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MANHATTAN, KANSAS – Trailing by 19 factors coming into the fourth quarter, Okay-State pulled to inside 4 factors, however Utah made simply sufficient pictures to prevail, 80-73, in Bramlage Coliseum on Saturday night.
Okay-State (9-9, 2-3 Big 12) was led by the trio of Tess Heal, Nastja Claessens and Izela Arenas. Heal carded a game-high 25 factors on 11-of-13 capturing. Heal, a senior from Melbourne, Australia, is the fourth participant in program historical past since 1981-82 to register 25 or extra factors with 11 or extra made subject objectives and shoot 84.0 % or higher from the sphere. She is the primary since Ayoka Lee tallied 36 factors on 15 made subject objectives and 88.2 % capturing towards North Florida on Dec. 16, 2023.
Claessens, a junior from Waregem, Belgium, tallied 13 factors, 4 rebounds and three steals.
Arenas, a sophomore from Los Angeles, California, got here off the bench to card 12 factors on 5-of-7 capturing and pocketed three steals.
Utah (13-4, 4-1) was led by Reese Ross with a double-double of 21 factors and 10 rebounds and Grace Foster with 17 factors.
HOW IT HAPPENED
– Trailing 62-41 after Ross scored a layup for the Utes to start the fourth quarter, Okay-State responded with a 21-5 run to drag to inside 4, 67-63, with 3:07 remaining. During the run, Heal scored 11 factors in the course of the run, whereas Arenas added 5 and Claessens chipped in with 4. Aiding within the comeback effort, Okay-State was an ideal 10-of-10 from the sphere for the primary seven minutes of the stanza.
– Following the second Utah timeout, the Utes completed a three-point play from Maty Wilke after which added a 3-pointer from Foster to rebuild the benefit to 10, 73-63, with 2:09 left.
– Free throws by the Utes saved the margin at at least 10 factors till Heal related on a three-pointer with 11 seconds left for the ultimate margin.
– The Wildcats scored a season-high for any quarter 32 factors within the fourth body on 81.3 % (13-of-16) capturing. The 32 factors are essentially the most in a fourth quarter for Okay-State since scoring a fourth quarter college report 34 factors towards Central Arkansas on Nov. 9, 2021.
– Utah put itself in place for its huge fourth quarter lead by capturing the primary half, 41-29, and capturing 55.2 % (16-of-29) from the sphere within the opening half.
– The Wildcats began the third quarter with a four-point burst to slender the margin to eight, 41-33. Utah answered with a 17-2 run to construct its result in 23, 58-35, with 2:06 left. Okay-State was held scoreless for over 5 minutes in the course of the run.
– Okay-State ended the night capturing 46.9 % (30-of-64) from the sphere together with 27.6 % (8-of-29) from past the arc.
– Utah shot 50.0 % or higher from the sphere in three of the 4 quarter and completed at 50.0 % (27-of-54) together with 36.7 % (11-of-30) from lengthy distance.
QUICK FACTS
– Utah leads the sequence with Okay-State, 5-4. The Wildcats are 2-3 in video games performed in Manhattan. Head coach Jeff Mittie is 11-9 in his profession towards Houston.
– Okay-State head coach Jeff Mittie owns a profession report of 681-387 (.638), together with a mark of 227-152 (.599).
– In its 30th season of play within the Big 12, Okay-State owns a report of 247-250 (.497) in Big 12 motion.
– Okay-State is 417-162 (.720) in its Thirty eighth-season inside Bramlage Coliseum, together with a 147-54 (.731) report below Mittie.
– The Wildcats are 266-197 (.575) in video games performed within the month of January. Under head coach Jeff Mittie, Okay-State is 46-45 (.505) in video games in the course of the 1st month.
TEAM NOTES
– Okay-State’s beginning 5 consisted of guards Gina Garcia, Brandie Harrod, Taryn Sides and Jordan Speiser and ahead Nastja Claessens. This was the primary time this lineup has began collectively this season. This was the seventeenth profession begins for Sides and Harrod. This was the sixteenth profession begin for Garcia. Claessens made her 14th profession begin. Speiser made her third profession begin.
