Fans at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kansas, were treated to a dazzling display of teamwork and individual brilliance on Saturday afternoon as Kansas State women’s basketball powered past BYU, 77-52. The Wildcats, led by a career-high performance from junior forward Nastja Claessens, snapped back from recent adversity and delivered one of their most complete games of the season in front of an appreciative home crowd.
From the opening tip, Kansas State (13-12, 6-6 Big 12) set a determined tone. The Wildcats held a four-point lead after the first quarter, but it was in the second and third frames where they truly separated themselves from the visiting Cougars (16-8, 5-7). Claessens, hailing from Waregem, Belgium, was everywhere on the court, pouring in 25 points on 9-of-14 shooting—including a sizzling 4-of-6 from beyond the arc—while also grabbing four rebounds, dishing four assists, and nabbing two steals. Her effort marked the 13th time this season she’s reached double figures and the third time she’s topped 20 points, making her just the second international player in program history to achieve that feat.
“Really good to get the win after last week, it was a team effort. We played well, passed the ball well. So, to end the game like this, it just feels amazing,” Claessens said after the game, visibly elated as the home fans gave her a rousing ovation when she checked out late in the contest. “It’s just nice that the fans come and we deliver something to the fans and play well, it really means something. They keep cheering you on, so it’s really nice to end the game like that.”
The Wildcats’ offensive rhythm was matched by a stifling defensive effort, particularly in the pivotal third quarter. BYU, trailing by eight at halftime, was held to a frigid 1-of-14 shooting in the third, as Kansas State outscored the Cougars 19-9 in the frame. That defensive lockdown extended the Wildcats’ lead to 57-39 entering the fourth quarter, effectively putting the game out of reach. Head coach Jeff Mittie praised his team’s focus and unity: “I think at both ends for sure. I would say that we played very well together, very connected all day long. And I thought the start was a good, solid start. Sometimes the start doesn’t from a results standpoint, everybody’s always caught up in the score, but from a coaching perspective, you want to get things established. You want to get ball movement established. You want to get your attack established. Defensively, you want to see how connected your team is in the game plan. And from that standpoint, I felt like we were solid. I felt that we were getting better as the game went on. And that’s what you want to see.”
The Wildcats’ ability to capitalize on BYU’s mistakes proved decisive. Kansas State forced 19 Cougar turnovers, converting those into a whopping 30 points—compared to just seven for BYU off 12 Wildcat miscues. “I think we just passed the ball to the right player today. I feel at times that we haven’t moved the ball very well. We haven’t played together very well. Today, I thought we played together very well, probably the best we’ve seen all year, of players not forcing things, taking what the defense gave them when we got turnovers. I thought our spacing was really, really good, but you’re right. We haven’t converted those plays very well, and today, hopefully, is a big step forward to us, because today we certainly did,” Mittie added.
Freshman guard Gina Garcia chipped in 12 points, three assists, and three steals, while senior guard Tess Heal contributed 11 points and seven rebounds. Junior guard Taryn Sides orchestrated the offense with a career-best 13 assists—remarkably, without committing a single turnover. Sides’ performance was not only a personal milestone but also tied for third-most assists in a single game in program history. “Well, the 13 assists are pretty special. People have to make shots, but you’re finding the right player. The zero turnovers is really what I’m really impressed with, because we’re coming off of a couple games where we’ve had trouble with that as a team, so [Taryn Sides] really protected the ball well today,” Mittie noted.
BYU, meanwhile, struggled to find offensive consistency. The Cougars shot just 30.4 percent from the field and were outscored 40-22 in the paint. Delaney Gibb led BYU with 11 points, going 2-of-9 from the field and 6-of-6 from the free throw line. Marya Hudgins added 10 points, five rebounds, and two steals, while Bolanle Yussuf came off the bench to grab seven rebounds and add four points. Olivia Hamlin contributed seven points, and Arielle Mackey-Williams knocked down both her three-point attempts for six points.
BYU head coach Lee Cummard was effusive in his praise for the Wildcats’ effort, acknowledging, “Overall, they were really, really spectacular today. They were on it defensively. I was equally as impressed with them offensively. I thought they had us in rotation. Most of the night kind of had us flying around because they create an advantage and then defensively, see what the film says. Maybe we’re easy to guard, but they did a tremendous job guarding as well, and credit to them, scary team. You know, as we come down this stretch, glad we don’t have to play them a second time and in conference play.”
The win was significant for Kansas State in several respects. The Wildcats improved to 13-12 overall and 6-6 in conference play, keeping their postseason hopes alive and building momentum for the final stretch of the Big 12 season. The victory also extended Kansas State’s perfect record against BYU to 6-0 all-time and 3-0 in Manhattan. Under Mittie, the Wildcats have now won 182 of 204 games when leading at halftime—a testament to their ability to close out contests when holding the edge at the break.
Looking at the broader context, the Wildcats’ performance reflected a season-long emphasis on sharing the ball and playing unselfishly. As Claessens put it: “Yes, I think Coach Mittie really focuses on that, and really tells us that every practice that we have to share the ball, look for the easiest options. And we did that today, and we won. So I think that’s a good thing.” The team’s 22 assists on 30 made field goals were evidence of their commitment to moving the ball and finding the open player.
For BYU, the loss was a tough pill to swallow, especially after narrowing the gap to just five points late in the second quarter. Cummard pointed to missed defensive assignments and a lack of execution as key factors: “Almost every other thing, every other quarter, we didn’t make as many shots as why it was so drastic between that quarter and others. But there were a couple positions where we missed some of our assignments and it just turned into us in rotations or layup or turnover to a layup that we need to fix, and we have to get back to some of the little things you know that make us good guarding who we’re guarding and being in our position defensively to help as a collective unit.”
With the win, Kansas State looks ahead to its next matchup, hoping to carry this momentum into the remainder of the Big 12 campaign. The Wildcats will host Oklahoma State on Tuesday, while BYU returns home seeking to regroup and refocus for the challenges ahead. For now, though, it’s the Wildcats and their fans in Manhattan who have plenty to celebrate after a statement victory on their home floor.