LEXINGTON, Ky. (KStateSports.com) – (19/18) Kansas State, the five-seed in the Spokane 4 Region, fought back from a late fourth quarter deficit and downed four-seed (13/12) Kentucky in overtime, 80-79, in the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament at Memorial Coliseum on Sunday afternoon.
K-State has secured its fourth Sweet 16 appearance in program history and the first since 2002.
With the win, K-State (28-7) has tied for the second-most wins in program history and the most since the 2002-03 season. The 54 combined wins over the last two seasons are tied for the second-most over a two-season span in program history.
K-State was led by seniors Temira Poindexter and Serena Sundell. Poindexter carded a game-high and equaled her season-high with 24 points including a career-high 8-of-15 from three-point range, while adding six rebounds and a career-high six blocks. With the effort, Poindexter surpassed the 2,000-point mark in her collegiate career (2,005).
Poindexter’s eight 3-pointers set the school record for an NCAA tournament game and ranks tied for fourth in school history for any game.
Poindexter’s six blocks tied the school record for blocks in an NCAA tournament game.
Sundell registered her first postseason double-double with 19 points on 8-of-15 shooting, a game-high 14 assists, three rebounds and two steals while playing all 45 minutes.
This was her eighth double-double of the season and the 12th of her career. She is the first Wildcat to register an NCAA tournament double-double with points and assists.
Sundell’s 14 assists set the school record for an NCAA tournament game and ranks second in school history behind her own record of 15 against Kansas on Feb. 22, 2025.
Her 14 assists also improved her career total to 805 and passed Shalee Lehning (2005-09) for the school record for assists in a career. The total also moves Sundell into sole possession of fourth in Big 12 history.
Joining Poindexter and Sundell in double figures were the post tandem of Ayoka Lee and Kennedy Taylor. Lee carded 16 points, nine rebounds and two blocks. Taylor came off the bench to add 11 points, eight rebounds and a block. With her 11 points, Taylor surpassed the 1,000-point mark in her collegiate career (1,005).
HOW IT HAPPENED
– Kentucky (23-8) used a strong start to the first quarter to capture a 20-15 advantage at the end of the frame. Clara Strack carded nine points in the opening quarter.
– K-State rallied behind a strong defensive effort in the second quarter to take a 33-31 lead at halftime. Kansas State registered six blocked shots in the second frame and held Kentucky to 4-of-14 shooting (.286) from the field in the second stanza. K-State closed the quarter on a 10-2 run.
– The third quarter featured 10 lead changes and four ties, as Kentucky edged K-State in the frame, 22-21. K-State shot 47.1 percent (8-of-17) from the field in frame while Kentucky shot 50.0 percent (9-of-18).
– After Kentucky took a 58-57 lead with 6:21 to play in the fourth quarter, K-State found Lee for two straight baskets to push Kansas State into a 61-58 advantage with 4:26 to play and force a Kentucky timeout.
– Kentucky used an 8-0 run to pull in front by five, 66-61, with 2:11 remaining. K-State roared back with back-to-back 3-pointers from Jaelyn Glenn and Poindexter to take a 67-66 lead. Kentucky went back on top on a Georgia Amoore 3-pointer with 33 seconds left. K-State answered with a jumper in the paint from Sundell to tie the game at 69 with eight seconds left.
– Kentucky took a three-point lead, 77-74, with 1:55 to play in overtime on a Teonni Key layup. K-State answered with Poindexter’s seventh 3-pointer of the day with 1:38 to play. Amoore then hit a jumper with 1:09 left for a 79-77 Kentucky lead. K-State recaptured the lead on Poindexter’s eighth 3-pointer with 56 seconds left.
– K-State saw Kentucky attempt four shots with a chance to win in the final 21 seconds of overtime, with the final attempt from Amoore rolling off the rim as time expired.
– K-State connected on 40.3 percent (29-of-72) from the field, including 40 percent (14-of-35) from 3-point range, and 72.7 (8-of-11) from the free throw line.
– The 14 made 3-point field goals shattered the school record for NCAA Tournament game of 9 set vs. Old Dominion (3/23/02) and vs. Harvard (3/23/03). The 14 3-pointers tied for the second-most this season and were one shy of the season-high of 15 vs. Kansas (2/2/25). It marked the 13th time this season that the Wildcats have knocked down double-digit 3-pointers.
QUICK FACTS
– The series between the schools is tied, 1-1. The Wildcats are 2-0 in games against the SEC this season and own a 124-146 mark against the league’s current members.
– The Wildcats own an all-time record of 17-18 in the NCAA Tournament.
– K-State head coach Jeff Mittie owns a career record of 672-377 (.641), including a mark of 218-142 (.606).
– K-State owns a record of 276-102 (.730) as an AP ranked team. K-State is 10-2 (.833) all-time when ranked 19th in the nation. The Wildcats are 5-8 (.385) in its history against teams ranked 13th in the AP poll.
