BYU Cougars || 10-5, 0-3 || Big 12 Conference
WHAT'S AT STAKE || With a win, the Cougars would notch the second-ranked win and highest of the Whiting era by knocking off No. 12 K-State. The Cougars would also earn their first-ever win over KSU.
FINISHING POSSESSIONS || Grabbing defensive boards to finish possessions has been a point of emphasis for Whiting’s squad which is giving up 11.5 offensive boards to opponents in conference play. The Cougars are also surrendering 15 second-chance points in four Big 12 games thus far. In wins, the Cougars only surrender 7 second-chance points.
VALUING THE BASKETBALL || Ball security is crucial for BYU. In their four Big 12 games this season, the Cougars have committed 21.5 turnovers per game and opponents are scoring 22.5 points off turnovers. In wins this season, the Cougars average 13.6 giveaways, 8.6 less than in losses, and give up 11 points.
COUGAR ASSIST CLUB || BYU has assisted on 237-of-390 (.608) field goals this year and has had three or more players finish in double-figures in nine of 14 games. In wins this season, BYU averages 17.2 assists in comparison to just 13 in losses. Against Houston, BYU assisted on 70 percent of its made field goals (23-of-33).
WHITING'S FINDING HER GROOVE || The Cougars' floor general had a rough start to the season from behind the arc, but Amari Whiting has found her groove from deep over the last three games. After three straight sub-10-point performances, the sophomore has averaged 14.7 points on 51.9 percent shooting, going 5-for-8 from three over the past three games. Whiting is also recording 5.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.0 steals over that stretch.
Head Coach – Amber Whiting
- Alma Mater: BYU, 2001
- Division I Career Record: 42-39 || 3rd Season
- Record at BYU: 42-39 || 3rd Season
Kansas State Wildcats || 16-1, 4-0 || Big 12 Conference
11-IN-A-ROW || The Kansas State Wildcats have won 11 straight games heading into the match-up with BYU on Saturday. This is the second consecutive season in which K-State has had a win streak of 10 or more games.
SENIOR STAPLES || K-State is led by Ayoka Lee who scores 17.1 points per game on 65.7 percent shooting on the year, without having attempted a 3-point field goal. She also is the second-leading free throw shooter for KSU, attempting 53 freebies this year making 34 for 64.2 percent. Lee also leads K-State in rebounding at 6.6 per game. The senior also holds the NCAA record for points scored in a game with 61 against Oklahoma on Jan. 23, 2022.
Serena Sundell is a three-time All-Big 12 honoree and averages 12.7 points on 48.4 percent shooting on the season. The senior guard also records 7.3 assists, 4.6 boards, 1.0 steals and 0.9 blocks per game to aid the Wildcats’ 11-game win streak.
DROPPING DIMES || K-State leads the country with 22.9 assists per game. Mittie’s squad is led in assists by Sundell at 7.3 but also has four others that record at least 2.6 per game. Zyanna Walker is second at 4.8 per game, Jaelyn Glenn cards 3.0, Taryn Sides sits at 2.6 and Temira Poindexter records 2.1.
NATIONAL RANKINGS || The Wildcats sit in the top 5 in the country in 10 categories. The Wildcats sit in 1st in field goal percentage (.508), field goal percentage defense (.316) and assists per game (22.9). They also rank 2nd in scoring defense (50.5) and scoring margin (+33.5). K-State is 3rd in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.81:1), 4th in 3-point defense (.234) and defensive rebounds per game (31.7) and 5th in Blocks per game(6.4).
Head Coach – Jeff Mittie
- Alma Mater: Missouri Western, 1989
- Career Record: 660-371 || 33rd Season
- Record at K-State: 206-136 || 11th Season
