K-State falls to Colorado in 2nd round of NCAA women’s Tournament
MANHATTAN, Kan. — A big third-quarter run for 5-seed Colorado helped them beat 4-seed Kansas State to advance to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA women’s tournament.
Colorado will face the winner of 1-seed Iowa and 8-seed West Virginia on Saturday in Albany at the Sweet Sixteen at a time to be determined.
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Kansas State raced out to a 6-2 lead at the beginning of the first quarter before Colorado used some defense and fast break points to tie the game at eight with less than four minutes to go.
Two transition three-pointers from Maddie Nolan gave Colorado a 14-10 lead in the last minute but buckets from Jaelyn Glenn and Serena Sundell at the buzzer tied the game at 14 at the end of the first quarter.
After a Jaylyn Sherrod free throw gave Colorado the lead, freshman guard Taryn Sides hit a three to spark an 8-0 run where Gabby Gregory hit a three and a contested layup to give KSU a 22-15 lead with 6:45 to go in the second quarter.
Colorado brought it to 26-21 with less than five minutes to go before a 7-3 run thanks to threes and a free throw from Sundell put the score at 33-24 with 3:14 to go in the half.
The Buffs got on their own 9-0 run jumpstarted by steals to tie the game at 33 with 1:11 to go. With 1.1 seconds remaining, Sundell bounced the ball off of a Colorado defender and laid it up off the glass while collecting a foul to help KSU take a 35-33 lead with 0.1 seconds remaining.
Sundell missed the ensuing free throw.
Colorado center Aaronette Vonleh had a tremendous first half guarding Ayoka Lee. She collected seven of Colorado’s nine first-half steals and limited Lee to four points.
KSU shot 56% from the field and 50% from three (4/8) in the first half compared to CU’s 41.4% from the field and 33.3 (4 of 12) from three.
Sundell led the Wildcats in the half with 11 points but had five turnovers.
Colorado tied the game at 39 early in the second half.
At the 5:15 mark of the third quarter, a personal foul was called on Sherrod, but she argued that Sundell fouled her and video replay showed that Sundell’s elbow hit Sherrod in the face.
After a video review, Sundell was charged with an intentional foul and Nolan hit the two free throws to give CU a 41-39 lead.
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The fouls were part of a 15-3 run as Colorado closed the third quarter with a 52-42 lead thanks to eight points from Tameiya Sadler.
K-State was outscored 19-7 in the quarter as well.
The Wildcats opened the 4th quarter with two quick baskets from Lee and Jaelyn Glenn.
Points became hard to come by for both teams with the next basket coming four minutes later from Colorado’s Quay Miller. Gregory responded with a three to bring the Wildcats within five at 54-49 with less than three minutes to go.
Sadler came back with a mid-range jumper to put the lead at seven with two minutes to go.
The Buffs secured the win from there, icing the game from the free-throw line en route to a 63-50 win.
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Nolan led the Buffs with 11 points and Miller contributed 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Gregory led the Wildcats with 12 points and five rebounds. Sundell added 11 points and six assists and Lee finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
K-State was marred by 22 turnovers and outrebounded 40-34. They were also outscored 30-15 in the second half and shot 22.2% from the field in the second half.
The Wildcats end their season at 26-8.
