MANHATTAN, Kan. (Interstat) — The Kansas State Wildcats used a dominant second-quarter surge to pull away from the Lamar Lady Cardinals and secure an 89-61 victory in a non-conference women’s basketball game Monday night at Bramlage Coliseum.

In a contest that was tight after the first quarter, Kansas State’s offense exploded in the second period, outscoring Lamar 28-12 to build a commanding 48-32 halftime lead from which the Lady Cardinals could not recover. The Wildcats improved to 3-0 on the young season, while Lamar dropped to 0-2.

The game was a tale of contrasting offensive efficiencies. Kansas State operated with precision, scoring 89 points on 73 possessions for an offensive rating of 121.2. Lamar, conversely, managed just 61 points on 71 possessions, an offensive rating of 85.4. The Wildcats’ ball security was a key factor, as they committed only five turnovers while forcing 14 from Lamar, converting those into 10 points.

Sophomore guard Taryn Sides, a native of Phillipsburg, Kansas, led all scorers with a game-high 20 points. She was efficient from the floor and dished out a team-best five assists in 28 minutes of action, orchestrating the Wildcats’ high-powered attack. She was complemented by fellow guard Izela Arenas, who added 18 points on the night.

Lamar was led by the standout performance of Shaila Forman. The guard from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, shouldered the scoring load for the Lady Cardinals, finishing with 19 points, including a 3-for-4 performance from beyond the arc, in her 28 minutes.

The first quarter was a back-and-forth affair, ending in a 20-20 deadlock. Lamar’ R’Mani Taylor and Kansas State’s Jordan Speiser traded early baskets, and Forman connected on a three-pointer late in the period to keep the Lady Cardinals level.

The momentum shifted decisively in the second quarter. Kansas State’s defense tightened, generating steals and disrupting Lamar’s offensive flow. The Wildcats opened the period on an 8-2 run, fueled by a three-pointer from Gina Garcia and a layup from Speiser. Lamar struggled to find consistent offense, and Kansas State continued to capitalize, closing the half on another strong run to take a 16-point lead into the break.

Kansas State continued to control the game after halftime, maintaining its double-digit advantage throughout the second half. The Wildcats consistently found high-percentage shots, outscoring Lamar 48-28 in the paint for the game. Their ball movement was superior, finishing with eight assists compared to just two for Lamar.

Beyond the leading scorers, Kansas State received contributions across the roster. Garcia, from Barcelona, Spain, filled the stat sheet with seven points, four assists and four rebounds. Speiser and Tess Heal each added seven points, while Ramiya White provided a presence inside with five points and five rebounds.

For Lamar, Taylor finished with 11 points, but the team’s offensive struggles were evident in their 19-of-51 shooting from the field. Keyiona Mcdaniel provided a spark off the bench with six points in 16 minutes.

The announced attendance at Bramlage Coliseum was 3,204. Lamar will look for its first win of the season when it travels to face Kansas on Wednesday. Kansas State’s next contest is at home against South Dakota on Thursday.