Wildcat news
The sun was a royal purple in the sky this morning for the Wildcat faithful. Our Cats destroyed Iowa State yesterday and this sets up the two unbeaten in the Big 12 teams for the big game Wednesday. It is just like in the westerns: The good guys (Kansas State University Wildcats) vs the Bad Guys (University of Kansas Chickenhawks) I will be writing a lot more about this matchup between today and Wednesday evening. Here is the recap of the action this weekend, courtesy of K-state Sports Our track and field team continued on a roll this weekend with another strong showing and our women’s basketball team was victorious yet again.
Men’s basketball
Michael Beasley had 33 points and 15 rebounds to lead Kansas State to an impressive 82-57 win over Iowa State and setting up a mammoth showdown with No. 2 Kansas on Wednesday.
Beasley, who ranks fourth nationally in scoring and first in rebounding, topped 30 points for the seventh time this season, tying him with Bob Boozer and Norris Coleman for the most 30-point games in a single season in school history. Jacob Pullen added 13 points, Bill Walker had 10 points and nine rebounds and Darren Kent came off the bench to score 11 points for the Wildcats (14-4, 4-0 Big 12), who won their fifth straight and moved to 4-0 in conference play for the first time since 1988.
The Wildcats' victory sets the stage for the arrival of the Jayhawks, who beat Nebraska earlier in the day to move to 20-0 overall and 5-0 in the Big 12. Kansas State hasn't beaten Kansas in Manhattan since 1983, and the Wildcats are 0-19 against the Jayhawks in Bramlage Coliseum.
And after Baylor's loss to Oklahoma on Saturday, Kansas State and Kansas are now the only two remaining unbeaten teams in Big 12 play. http://www.k-statesports.com
Wildcat track and field
My favorite sport is of course, KSU track and field and I am tickled to see how well the women are doing this indoor season:
The Kansas State Wildcat track and field team played a large part in leading the Big 12 to a win at the Conference Challenge in Lincoln, Neb., on Saturday. The Wildcat women lent a helping hand by providing the most points of any women’s squad with 53, while Nebraska was second with 38.
The Wildcat women earned the points off of seven event victories, including two from sprinter Donniece Parrish. The senior took the title in the 60M, as well as the 200M. She ran a time of 7.61 in the 60M to capture her second win of the season in the race. In the 200M, Parrish finished in a time of 24.24 to earn her first career victory in the event. Senior Marnyka Honeycutt provided points by taking runner-up in both events, crossing the line in 7.67 in the 60M and 24.86 in the 200M.
Sophomore Lauren Fisher continued the Cats’ winning ways in the sprints as she took the 400M crown with a personal-best run. Fisher ran a time of 57.71 to win her second 400M race this season.
Morgan Bonds raced to victory in the 600Y with a time of 1:22.46. She also anchored the winning women’s 4x400M relay team. The K-State squad of Tiara Walpool, Parrish, Honeycutt and Bonds finished in 3:45.91 to mark the fastest time this season, bettering the previous run of 3:49.99 from the season-opening KSU All-Comers.
Two distance runners finished in second place, as Beverly Ramos finished with a time of 4:54.90 in the mile to mark a new top run in the event. Liliani Mendez had her second-best time in the women’s 1000M as she finished second with a time of 2:49.94, her top mark this season.
In field events, KSU provided two wins including a one-two finish in the women’s weight throw. Loren Groves had her second-best toss of the season with 67-00.50. Laci Heller notched a season-best mark and the fourth longest of her career with a throw of 65-01.25. Thomaida Polydorou won the triple jump with a personal-best jump of 40-06.25. At the Arkansas Invitational this season, she set a personal-best with a recording of 40-04.25. http://www.k-statesports.com
Women’s basketball
Marlies Gipson had a career-high 21 points and 16 rebounds and Kimberly Dietz hit four 3-pointers in the second half to help No. 22 Kansas State win its ninth straight game, beating No. 14 Oklahoma State 68-63 on Sunday.
Kansas State (14-5, 6-0 Big 12) moved into a tie with Baylor for the conference lead by winning its third straight game against a ranked foe. In Big 12 play, the Wildcats have also won at Texas A&M and Texas.
Kansas State's 6-0 start is its best since the Big 12 came into existence with the 1996-97 season.
http://www.k-statesports.com
