K-State Wildcats Dominate Fairfield, Advance in NCAA Tournament

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The No. 5 seed Kansas State women’s basketball team stunned critics Friday by delivering a resounding 85-41 victory over No. 12 seed Fairfield in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Many experts projected K-State as potential upset victims, but the Wildcats took their doubters to task at Memorial Coliseum.

“I know we think we’re a good team,” said senior guard and All-American Nijel Pack. “We were confident coming in. I think we all knew we were capable.”

K-State’s victory marks its most lopsided win in NCAA Tournament history, showcasing a dominant performance led by Pack alongside fellow All-American senior center Ayoka Lee. Pack contributed 18 points and nine assists over 36 minutes, while Lee made a significant impact with 17 points and 10 rebounds in just 15 minutes of play.

With this victory, K-State improved their season record to 27-7, setting up a second-round matchup against No. 4 seed Kentucky, who won its opening game against Liberty, 79-78.

K-State head coach Jeff Mittie praised his team’s preparation and commitment. “What I was pleased with today is just simply that you play the game you’re in,” Mittie said. “Now we’ve got to flip that switch to Sunday, and we’ve got to put together a game plan against Kentucky, and that’ll be very difficult. Kentucky is an outstanding team, and they’ve got a lot of really, really good pieces.”

The Wildcats set the tone early, outscoring the Stags 21-9 in the first quarter and later expanding that lead with a 29-6 advantage in the third quarter. The Wildcats shot an impressive 51.3% from the field, compared to Fairfield’s 29.4%, while K-State also controlled the rebounding battle, 44-19.

Fairfield, who boasted a strong season with 22 wins in their last 23 games, failed to find their rhythm as their fast-paced offense was stifled by K-State’s defense, leading to 19 turnovers.

<p“ hats off to Kansas State,” Fairfield head coach Carly Thibault-Dudonis said. “That's a really, really good team. Obviously, they played a lot of their season without their All-American post, and we had the honor of playing against her today. She's a great player, but they're a great team, with and without her on the floor.”

K-State’s strong defense and offensive efficiency kept Fairfield from effectively utilizing their aggressive style, critical in maintaining their considerable lead throughout the game.

Lee made her return from injury after missing significant playing time due to a fractured foot and made a substantial impact, scoring eight points within the first quarter. “It felt great, yeah. It’s been a minute,” Lee said. She moved closer to yet another milestone, reaching her 2,500th career point during the game.

Looking ahead, K-State’s challenge against Kentucky promises to be intense. While Kentucky also succeeded in their first matchup, K-State has momentum on their side after such a decisive win. Mittie is focused on the task ahead, emphasizing the need to adapt quickly and prepare adequately.

“Certainly, we talked about the start earlier, us having some early offensive success. I think that slowed their offensive push down and that was critical,” Mittie said. The Wildcats are now steeling themselves for another fierce battle in their next tournament matchup, with aspirations of advancing to the Sweet 16.