– This season, Okay-State owns 26 quarters with an effort of fifty.0 % or higher capturing from the sphere, together with the fourth (81.3) quarter on Saturday.
– The Wildcats’ bench outscored the Utes’ bench, 39-27. The Wildcats have had the sting in bench factors in 15 video games this season (8-7).
PLAYER NOTES
– Heal reached double figures for the 82nd time in her profession, together with her eighth time this season. This was her 29th profession sport with 20 or extra factors and her first this season. Heal’s collegiate profession level complete now stands at 1,643 factors. She has led Okay-State in scoring in 4 straight video games and 5 occasions this season.
– Heal is the primary participant since Ayoka Lee from March 9 to March 24, 2024, to register consecutive video games of 20 or extra factors.
– Heal made two 3-pointers on Saturday. This was her 27th profession sport with two or extra 3-point subject objectives made.
– Claessens scored in double figures for the tenth time this season and the fourth straight sport.
– Sides buried two 3-pointers on Saturday. This was her thirteenth sport this season and the 44th of her profession with two or extra connections from 3-point vary. With her two connections, Sides moved right into a tie for 13th in program historical past for profession 3-pointers (153).
– Sides dished out 5 assists on Saturday. Sides ranks 22nd in program historical past for profession assists (260). This was her 23rd profession sport with 5 or extra assists and her eighth this season.
– Gina Garcia registered 5 assists. She is the 12th freshman in program historical past to report 80 or extra assists (89 assists this season). This was her eleventh profession sport with 5 or extra assists.
FROM THE HEAD COACH
Okay-State Head Coach Jeff Mittie
Opening Statement…
“Well, unfortunately, by the time we decided to compete, they had a pretty big lead, and we’d let them get fairly comfortable. So it was disappointing for us, because we wanted the game like it was the last maybe 12, 13,14, minutes. We didn’t play hard enough and didn’t compete well enough early to get that kind of game. So, I’m disappointed for our fans. I’m disappointed that we had another pretty solid crowd and we come out and don’t play as well as I think we’re capable of.”
On if Tess Heal will be the go-to scorer the remainder of the season…
“Well, I wouldn’t count Tess out. She’s got that right mentality. We got to get the right match up for her. But she’s a crafty scorer. She’s done it in her career. (She) did it at Santa Clara, but wasn’t as big a score at Stanford before she came here. She knows how to play. She competes every possession and certainly she’s given us a big lift in that area.”
On if he approached Tess Heal asking her to step up the final couple video games…
“No, it’s been more of a natural progression. Her and I talked right after the break with some things about what we needed more going forward, but it really wasn’t related to necessarily scoring. I think what we found as a staff is there’s some things that we’re probably coaching her better and getting her in better position, and, boy, she sure is delivering. One of the things that we’re trusting now with Tess is that she understands how to score down there. I think early in the year, she was maybe throwing up some wild shots trying to get fouls. Now you’re seeing a much better patience. In the last three or four games, you’ve really seen her excel.”
On why Okay-State switched to zone protection within the fourth quarter…
“Well, they shot 60% within the first (quarter), 50% within the second (quarter). They find yourself 50% within the fourth (quarter). We weren’t guarding them very nicely within the man-to-man early. I needed much more chaos on this sport. I exploit that phrase. It was one of many phrases on the board earlier than the sport that we needed to create. We simply did not do it early on this sport. We weren’t enjoying with the trouble. We weren’t enjoying with the urgency. I did not assume our beginning group acquired off to an excellent begin that means. I assumed Aniya Foy gave us a giant elevate there. I assumed (Izela) Arenas gave us a elevate there.
She finally ends up with three steals and that is nearly half of what she had in the whole season. I assumed (Nastja) Claessens early defensively wasn’t superb. I did not like the best way she was flying round. I did not like her aggressiveness. I assumed she was behind performs. She picks up the 2 fouls primarily as a result of I feel she was behind performs. But, I assumed as the sport progressed, she acquired actually good. So, we simply wanted to throw a unique take a look at them. Sometimes it isn’t essentially about what you are doing nicely. They have been actually in a great rhythm towards our man-to-man. I simply needed to offer them a unique look.”
