Disappointing finish forces Kansas State women's basketball to regroup and look ahead
MANHATTAN — Heading into the NCAA Tournament, the Kansas State women's basketball team hoped to still be playing this Saturday in Albany, New York, potentially facing Iowa in the Sweet 16.
But thanks to a disappointing second-round home loss to Colorado, the Wildcats now have turned their attention to the future and how they can build on what still was a memorable 2023-24 season.
"It's been a heck of a year, but when you end it this way … this one is going to sting for a while," K-State coach Jeff Mittie said following a 63-50 loss in front of more than 10,000 partisan fans at Bramlage Coliseum.
Perhaps lost in the disappointment is the fact that the Wildcats did indeed have a heck of a season, going 26-8 and climbing as high as No. 2 in both national polls at one point. And they accomplished that despite playing seven games without star center Ayoka Lee, a four-time All-Big 12 selection who has been named to several All-America teams.
Playing without Lee, who missed all of last season with a knee injury and then hurt her ankle early in Big 12 play this year, proved to be a challenge for the Wildcats, who became much more of a perimeter-oriented team in her absence. It also meant they had to readjust when she rejoined the lineup, and they never quite recaptured the earlier magic that included a 14-game winning streak and a road victory against Iowa.
Related: Critical call against Kansas State women's basketball turns game in Colorado's favor
The biggest question as the Wildcats turn the page to 2024-25 is whether or not Lee returns for a fifth, super-senior COVID year. She already has been on campus for six seasons, losing two of them to injury and is on track to earn her master's degree this spring.
Lee said after her final regular-season home game that she had not yet decided, something she reiterated following the loss to Colorado.
If Lee returns, she no doubt will be a focal point of the offense again after averaging 19.7 points per game. She currently is third on K-State's career scoring list the career leader in both rebounds and blocked shots.
The Wildcats do return three senior guards in Big 12 all conference pick Serena Sundell (12.1 points, 5.6 assists) and twins Jaelyn and Brylee Glenn, who have started since they were freshmen. Post players Eliza Maupin, Imani Lester and Gisela Sanchez also should be back, along with guards Zyanna Walker and Taryn Sides, forming a solid core group.
Related: How Kansas State women's basketball edged Colorado for March Madness home games
Other potential contributors are sophomore guard Mikayla Parks and freshman forward Alexis Hess, both of whom redshirted, plus high school recruit Finley Ohnstad, a wing player from Minnesota.
Gone are super-senior starting guard Gabby Gregory, a vocal leader on the team, who averaged 9.4 points and 3.4 assists, plus senior reserve Rebekah Dallinger. Also, reserve forward Heavenly Greer and guard Ja'Mia Harris last week entered the transfer portal.
Sundell said that for the returning players, they can use the disappointment of the loss to Colorado as fuel for next season.
"We'll remember this and there's a lot that we can learn from it," she said. "Those are the kinds of moments you think about when you work out.
"You look back to this moment and you remember why you're doing it."
Related: Gap Goat's popularity continues to grow with every Kansas State women's basketball win
One area where the Wildcats need to improve, even if Lee returns, is perimeter shooting. They shot just 31.4% from 3-point range, and Sundell (39.8%) was the only starter to reach 32%.
K-State also could use another scoring threat inside if Lee chooses not to come back.
On the other end, the Wildcats were an elite defensive team, holding opponents to 58 points per game on 36.2% shooting. Whether they can duplicate that if Lee elects not to come back and serve as a rim protector at the back, remains to be seen.
"It has been super special," Sundell said of the season. "This team, just top to bottom on the roster, had so much fun in practice and we had so much fun outside of basketball, too. So just to be a part of that, I'm super grateful and thankful."
And now it is on to 2024-25.
Arne Green is based in Salina and covers Kansas State University sports for the Gannett network. He can be reached at agreen@gannett.com or on Twitter at @arnegreen.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Time to look toward the future for Kansas State women's basketball
