Dec. 29, 2011

Final Stats

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – Kansas State built a 12-point second half advantage at Marist on Thursday night and needed every point to hold off the Red Foxes, 57-56, at a near sold out McCann Arena. The Wildcats concluded its non-conference schedule with a 9-3 mark.

K-State was led on Thursday night by the trio of Jalana Childs, Brittany Chambers and Tasha Dickey. Childs tied for game-high honors with 21 points and hauled in a game-high nine rebounds. The effort by Childs was her fourth 20-point game of the season and the eighth of her career.

Chambers registered 15 points, six rebounds and three assists. The junior from Jordan, Minn., was 3-of-8 from beyond the arc and moved into fifth in school history on the career three-point field goals made list with 187.

Dickey finished the night with 13 points, six rebounds and three steals. The senior guard from Sandy, Utah tied her career-high and notched a season-high with three connections from beyond the arc. Her three steals marked her seventh contest this season with two or more steals.

Marist (5-6) was paced by preseason MAAC Player of the Year recipient Corielle Yarde with 21 points.

K-State was able to overcome its early shooting doldrums to secure a 16-13 lead on Chambers’ second 3-point field goal of the first half. The Wildcats opened up its largest lead of the opening half of seven, 29-22, on a Jalana Childs hook shot with 2:40 to play. The Red Foxes cut the K-State lead to two at the break, 29-27, with a 5-0 run highlighted by a three-pointer from Leanne Ockenden.

The Wildcats were led in the opening half by the duo of Childs (14) and Chambers (12) with 26 of K-State’s 29 points. K-State was 11-of-30 (.367) from the field in the stanza and forced Marist into nine turnovers including seven steals for the Wildcats.

Marist continued its run to 7-0 to tie the game at 29 in the early stages of the second half. Kansas State used a pair of baskets from Tasha Dickey, including her second 3-pointer of the game, to rebuild the lead to 34-29 with 16:33 to play.

K-State upped its lead to 11, 44-33, following a Mariah White fast break layup to force a Marist timeout with 11:53 remaining in the game. The Wildcats improved the lead to 12, 50-38, as Childs recorded a second chance layup with 8:23 to play.

Marist closed the deficit to three, 54-51, on a three and a pair of free throws from Yarde to cap a 5-0 rally. A clutch Dickey three-point field goal with 2:23 remaining in the game pushed K-State’s lead back to six, 57-51. The Red Foxes benefitted from five missed free throws by K-State to close the game and bring the final margin to one, 57-56, on a last second three-pointer from Ockenden.

Kansas State will return to Manhattan to open Big 12 action on Wednesday, Jan. 4 against defending national champion and No. 10/9 ranked Texas A&M. The game time is now set to tip-off at 5:30 p.m., in Bramlage Coliseum.

K-State fans can take advantage of the Wildcat Weekday 4 Pack promotion for Wednesday’s contest. For just $30, fans will receive four general admission seats, four hot dogs and four drinks. Single game tickets are also available for: $5 for general admission youth, $8 general admission adult, $9 for bench seating and $12 for chairback. To purchase tickets, fans can contact the K-State Athletics Ticket Office at (800) 221-CATS or visit www.kstatesports.com/tickets.