On if it is a good factor or a foul factor that Okay-State closed the hole late…
“I think that both can be true. Both can be true. I can positively say that (I’m) proud of the fight, proud of the fact that we continue to raise our level up. You saw us dive on the floor (and) play the game the right way. It’s equally as frustrating to say, ‘What would have happened if that would have been our start today?’ If that would have been our start. If that’s how we would have started this game, diving on the floor, creating chaos, playing better together. If that would have been our start with this game, would this game have been different? That’s where it’s disappointing and frustrating that that wasn’t our start because we don’t know the answer to that. We obviously fought hard at the end, and, for that, I hope we can build off of it.”
Utah Head Coach Gavin Petersen
Opening Statement…
“(It was a) really, really good game, exciting game for those in attendance down the stretch. Credit to Kansas State for continuing to scrap and fight. They went with a really small lineup that we obviously had a hard time containing. Defensively, they got into a zone. (It was the) first time we’ve seen zone all season. Kind of high risk, high reward, but that’s kind of what you got to be ready for in our conference – great coaches, great players – so we’ve got to be ready for everything. But, extremely proud. I challenged our team to start every quarter off with an intensity and focus, and we did that. In the fourth quarter, I think we started to play not to lose as opposed to attack and play to win. But, like I always said, it’s always good to learn some of these lessons on how to close games out in wins as opposed to losses. So, we’ll watch the film, and we’ll learn from it and grow. (I’m) just really proud of how we closed it out. Even when they cut it to six, we’re able to get it back up to 10. Obviously the end result was up by seven. But again, credit to K-State and Coach Mittie, an amazing coach and his players played hard all the way to the end.”
On what he feels the place his crew was excelling essentially the most…
“I think it was a mentality like we’re going to execute, we’re going to get our post some touches, play inside out if you have an open shot, then let it fly. That’s Utah basketball. We always pass up a good shot for a great shot. Keep the ball moving. It wasn’t until I think the crowd got into it, the full court pressure might have got us to kind of be on our heels. That’s probably why we got off that run. But, when we were hitting our shots, hitting our passes, we’re playing a little differently mentally, with an edge and confidence about us. But again, credit to them, and we just got to get back to the drawing board in terms of learning how to close things out with that type of mentality.”
On the scoring risk of Reece Ross…
“She’s finding her rhythm within our offense. We do call some plays for her, but other than that, when she’s just having to read and take what the defense gives us, I think her experience having been with us for three years, I’m starting to see a confidence in her and understanding where those moments are. So, really good. When our posts, our fours and our fives, are able to do that and put pressure on the rim, defenses are going to have to figure out how they want to stop us. That opens up open looks for our good shooters.”
On Brooke Walker enjoying two video games in her house state…
“Brooke having gone through some games where she missed and then getting her rhythm back back into the starting lineup, I still think she doesn’t think it’s very long, but four weeks out is a long time in the middle of the season to take a break, right? So, I think she’s getting her game experience back. With her at full go, it just makes us a better team. So, (I’m) really happy for her. She got to come back home. You know, mom and dad went to KU and then, obviously, I’m sure they might dislike the color purple a little bit, but you know that it’s cool that she gets to bring her team here and walk out of here in the state of Kansas with two victories. Pretty cool.”
FROM THE FLOOR
Okay-State Senior Guard Tess Heal
On what the largest change was that Okay-State made in the course of the fourth quarter…
“I think we just wanted it more. I think the realization hit that, ‘Damn, we’re down, whatever we were down, 12, 15, seven, whatever it was, I don’t know, but we’re down. We wanted to win that fourth quarter, which wasn’t emblematic of the entire game.”
On her efficiency in current fourth quarters…
“I think it’s the sense of urgency of the clock. Like, yeah, we only have five minutes to get this done, or 10 minutes to get this done. I got to be better. I can’t keep just showing up in the fourth quarter. That’s not fair to this team. I need to be better.”
