MANHATTAN, Kansas – K-State used a full team effort on Wednesday afternoon to end its non-conference regular season schedule with a 77-46 win over Morgan State at Bramlage Coliseum.
K-State (11-2) has won 11 games before the beginning of Big 12 play for the first time since the 2008-09 season. With the win, K-State extended its win streak in home non-conference games to 19 straight.
Senior Gabby Gregory led all scorers with 20 points on 6-of-12 shooting and a 6-of-7 effort from the free throw line and pulled in six rebounds. Gregory, celebrating her birthday on Wednesday, has scored 20 or more points in four of the last five games.
Junior guard Rebekah Dallinger came off the bench to register her first double figure scoring game of the season with 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting. Dallinger entered Wednesday's game in an 0-of-17 shooting slump and had not scored since against Wisconsin on Nov. 11.
Of the 12 available Wildcats for Wednesday's game, 10 tallied at least four points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Of the eight Wildcats to see the floor in the first quarter, seven scored as K-State built a 22-9 lead in the opening frame. The Wildcats shot 47.6 percent (10-of-21) from the field in the opening frame and ended the quarter on an 8-0 run, as Gregory and Ebert connected on three-pointers.
- K-State extended its run into the start of the second quarter, as Rebekah Dallinger hit a corner 3-pointer and Brylee Glenn finished a contested layup at the 9-minute mark to increase the lead to 27-9.
- Despite a mid-second quarter shooting lull, K-State was able to increase its lead to 22, 37-15, with 2:58 to play. Ebert started an 8-0 run with a baseline layup and then made a pair of free throws. Dallinger added two free throws and was followed by two free throws from Heavenly Greer.
- Four free throws from Gregory before the conclusion of the second quarter gave K-State a 41-20 lead at the half. The Wildcats were 10-of-11 from the foul line in the second quarter.
- After a sluggish third quarter that saw the Wildcats and Bears tie in the frame at 12 points each, K-State shot a season-high for a quarter in the fourth stanza.
- K-State shot 81.8 (9-of-11) percent from the field in the last quarter, its highest single quarter field goal percentage in two seasons. The shooting performance was aided by a 6-of-7 effort from the free throw line, as the Wildcats outscored the Bears in the final frame, 24-14.
- For the afternoon, K-State shot 49.1 percent (28-of-57) from the field and dished out 20 assists on the 28 made field goals.
QUICK FACTS
- This was the first meeting between K-State and Morgan State.
- The Wildcats are 2-0 all-time against current members of the MEAC.
- Kansas State owns a 237-102 record in the month of December including a 36-17 mark in the Jeff Mittie era. Over the last two seasons, K-State is 7-2 in the month of December.
- K-State is 373-150 all-time in games played in Bramlage Coliseum. The Wildcats are 219-29 against non-conference opponents in Bramlage, including a 65-8 record mark against non-conference foes in the Mittie era.
TEAM NOTES
- Wednesday's starting five were Sarah ShematsiJaelyn Glenn, Serena Sundell, Brylee Glenn, and Gabby Gregory. This was the third time this group started a game together this season.
- K-State led 41-20 at the half on Wednesday, which is tied for its largest halftime lead of the season with a 21-point lead against UTRGV on Nov. 18, 2022. The 41 first half points marked the seventh time this season K-State has scored 40 or more points in the opening half.
- K-State has tallied 70 or more points in a game 11 times this season.
- K-State's field goal percentage of 49.1 percent was the second-highest of the season for the Wildcats. The 28 made field goals were the most since the Wildcats made 28 against Northern Arizona on Nov. 25. K-State has made 24 or more field goals in a game 10 times.
- K-State handed out 20 assists on Wednesday, the third time this season K-State has dished out 20 or more assists in a game. In the last 16 seasons, K-State is 81-7 when handing out 20 or more assists in a game.
PLAYER NOTES
- Senior Gabby Gregory tallied her 53rd career game in double figures for points and her 12th at K-State. She secured her ninth game with 20 or more points this season and the 17th in her career.
- Gregory pulled in five or more rebounds for the 33rd time in her career and the ninth time this season. She led K-State on the glass for the seventh time this season.
- Junior Rebekah Dallinger tallied her second career game with 10 or more points.
- Senior Emilee Ebert was 4-of-5 from the free throw line on Wednesday. Ebert missed her first attempt on Wednesday, which leaves her tied for the school record of 38 consecutive free throws made, joining Peyton Williams as the only two players to make 38 straight free throws in school history.
