K-STATE ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
CANCUN, Mexico – K-State used a school record 17 three-pointers to rally back from a halftime deficit against Columbia, 95-92 on Thanksgiving in the Mayan Division of the 2025 Cancun Challenge at the Hard Rock Riviera Maya.
K-State (5-3), who entered Thursday’s game following a 2-of-23 effort from long range at Green Bay on November 22, broke the school record for 3-point field goals made in a game with a 17-of-26 effort (.654).
The 17 three-pointers are tied for the second-most in the nation this season. K-State’s 3-point percentage of 65.4 percent is the highest by any team this season that has made 17 or more 3-point field goals in a game. The 65.4 percent effort was a team season-high from beyond the arc and was K-State’s highest on 20 or more attempts since shooting 70.0 percent (14-of-20) against UCF on February 15, 2025.
The Wildcats featured four players in double figures led by the career day of junior guard Taryn Sides. The product of Phillipsburg, Kansas, tallied a career-high 30 points on a career-high 10-of-14 shooting including a career-best 8-of-12 from long distance and added six assists, three rebounds and two steals. Sides had entered Thursday’s game shooting 21.1 percent (4-of-19) from beyond the arc in the previous three games.
Sides is the only player in the nation this season to register a game with 30 or more points, eight or more 3-point field goals made and dish five or more assists. This was the first time a player from a Power 4 Conference achieved these markers in a game since Samara Spencer of Tennessee on December 14, 2024.
Since 2009-10, Sides became the fifth player in Big 12 history and the second Wildcat to achieve these numbers in a game. Sides joins Brittany Chambers, as the only Wildcats to reach these numbers in a game. Chambers tallied 42 points, nine made 3-pointers and five assists against Texas Southern on March 21, 2013, in the first round of the 2013 WNIT.
With her eight made 3-pointers, Sides tied for the fourth most in a game in program history. Her eight 3-point connections were the most since Temira Poindexter made eight at Kentucky in the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
Sides is the only player in the nation this season to shoot 66.7 percent or better on 12 or more attempts. She is the fourth Big 12 player since at least 2009-10 and the first since Micah Gray of Oklahoma State on Nov. 25, 2024, to achieve this percentage or better on 12 or more attempts.
Joining Sides in double figures were sophomore guard Izela Arenas with 16 points, including a 3-of-5 effort from long distance.
Junior forward Nastja Claessens added 15 points on a perfect 6-of-6 effort from the field including 2-of-2 from long range. The native of Waregem, Belgium, made the record-setting 3-pointer with 3:09 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Freshman guard Brandie Harrod tallied 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting, nine rebounds and three assists.