Kansas State Holds Down Princeton In Second Half, Picks Up 80-61 Win

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CANCUN, Mex. – The Kansas State Wildcats' strong defensive effort in the second half proved to be the difference in an 80-61 victory over the Princeton Tigers at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya on Saturday afternoon.

Carlie Littlefield recorded a team-high 22 points, matching her career high. She also had seven rebounds, four assists and a steal. The sophomore was later named to the Cancun Challenge All-Tournament Team. Gabrielle Rush picked up her first career double-double with 16 points and a personal-best 10 rebounds.

Tied at 6-all, three-pointers by Rush and Julia Cunningham paced a 8-2 push to give the Tigers a 14-8 advantage halfway through the first quarter. This time, it was Kansas State to go on a run, ending the stanza on 13-1 spurt to take a 21-15 lead after 10 minutes.

The contest of runs continued with the Tigers using a 13-3 sprint, going in front, 30-24, with 5:20 left in the first half. One of Tigers' baskets included this impressive four-point play by Littlefield …

Princeton 30, K-State 26 | 5:10 2nd
And-1! ??Scream it Carlie! A four-point play! Tigers go on a 11-2 push to jump back in front.
Watch - https://t.co/zJCmccE9kT #TigerUp #RiseAsOne pic.twitter.com/E8bfb9dRqS
— Princeton WBB (@PrincetonWBB) November 24, 2018

Another trey by Littlefield right before the buzzer gave Princeton a 42-34 advantage at the intermission. Head coach Courtney Banghart's team scored 27 points in the second frame on 9-of-15 shooting (60.0 percent) including 6-of-12 from beyond the arc.

Kansas State opened up the third stanza with 11 consecutive points to regain the lead, 45-44, with 5:29 remaining. The Wildcats finished the quarter with a flurry, scoring 10-of-13 over the last 2:41, taking a 60-50 advantage into the final 10 minutes.

Much like the third frame, the Wildcats started fast, scoring nine straight, jumping ahead by 19, 69-50. A three-pointer from Rush got the Tigers as close as 13, but Kansas State would not let Princeton get any closer the rest of the way to earn the win. The Wildcats held the Tigers to 5-of-29 (17.2 percent) in the second half.

Princeton falls to 1-6 on the season while Kansas State improved to 4-2 overall. The Tigers head to Villanova on Wednesday (Nov. 28). Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.

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