansas State student section were replaced by screams from elementary school children during the annual School Day game. Elementary schools in the Manhattan area attended the K-State’s women’s basketball matchup against the San Diego Aztecs, filling up the stands in Bramlage Coliseum just like any other game.
San Diego let the Wildcats build an eight-point lead in the second quarter before taking over and securing a 64-53 win.
Throughout the first quarter, the Wildcats accumulated 18 points and went on a nine-point run, but as the second quarter commenced, K-State lost its groove. With 6:51 left in the second quarter, guard Aniya Foy found some momentum, getting back-to-back buckets — one from the three-point arc and a layup — giving the ‘Cats a 23-15 lead.
K-State’s lead didn’t last for long, though. The Aztecs came into this matchup with an emphasis on keeping the Wildcats’ scoring to a minimum, and that is just what they did.
“We’re not playing to a good standard,” K-State head coach Jeff Mittie said. “We’re playing to the circumstances at the game. If things aren’t good for me, I play to that. If I’m frustrated, I play to that. I’m playing to a result, as opposed to playing to a standard.”
K-State went into a scoring drought for 4:22 in the second quarter, before guard Taryn Sides hit a deep three to get the Wildcats within one. Not comfortable with how close K-State was, San Diego State went on a 14-3 run over 6:07 before closing out the half leading 29-26.
“I said it right after the Ole Miss win. I said, if you want to validate the Ole Miss win, you got to come Wednesday and validate it and play well, and boy, we sure didn’t,” Mittie said.
Coming back from halftime, the Wildcats had their worst field goal percentage of the game at 15.4%, going 2-for-13.
“I think our mindset going into games fluctuates a lot,” guard Tess Heal said. “Going forward, we really need to improve that mindset and make sure every game, no matter who it is, conference, non-conference, doesn’t matter, [that] we’re locked in and ready to go.”
Going into the fourth quarter, K-State was in a 17-point deficit to the Aztecs, trying to fight their way back, but it was too little too late. The Wildcats would close the scoring gap to nine points, but that’s all San Diego would allow before securing the 64-53 win.
K-State plays one more game against Creighton before opening up Big 12 conference play.
“I don’t even think they were that physical with us compared to what we’re about to face in the Big 12,” Sides said. “I don’t know, maybe a lack of focus, just not being tough, I think, is the main thing.”