FROM THE HEAD COACH
K-State Head Coach Jeff Mittie
On the non-conference season...
"I think it's been a successful non-conference season. We've had good growth. It hasn't been without adversity. I think in the last couple of weeks, we've really battled some consistency issues and we battled internally, maybe players going through a tough stretch of their own and not able to focus on team as much as we want them to. But I think that's also part of the growth that has to occur during the season. Every player, I'll use (Rebekah) Dallinger as an example. She has really struggled shooting the basketball. When I walked out of the gym last night or when I walked out of the office I needed to see our managers before I left and there was one player in the gym and it was Rebekah Dallinger and I was so excited for her to see her rewarded with a good performance today. This has been a good hard-working group. We need to be mentally tougher. We need to continue to grow in that area. Our leadership needs to grow in that area. We need to hold each other accountable to a higher standard. I thought Serena (Sundell) did a good job of that in the second half. I thought she was a vocal person out on the floor that was holding us to playing better because we did hit some lulls today where we just weren't. I think we bobbled seven or eight straight passes at the end of the first half which was just total focus. So we've got a lot of growing to do but all in all, I think pretty solid for semester."
On improved shooting percentage…
"Well it wasn't very good from three, but we shot layups better than we did last game. So that's an improvement. You know, last game we were talking about missed opportunities and layups. I think we're improving. I do think we had good looks at three, our two best three-point shooters were one of nine in the first half and all nine were really good looks. And I always kid them that I don't ever remember missing those shots. They probably don't either, because they're good shooters and they think the next one's going in. But we would take those looks again offensively, we're getting a little bit better. I'm excited about them getting a break here. I think they've earned a good break here. I know they're excited to go home. I'm excited to get a break as well. I'm excited to spend time with my family because we don't get enough of that. But I'll be excited to get back when it's time and excited about where this team got to in this first part."
On what they need to get better at when they return from Christmas break…
"Well, they come back on the 26th and you know, quite honestly, I don't even want them thinking about that. I want them to go home and enjoy their families. It'll get here quicker than they want it to, it always does. We'll handle it like we always do coming back. I mean, we'll go pretty heavy early, we'll go pretty heavy early. We'll spend a lot of time in the gym. We'll spend a lot of time looking at more film. These are teams and players that we're more familiar with going forward so we'll have more knowledge of our teams going forward. But we need our focus to continue to be on getting better. Continue to play to our strengths, eliminate as many flaws as we can and just continue, I think our leadership has got to grow here. We've been a little in and out there for my tastes but I think the break is going to be a really good time without classes for that to continue to grow, but I'm excited for them to get a little bit of a break. They've worked hard to get to this point and I know their families are excited to see him and and get a little break."
FROM THE FLOOR
EMILEE EBERT, SENIOR GUARD
On her free throw routine…
"For me, it's just the same routine every time. And I mean it's literally a free shot so you know going up there with confidence knowing it's going in. Clearly mine didn't go in but just having that mindset."
On having the most consecutive free throws in K-State history…
"Yeah, it's pretty fun. It's a fun stat. Like always I couldn't get there without my team getting me the ball, so yeah it's fun. It's an honor for sure."
On how the non-conference season has gone…
"Yeah it's been a really good non-conference season for us. Definitely gives us confidence going into conference play. We want to be playing our best basketball when that starts and that's what we intend to do. We're excited to get started."
GABBY GREGORY, SENIOR GUARD
On her experience at K-State so far…
"I think it's been a blast. I've had a lot of fun. I think as a team we've grown a lot. I've just had so much fun playing with these girls and playing for Coach Mittie. I'm excited to go into conference play and see what we do in the conference."
On if her role has been different than she envisioned…
"Obviously when I chose K-State, I was ecstatic to get to play with Yokie (Ayoka Lee). But obviously, we'll just have to wait till next year for that. But I knew that there would be more on everybody's plate, not just myself, but every single person would have to pick up the slack to make up for a player like her. There's obviously no replacing her, so yeah, I think everybody just had to do a little bit more."
UP NEXT
Following a break for the holidays, K-State returns to action on Saturday, December 31, as the Wildcats begin the 2022-23 Big 12 schedule at Texas. Game time is set for 2 p.m., and can be heard on the K-State Sports Network and on the Varsity app. The game will also air on the Longhorn Network.