On why she was the one to drive to the basket within the second half…
“I think just the way they were playing it allowed me to go one on one a lot. They were staying out on our shooters. I felt in the first half, they really crashed down on a lot of things, and when I would drive, they would cram paint. So, there wasn’t really much space to maneuver. But, in the second half, I felt like they stayed out on everybody. So, it was a one-on-one matchup, which I can take advantage of. But, like I said, I need to be better. I need to be able to do what I did in the second in the first. I think we need more contributors, and we just need to be more consistent.”
On taking her management to a unique stage the previous few video games…
“I think it’s a mentality thing. I’ve definitely been more aggressive. The first couple games or the first half of the season that I’ve come to K-State, I was a bit more passive than I have been. I looked in the mirror, and I thought, ‘No, I need to go back to how I was at Santa Clara.’ At Santa Clara, I was a point guard, a leader and scorer. I went away from that role at Stanford. It was just a different team, different circumstances. So, I assumed a different role where I just sort of played a shooter and stood in the corner. I think the recognition of, ‘No, this team needs me to score and needs me to create and needs what I can do offensively,’ that was really big for me when I reflected on it. That’s what I’ve tried to embody in the past few games.”
Okay-State Junior Forward Nastja Claessens
On the largest problem that Utah introduced to Okay-State’s protection…
“It is a great shooting team. We knew that from the start. We should be able to know the scout and stop their shooters because they had a lot of 3s, and those really hurt us.”
On if she feels she picked it up offensively within the second half…
“You can always do better, I feel like. I made more points in the second half, but I need to be more present and more aggressive on offense. Sometimes I tend to not include myself in the offense and tend to watch it. So I need to be more aggressive and be more into plays so I can help my teammates and help the offense.”
UP NEXT
Following a midweek break, Okay-State will make its fourth journey to the state of Texas this season, because the Wildcats go to (17/20) Texas Tech at 1 p.m.
The sport will be streamed on ESPN+ and will be heard on-line at kstatesports.com, on the Okay-State Sports app and the flagship stations of Okay-State ladies’s basketball in Manhattan, Sunny 102.5 and 1350 KMAN.
Okay-State (9-9, 2-3 Big 12) was led by the trio of Tess Heal, Nastja Claessens and Izela Arenas. Heal carded a game-high 25 factors on 11-of-13 capturing. Heal, a senior from Melbourne, Australia, is the fourth participant in program historical past since 1981-82 to register 25 or extra factors with 11 or extra made subject objectives and shoot 84.0 % or higher from the sphere. She is the primary since Ayoka Lee tallied 36 factors on 15 made subject objectives and 88.2 % capturing towards North Florida on Dec. 16, 2023.
Claessens, a junior from Waregem, Belgium, tallied 13 factors, 4 rebounds and three steals.
Arenas, a sophomore from Los Angeles, California, got here off the bench to card 12 factors on 5-of-7 capturing and pocketed three steals.
Utah (13-4, 4-1) was led by Reese Ross with a double-double of 21 factors and 10 rebounds and Grace Foster with 17 factors.
HOW IT HAPPENED
– Trailing 62-41 after Ross scored a layup for the Utes to start the fourth quarter, Okay-State responded with a 21-5 run to drag to inside 4, 67-63, with 3:07 remaining. During the run, Heal scored 11 factors in the course of the run, whereas Arenas added 5 and Claessens chipped in with 4. Aiding within the comeback effort, Okay-State was an ideal 10-of-10 from the sphere for the primary seven minutes of the stanza.
– Following the second Utah timeout, the Utes completed a three-point play from Maty Wilke after which added a 3-pointer from Foster to rebuild the benefit to 10, 73-63, with 2:09 left.
– Free throws by the Utes saved the margin at at least 10 factors till Heal related on a three-pointer with 11 seconds left for the ultimate margin.
– The Wildcats scored a season-high for any quarter 32 factors within the fourth body on 81.3 % (13-of-16) capturing. The 32 factors are essentially the most in a fourth quarter for Okay-State since scoring a fourth quarter college report 34 factors towards Central Arkansas on Nov. 9, 2021.
