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The Lady Toppers (2-0) never trailed in its victory against the Thorobreds (0-2) and outscored Kentucky State in every quarter.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After going back-and-forth for the first few minutes of the game, WKU took its first double-digit lead at the 6:16 mark of the first quarter thanks to a 7-0 run by the Lady Toppers. A three from the Thorobreds a few minutes later cut the lead back down to nine and again cut the lead down to eight with 2:36 left behind another three. That would be the last time Kentucky State would be within single digits the rest of the game.
After taking a 27-14 advantage in the first quarter, WKU took it up a notch in the second, outscoring the Thorobreds, 31-11. The Lady Toppers were ahead 58-25 at halftime.
Through the first five minutes of the third quarter, WKU was outscoring Kentucky State 17-6 but the Thorobreds responded with an 11-2 run to end the quarter.
WKU bounced back with a 17-0 run to start the fourth quarter, not allowing Kentucky State to score until a made free throw at the 4:06 mark.
NOTABLES
- WKU's 104 points were the most scored by a Lady Topper team since scoring 105 against Florida Atlantic on Feb. 15, 2007 in a 105-78 win. It was the first time WKU has reached 100 in regulation since Jan. 11, 2018 in a 101-47 win against FIU. The Lady Toppers improve to 50-2 all-time when scoring 100 or more points.
- The Lady Toppers held Kentucky State to just 49 points. Under Collins, WKU is 83-24 when holding teams below 70 points, 42-9 holding teams below 60 points and 9-1 when limiting teams to below 50.
- WKU shot 52.4 percent from the field for the day, making 33 of 63 shot attempts. The Lady Toppers are 26-4 under Collins when shooting 50 percent or better.
- Destiny Salary led WKU in scoring with 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the floor.
- Mariama Sow went off for a career high 17 points, going 3-of-4 from 3-point range. Sow came into the game having made three total 3-pointers in all of last season.
- Alexis Mead and Acacia Hayes each had 14 points. Hayes had a career high in rebounds with six on the day.
- Mya Pratcher set new career highs with 12 points and three steals. She also had six rebounds.
- Mackenzie Chatfield led the team in steals with six, a new career high for the sophomore.
- WKU improves to 12-0 all-time against Kentucky State.
- The Lady Toppers improve to 2-0 on the season, marking the 23rd time that WKU has started a season 2-0.
- WKU improves to 41-11 in home openers all-time.
QUOTABLE
Head coach Greg Collins:
"It was a great opportunity to get some players who just need some minutes on the floor. We're always trying to get better and there were little things that individuals did that I saw us get better. You're seeing some of the improvements on a consistent basis. (Makenzie Chatfield) is hitting some threes and she's doing a great job of reading those steal opportunities. Mya Pratcher is sitting down and guarding really hard. So, you see some players really showing some growth. Acacia Hayes had six rebounds, I'm not sure if she had six rebounds in three games last year. I'm really proud of that effort. There are a lot of areas where we're slowly showing improvement."
Graduate guard Destiny Salary:
"We wanted to come in and get better on our end. We wanted to come in and protect home court and just get better as a team. We weren't so much worried about the scoreboard or anything like that. We just wanted to work on what we needed to work on to get better. I think everyone came out and did exactly what Coach (Collins) asked them to do. We're grateful for the win."
Senior forward Mariama Sow:
"The team is really helping me build my confidence back up because I kind of lost it a couple of years ago. So, they are really helping me, and the coaches are doing a great job, too. It's a big deal for me."
NEXT UP
The Lady Toppers will hit the road again, taking on Mercer in Macon, Georgia on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 6 p.m.
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.
