Kansas State Wildcats Dominate UCF 93-67 with Balanced Attack and Big 12 Momentum

Orlando, Florida — No 19 Kansas State Wildcats women's basketball dominated the court Wednesday night at Addition Financial Arena, defeating the UCF Knights women's basketball 93-67 to extend their Big 12 momentum and assert themselves as a top contender in conference play.

Kansas State’s balanced attack featured 37 points from its starting five, led by Tess Heal with 19 points on 7-for-11 shooting and 3-for-4 from three point range. Nastja Claessens added 16 points and 3 treys, while Gina Garcia contributed 10 points along with 7 assists, showcasing the Wildcats’ offensive depth. Bench scoring was significant as well, with Ramiya White producing 15 points on 6-for-10 shooting and Brandie Harrod adding 9 points. Kansas State shot 59 percent overall (37 of 63) and 55 percent from three point range (11 of 20), dominating UCF on both ends of the floor.

UCF struggled to match the Wildcats’ efficiency, shooting 46 percent (27 of 59) overall and 33 percent from deep (5 of 15). Kayanna Cox led the Knights with 22 points, including 5 of 10 from beyond the arc, and Kristol Ayson added 10 points and 4 rebounds. Mahogany Chandler-Roberts contributed 8 points and 6 rebounds, but UCF could not maintain consistency as turnovers and missed opportunities widened the gap.

The game’s flow was controlled early by Kansas State, building a double digit lead through precise perimeter shooting and strong ball movement. The Wildcats out-rebounded UCF 32-27 and forced 15 turnovers while limiting the Knights to only 6 assists, a factor that underscored Kansas State’s defensive intensity. Their 11 steals disrupted passing lanes and contributed to fast break scoring opportunities, keeping UCF on its heels throughout the contest.

Historically, Kansas State’s performance emphasizes the program’s growth under head coach Jeff Mittie, positioning the Wildcats for a potential top four finish in the Big 12. This marks one of their highest scoring outputs of the season and continues a trend of dominating conference opponents with a combination of bench depth and starter efficiency. UCF falls to 8-15 overall, highlighting ongoing struggles that must be addressed before postseason positioning becomes critical.

Looking ahead, Kansas State returns home to host Texas on Saturday, aiming to continue conference dominance and strengthen its NCAA tournament outlook. UCF hosts Tulane on Saturday, needing offensive adjustments and improved defensive execution to reverse its losing streak and maintain tournament viability.

With this win, Kansas State demonstrates the impact of efficient shooting, depth contributions, and disciplined defensive play, reinforcing their status as one of the Big 12’s most dangerous teams and a potential contender for postseason success.