– Utah put itself in place for its huge fourth quarter lead by capturing the primary half, 41-29, and capturing 55.2 % (16-of-29) from the sphere within the opening half.
– The Wildcats began the third quarter with a four-point burst to slender the margin to eight, 41-33. Utah answered with a 17-2 run to construct its result in 23, 58-35, with 2:06 left. Okay-State was held scoreless for over 5 minutes in the course of the run.
– Okay-State ended the night capturing 46.9 % (30-of-64) from the sphere together with 27.6 % (8-of-29) from past the arc.
– Utah shot 50.0 % or higher from the sphere in three of the 4 quarter and completed at 50.0 % (27-of-54) together with 36.7 % (11-of-30) from lengthy distance.
QUICK FACTS
– Utah leads the sequence with Okay-State, 5-4. The Wildcats are 2-3 in video games performed in Manhattan. Head coach Jeff Mittie is 11-9 in his profession towards Houston.
– Okay-State head coach Jeff Mittie owns a profession report of 681-387 (.638), together with a mark of 227-152 (.599).
– In its 30th season of play within the Big 12, Okay-State owns a report of 247-250 (.497) in Big 12 motion.
– Okay-State is 417-162 (.720) in its Thirty eighth-season inside Bramlage Coliseum, together with a 147-54 (.731) report below Mittie.
– The Wildcats are 266-197 (.575) in video games performed within the month of January. Under head coach Jeff Mittie, Okay-State is 46-45 (.505) in video games in the course of the 1st month.
TEAM NOTES
– Okay-State’s beginning 5 consisted of guards Gina Garcia, Brandie Harrod, Taryn Sides and Jordan Speiser and ahead Nastja Claessens. This was the primary time this lineup has began collectively this season. This was the seventeenth profession begins for Sides and Harrod. This was the sixteenth profession begin for Garcia. Claessens made her 14th profession begin. Speiser made her third profession begin.
– This season, Okay-State owns 26 quarters with an effort of fifty.0 % or higher capturing from the sphere, together with the fourth (81.3) quarter on Saturday.
– The Wildcats’ bench outscored the Utes’ bench, 39-27. The Wildcats have had the sting in bench factors in 15 video games this season (8-7).
PLAYER NOTES
– Heal reached double figures for the 82nd time in her profession, together with her eighth time this season. This was her 29th profession sport with 20 or extra factors and her first this season. Heal’s collegiate profession level complete now stands at 1,643 factors. She has led Okay-State in scoring in 4 straight video games and 5 occasions this season.
– Heal is the primary participant since Ayoka Lee from March 9 to March 24, 2024, to register consecutive video games of 20 or extra factors.
– Heal made two 3-pointers on Saturday. This was her 27th profession sport with two or extra 3-point subject objectives made.
– Claessens scored in double figures for the tenth time this season and the fourth straight sport.
– Sides buried two 3-pointers on Saturday. This was her thirteenth sport this season and the 44th of her profession with two or extra connections from 3-point vary. With her two connections, Sides moved right into a tie for 13th in program historical past for profession 3-pointers (153).
– Sides dished out 5 assists on Saturday. Sides ranks 22nd in program historical past for profession assists (260). This was her 23rd profession sport with 5 or extra assists and her eighth this season.
– Gina Garcia registered 5 assists. She is the 12th freshman in program historical past to report 80 or extra assists (89 assists this season). This was her eleventh profession sport with 5 or extra assists.
FROM THE HEAD COACH
Okay-State Head Coach Jeff Mittie
Opening Statement…
“Well, unfortunately, by the time we decided to compete, they had a pretty big lead, and we’d let them get fairly comfortable. So it was disappointing for us, because we wanted the game like it was the last maybe 12, 13,14, minutes. We didn’t play hard enough and didn’t compete well enough early to get that kind of game. So, I’m disappointed for our fans. I’m disappointed that we had another pretty solid crowd and we come out and don’t play as well as I think we’re capable of.”
