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This weekend, Kansas State Wildcats managed to not lose at anything at all. On Saturday, the Wildcat women stayed even with Nebraska-Omaha in the second half. That was good, because it allowed an 18-11 first quarter lead to hold up as the Cats hung on for a 66-59 victory.
The Mavericks were almost a problem, however. K-State led by six going into the final quarter, but UNO roared to life and tied the game at 51 with just under five minutes to play. But Rachel Ranke and Christianna Carr both drained threes go regain that six-point margin, and Sydney Goodson was nails from the stripe down the stretch.
Ayoka Lee led the way with 21 points, while Carr had a double-double with 11 points and 10 boards. Goodson also reached double figures with 10 points, seven from the stripe and a lone trey. The favorite NCAA women’s player of readers of The Wheel of Time, Ella Ogier, led Omaha with 18; Josie Filer and Mariah Murdie each added 11.
The women return to action tonight with a 6:30 tip against Jacie Hoyt’s UMKC Roos, Hoyt, of course, is joined on the sideline by Wildcat star Kindred (Wesemann) Orpin. The game will air on ESPN+ with Brian Smoller and Missy Heidrick.
Over on the pitch, K-State now has its first professional soccer alumna. Defender Silke Bonnen is heading back home to Denmark holding a contract from HB Koge in the Danish Elitedivisionen. She’s joining a squad that sits in first place in the league as they await the resumption of the season on February 1.
We close with sad news. Linda Kassebaum Johnson, known only slightly less for her globe-spanning veterinary work than for her famous mother, died a week ago Sunday of progressive supranuclear palsy, a brain disease. Kassebaum Johnson was, of course, the daughter of former Kansas senator Nancy Landon Kassebaum; her doctorate in veterinary medicine was earned across the street from KSU Stadium.
Memorial donations will go to the KSU Foundation, earmarked for veterinary students.
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