A Formidable One-Two Punch – Kansas State University Athletics

Although Kansas State has skilled an up-and-down begin to its Big 12 Conference season, the Wildcats proceed to be led by one of many extra dynamic duos within the league.

 

Senior switch guard Gabby Gregory and sophomore level guard Serena Sundell each rank among the many high of the Big 12 in a number of classes, and their management and playmaking may very well be essential as Okay-State, 12-5 total and 1-3 within the Big 12, grinds via one of many energy conferences in Division I girls’s basketball.

 

Gregory leads the Big 12 in averaging 20.8 factors per sport, eighth in capturing 43.0% from the ground, and fifth in capturing 33.1% on 3-pointers. She can be tied for second in sinking 2.8 3-pointers per sport, and 14^th with 5.8 rebounds per contest.

 

Sundell averages 11.5 factors, 5.5 rebounds and 5.4 assists and in addition averages 1.0 blocks per outing, rating within the high 10 within the league in every class.

 

“I think they’ve been a really good combination in the short time they’ve played together,” Okay-State head coach Jeff Mittie mentioned. “Both have played really well and have done some very good things.”

 

Gregory is certainly one of three gamers within the nation averaging not less than 20 factors, 5 rebounds and two made 3-pointers per sport.
 
“Every night I’m going to come out and play my hardest and give it everything I have,” Gregory mentioned. “I’m going to do everything in my power to help my teammates and help this team get a win. I’m just so excited to be here.”
 
Sundell, a preseason All-Big 12 choice, entered the week as certainly one of 5 gamers within the nation and the one participant within the Big 12 to common not less than 11 factors, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. She has recorded not less than one blocked shot in eight straight video games.
 
“There are a lot of things I want to get better at,” Sundell mentioned. “I have to get on the same page with Coach better. There are a lot of things I do during the game that I need to execute better. There are still ways to grow.”
 

Gregory formally joined Okay-State on April 12, because the three-time Oklahoma letterwinner bade farewell to Oklahoma and mentioned howdy to the Little Apple. The 5-foot-11 guard from Tulsa, Oklahoma, and former Big 12 Freshman of the Year, has two years of eligibility remaining. She gives a veteran presence and brings physicality to a squad that misplaced All-America heart Ayoka Lee previous to the season attributable to offseason surgical procedure.
 
Gregory averaged 10.9 factors, 3.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 72 profession video games with 46 begins with the Sooners. She scored in double figures in 41 video games and had not less than 5 rebounds in 24 contests.
 
This season, Gregory has been a gradual drive — at one level scoring not less than 20 factors in 5 consecutive video games, which was probably the most by a Okay-State participant since Brittany Chambers had a faculty-file 9 in 2012-13. Gregory had a profession-excessive 35 factors and a profession-excessive 10 rebounds in opposition to Northern Arizona, 31 factors in opposition to South Dakota State in Kansas City, and opened her Big 12 season with 25 factors in opposition to Oklahoma State and 26 factors in opposition to West Virginia.
 
She has scored 333 factors this season, that are the second-most by a Okay-State switch of their first season in Manhattan because the 2011-12 season, trailing Tasha Dickey’s 335.
 
“Gabby came in right away and obviously has experience and is in the right place at the right time,” Sundell mentioned. “It’s been fun to play with her. She’s someone I can count on to knock down shots and make plays. There are still things we can be better at.”
 

Sundell arrived at Okay-State previous to final season because the again-to-again Class 4 Player of the Year from Maryville, Missouri, scored 2,358 factors at Maryville High School.
 
Last season, she grew to become the primary Okay-State freshman to file 375 factors, 175 assists and 100 rebounds. She was additionally the primary Okay-State freshman with 175 assists and 50 3-pointers.
 
Her 176 assists final season ranked second amongst Okay-State freshmen behind Shalee Lehning’s college file of 189 in 2005-06.
 
Sundell’s profession help-to-turnover ratio of 1.94 is the college file.
 
With seven rebounds at No. 15 Iowa State on Wednesday, Sundell reached 500 profession factors, 250 assists and 200 rebounds. Against the Cyclones, she additionally recorded seven assists, which marked the 30^th time in her profession and the eleventh time this season she has dished out not less than 5 assists in a sport.
 
“They’re a lot of fun to play with,” senior guard Emilee Ebert mentioned. “Gabby’s fit in, and she’s played really well for our team. She’s got a great motor and she’s super fun to play with. Serena does a good job of handling the ball and getting us into what we need to be in. I’ve really enjoyed it.”
 
The Wildcats will search for extra fulfilling moments as they return dwelling to face Texas Tech, 13-4 and 1-3, at 4 p.m. Saturday at Bramlage Coliseum.
 
“There still has to be some growth on the mental side of playing together,” Mittie mentioned. “There were some breakdowns against West Virginia that both of them could’ve done better that would’ve allowed them to play better together, but they’ve had a really, really good start.”