On if Tess Heal will be the go-to scorer the remainder of the season…
“Well, I wouldn’t count Tess out. She’s got that right mentality. We got to get the right match up for her. But she’s a crafty scorer. She’s done it in her career. (She) did it at Santa Clara, but wasn’t as big a score at Stanford before she came here. She knows how to play. She competes every possession and certainly she’s given us a big lift in that area.”
On if he approached Tess Heal asking her to step up the final couple video games…
“No, it’s been more of a natural progression. Her and I talked right after the break with some things about what we needed more going forward, but it really wasn’t related to necessarily scoring. I think what we found as a staff is there’s some things that we’re probably coaching her better and getting her in better position, and, boy, she sure is delivering. One of the things that we’re trusting now with Tess is that she understands how to score down there. I think early in the year, she was maybe throwing up some wild shots trying to get fouls. Now you’re seeing a much better patience. In the last three or four games, you’ve really seen her excel.”
On why Okay-State switched to zone protection within the fourth quarter…
“Well, they shot 60% within the first (quarter), 50% within the second (quarter). They find yourself 50% within the fourth (quarter). We weren’t guarding them very nicely within the man-to-man early. I needed much more chaos on this sport. I exploit that phrase. It was one of many phrases on the board earlier than the sport that we needed to create. We simply did not do it early on this sport. We weren’t enjoying with the trouble. We weren’t enjoying with the urgency. I did not assume our beginning group acquired off to an excellent begin that means. I assumed Aniya Foy gave us a giant elevate there. I assumed (Izela) Arenas gave us a elevate there.
She finally ends up with three steals and that is nearly half of what she had in the whole season. I assumed (Nastja) Claessens early defensively wasn’t superb. I did not like the best way she was flying round. I did not like her aggressiveness. I assumed she was behind performs. She picks up the 2 fouls primarily as a result of I feel she was behind performs. But, I assumed as the sport progressed, she acquired actually good. So, we simply wanted to throw a unique take a look at them. Sometimes it isn’t essentially about what you are doing nicely. They have been actually in a great rhythm towards our man-to-man. I simply needed to offer them a unique look.”
On if it is a good factor or a foul factor that Okay-State closed the hole late…
“I think that both can be true. Both can be true. I can positively say that (I’m) proud of the fight, proud of the fact that we continue to raise our level up. You saw us dive on the floor (and) play the game the right way. It’s equally as frustrating to say, ‘What would have happened if that would have been our start today?’ If that would have been our start. If that’s how we would have started this game, diving on the floor, creating chaos, playing better together. If that would have been our start with this game, would this game have been different? That’s where it’s disappointing and frustrating that that wasn’t our start because we don’t know the answer to that. We obviously fought hard at the end, and, for that, I hope we can build off of it.”
Utah Head Coach Gavin Petersen
Opening Statement…
“(It was a) really, really good game, exciting game for those in attendance down the stretch. Credit to Kansas State for continuing to scrap and fight. They went with a really small lineup that we obviously had a hard time containing. Defensively, they got into a zone. (It was the) first time we’ve seen zone all season. Kind of high risk, high reward, but that’s kind of what you got to be ready for in our conference – great coaches, great players – so we’ve got to be ready for everything. But, extremely proud. I challenged our team to start every quarter off with an intensity and focus, and we did that. In the fourth quarter, I think we started to play not to lose as opposed to attack and play to win. But, like I always said, it’s always good to learn some of these lessons on how to close games out in wins as opposed to losses. So, we’ll watch the film, and we’ll learn from it and grow. (I’m) just really proud of how we closed it out. Even when they cut it to six, we’re able to get it back up to 10. Obviously the end result was up by seven. But again, credit to K-State and Coach Mittie, an amazing coach and his players played hard all the way to the end.”
On what he feels the place his crew was excelling essentially the most…
“I think it was a mentality like we’re going to execute, we’re going to get our post some touches, play inside out if you have an open shot, then let it fly. That’s Utah basketball. We always pass up a good shot for a great shot. Keep the ball moving. It wasn’t until I think the crowd got into it, the full court pressure might have got us to kind of be on our heels. That’s probably why we got off that run. But, when we were hitting our shots, hitting our passes, we’re playing a little differently mentally, with an edge and confidence about us. But again, credit to them, and we just got to get back to the drawing board in terms of learning how to close things out with that type of mentality.”