TEAM NOTES
– K-State’s starting five consisted of guards: Zyanna Walker, Jaelyn Glenn and Serena Sundell; forward Temira Poindexter and center Ayoka Lee. This was the 21st time this lineup has started together this season (20-1). This was the 138th career start for Sundell, the 135th for Lee, the 134th career start for Jaelyn Glenn, the 122nd career collegiate start and 35th at K-State for Poindexter and the 35th career start for Walker.
– Sundell improves upon her school record for career starts and owns the school record for career games played (138). Lee stays in second in program history for career starts and is tied for third for career games played. Glenn remains in third in program history for career starts. With her 137th career game played, Glenn is second in program history for career games played.
– With its 80 points on Sunday, K-State has scored 2,781 points this season which is the single season school record.
– K-State has scored 80 or more points in 20 games this season (20-0).
– The Wildcats held a 33-31 lead at halftime on Sunday. Under Mittie, K-State is 176-20 (.898) when leading at halftime. The Wildcats have led at the half in 27 games this season (26-1).
– With its 13 blocked shots on Sunday, K-State increased its school record total to 200. The 13 blocked shots set a school record for an NCAA Tournament game. The 13 blocks were also a season-high.
– K-State has scored 20-or more points in a quarter 67 times this season, including the third quarter on Sunday. Since the start of the quarter-system in 2015-16, the Wildcats are 160-64 (.714) when scoring 20 or more points in any quarter of a game, including a 28-2 record this season.
– With its 25 assists, K-State improved its season total for assists to 753 and improve upon its school record for assists in a season. The 25 assists were the second-most in program history in an NCAA Tournament game.
– K-State made 14 three-pointers on Sunday. This set the school record for three-pointers made in an NCAA tournament game.
PLAYER NOTES
– Sundell owns 1,749 career points and moves into sixth on the K-State career scoring list passing Laurie Koehn (2001-05; 1,733). This was her 98th career game with 10 or more points. She has paced K-State in scoring in 35 career games including 11 this season.
– Sundell made 3 three-pointers on Sunday. This was her 30th career game with two or more connections from long range. She has made 13 three-pointers in her NCAA tournament career, which is tied for second in program history for NCAA tournament games.
– Sundell’s 14 assists on Sunday improved her career total to a school-record 805. She moves into fifth in Big 12 history for career assists. Sundell now holds the school record for assists in a career, surpassing the 800 by Shalee Lehning, 2005-09). Her assist total this season of 256 improves upon her school record for a season. Sundell improved upon her own school record with her 92nd career game with five or more assists and carded her 13th career game with 10 or more assists. This was the 103rd career game Sundell has led K-State in assists.
– With her 16 points on Sunday, Lee boosted her career total to 2,521 and remains in sixth on the Big 12 career scoring list. Lee has scored in every game of her career, 135 games, and set the school record for consecutive games scoring. Lee recorded her 121st career game with 10 or more points.
– Poindexter carded 24 points on Sunday. This was her 102nd career game with 10 or more points and her 22nd this season. Poindexter improved her career point total to 2,005 (445 at K-State; 1,560 at Tulsa).
– Poindexter tallied 8 made 3-pointers on Sunday. This was her 78th game of her career with two or more connections.
– Poindexter rejected 6 shots on Sunday. She tied for the most blocks in an NCAA tournament game in program history, along with Breanna Lewis vs. George Washington (3/18/16) and Ayoka Lee vs. Colorado (3/24/24). Her 6 blocks were a personal season-high. This was her 13th career game with four or more blocks and her 47th career game with two or more blocks.
– Poindexter hauled in 6 rebounds on Sunday. This was her 56th game of her career with five or more rebounds.
– Lee pulled in 9 rebounds on Sunday. She improved upon her own school record for career rebounds and owns 1,252 rebounds in her career. This was her 115th career game with five or more rebounds. Lee has led K-State in rebounding in 87 career games including nine times this season.
– Jaelyn Glenn notched nine points on Sunday. This improved her career point total to 1,193 and she remains in 28th in school history. With her nine points, she moved into 27th on the K-State career scoring list, passing Lehning (1,189).
– Glenn knocked down three 3-pointers on Sunday. She has 71 career games with two or more connections from long range. Glenn ranks eighth in program history with 225 career 3-point field goals made.
– Jaelyn Glenn pulled in 8 rebounds on Sunday. This improved her career rebound total to 615 and moved her into 19th on the K-State career rebounds list, passing Ashley Sweat (2006-10; 604). This was her 57th career game with five or more rebounds.
– Kennedy Taylor registered 11 points on Sunday. With the effort, Taylor surpassed the 1,000-point mark in her collegiate career (Colorado, Missouri State, K-State). Taylor registered her 13th game this season and the 55th of her career with 10 or more points.
UP NEXT
K-State advances to the Spokane 4 Regional semifinal of the 2025 NCAA Tournament and will face either top seed USC (29-3) or nine-seed Mississippi State (22-11) on Saturday. The game time and broadcast network will be determined on Tuesday.
