Lady Toppers Fall to No. 16/22 Kansas State

Friday, November 24

Estero, Fla.

10 AM

Western Kentucky University

5-2,0-0CUSA

Kansas State

5-0,0-0Big 12

Western Ky.

Kansas St.

11/24/2023 12:49:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

ESTERO, Fla. — WKU women's basketball fell to No. 16/22 Kansas State, 77-61, on the first day of the Clean Eats Gulf Coast Showcase on Friday afternoon in Hertz Arena. The Lady Toppers will play again on Saturday, Nov. 25 at 10 a.m. against the losing team between No. 18/17 North Carolina and Vermont.

Sophomore Acacia Hayes went off for a season high 29 points in the game which was two shy of her career high. Hayes was 11-of-15 from the field and 7-of-8 from the free throw line. Twenty-one of her points came in the second half, including a 14-point third quarter. Hayes also filled out the stat line with five rebounds, five steals, three assists and two blocks. The two blocks were a career high, and her five boards tied her career high.

WKU took care of the ball, limiting themselves to 13 turnovers which is the second fewest by WKU this season. The Lady Toppers forced Kansas State into 17 miscues which is the fewest by a WKU opponent this season.

The Lady Toppers connected on just three 3-pointers in the game, which is tied for the fewest by WKU this season.

WKU scored the first points of the game when Odeth Betancourt knocked down a baseline jumper at the 9:22 mark. The two teams went back-and-forth, but a three from Mead and a layup from Hayes late in the quarter put WKU ahead by four. Both teams traded baskets again and WKU took a 16-14 lead into the second quarter.

Kansas State tied the game with the first points of the second quarter, but a pair of free throws from Hayes put the Lady Toppers back ahead by two. The Wildcats went on a 5-0 run to go ahead by three, but a three from Mead tied the game once again. From there, Kansas State outscored WKU 18-4 to take a 39-25 lead into halftime.

Betancourt once again scored the first points of the quarter, making another jumper, to cut the lead down to 12. The Wildcats went 3-of-4 from the free throw line on the next two possessions to go back ahead by 15. The Lady Toppers scored the last four points of the period to take a 58-43 score into the final quarter.

Five straight points from Faustino around the 3:00 mark of the fourth quarter cut the Kansas State lead down to 13, but a three from the Wildcats pushed it back out to 16.

How to Follow the Lady Toppers: For complete information on Lady Topper Hoops, visit WKUSports.com or follow the program via social media @LadyTopperHoops on X, @LadyTopperHoops on Instagram and on Facebook at facebook.com/WKUWomensBasketball.