On the scoring risk of Reece Ross…
“She’s finding her rhythm within our offense. We do call some plays for her, but other than that, when she’s just having to read and take what the defense gives us, I think her experience having been with us for three years, I’m starting to see a confidence in her and understanding where those moments are. So, really good. When our posts, our fours and our fives, are able to do that and put pressure on the rim, defenses are going to have to figure out how they want to stop us. That opens up open looks for our good shooters.”
On Brooke Walker enjoying two video games in her house state…
“Brooke having gone through some games where she missed and then getting her rhythm back back into the starting lineup, I still think she doesn’t think it’s very long, but four weeks out is a long time in the middle of the season to take a break, right? So, I think she’s getting her game experience back. With her at full go, it just makes us a better team. So, (I’m) really happy for her. She got to come back home. You know, mom and dad went to KU and then, obviously, I’m sure they might dislike the color purple a little bit, but you know that it’s cool that she gets to bring her team here and walk out of here in the state of Kansas with two victories. Pretty cool.”
FROM THE FLOOR
Okay-State Senior Guard Tess Heal
On what the largest change was that Okay-State made in the course of the fourth quarter…
“I think we just wanted it more. I think the realization hit that, ‘Damn, we’re down, whatever we were down, 12, 15, seven, whatever it was, I don’t know, but we’re down. We wanted to win that fourth quarter, which wasn’t emblematic of the entire game.”
On her efficiency in current fourth quarters…
“I think it’s the sense of urgency of the clock. Like, yeah, we only have five minutes to get this done, or 10 minutes to get this done. I got to be better. I can’t keep just showing up in the fourth quarter. That’s not fair to this team. I need to be better.”
On why she was the one to drive to the basket within the second half…
“I think just the way they were playing it allowed me to go one on one a lot. They were staying out on our shooters. I felt in the first half, they really crashed down on a lot of things, and when I would drive, they would cram paint. So, there wasn’t really much space to maneuver. But, in the second half, I felt like they stayed out on everybody. So, it was a one-on-one matchup, which I can take advantage of. But, like I said, I need to be better. I need to be able to do what I did in the second in the first. I think we need more contributors, and we just need to be more consistent.”
On taking her management to a unique stage the previous few video games…
“I think it’s a mentality thing. I’ve definitely been more aggressive. The first couple games or the first half of the season that I’ve come to K-State, I was a bit more passive than I have been. I looked in the mirror, and I thought, ‘No, I need to go back to how I was at Santa Clara.’ At Santa Clara, I was a point guard, a leader and scorer. I went away from that role at Stanford. It was just a different team, different circumstances. So, I assumed a different role where I just sort of played a shooter and stood in the corner. I think the recognition of, ‘No, this team needs me to score and needs me to create and needs what I can do offensively,’ that was really big for me when I reflected on it. That’s what I’ve tried to embody in the past few games.”
Okay-State Junior Forward Nastja Claessens
On the largest problem that Utah introduced to Okay-State’s protection…
“It is a great shooting team. We knew that from the start. We should be able to know the scout and stop their shooters because they had a lot of 3s, and those really hurt us.”
On if she feels she picked it up offensively within the second half…
“You can always do better, I feel like. I made more points in the second half, but I need to be more present and more aggressive on offense. Sometimes I tend to not include myself in the offense and tend to watch it. So I need to be more aggressive and be more into plays so I can help my teammates and help the offense.”
UP NEXT
Following a midweek break, Okay-State will make its fourth journey to the state of Texas this season, because the Wildcats go to (17/20) Texas Tech at 1 p.m.
The sport will be streamed on ESPN+ and will be heard on-line at kstatesports.com, on the Okay-State Sports app and the flagship stations of Okay-State ladies’s basketball in Manhattan, Sunny 102.5 and 1350 KMAN.
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