Kansas State women’s basketball beats Georgia Tech in opening round of WBIT
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Kansas State defeated Georgia Tech 69-65 to advance in the 2026 WBIT.
- Nastja Claessens led K-State with 15 points; Taryn Sides added 14.
- Wildcats will likely host second round vs. winner of Cal or Santa Clara.
The Kansas State women’s basketball team is moving on in the postseason.
K-State defeated Georgia Tech 69-65 in the opening round of the WBIT on Thursday at Bramlage Coliseum.
The Wildcats (19-17) fell short of the NCAA Tournament this season as head coach Jeff Mittie worked to replace longtime contributors Serena Sundell and Ayoka Lee to graduation last year. But a run to the semifinals of the Big 12 Tournament motivated them to keep playing. And they are taking advantage of the opportunity.
Nastja Claessens led the Wildcats to victory with a team-high 15 points to go along with five rebounds. Taryn Sides added 14 points, five assists and three rebounds.
K-State needed strong games from both of those players with Talayah Walker scoring a game-high 29 points for Georgia Tech.
“It was a hard fought game, and we knew it was going to be,” K-State head coach Jeff Mittie said. “On film, we were concerned that they were able to play a style that could give us some trouble. Their one-on-one ability, the post-up of the guards, the one-on-one drive ability, that concerned us. We had a lot of respect for (Walker). She’s a heck of a player, heck of a scorer, and she gave us fits all night.
“I’m proud of our group. We continue to get good production from a lot of people. It’s not just one player, it’s not just two players, it’s different people. I thought our group did some good things tonight.”
There were six lead changes in this game, but K-State was in relative control most of the way. It led for 35 minutes, 55 seconds of game action. The Wildcats surged ahead by as many as eight in the fourth quarter.
K-State will next play the winner of California and Santa Clara in the second round.
As the better seed in the tournament, the Wildcats will host that game at 6 p.m. on Sunday inside Bramlage Coliseum. Fans can purchase tickets to the contest through K-State.
This story was originally published March 19, 2026 at 9:01 PM.