MANHATTAN, Kan. (Interstat) — The Kansas State women’s basketball team used a dominant second-half performance to pull away from Troy and secure an 81-59 victory on Tuesday night at Bramlage Coliseum.

In a game witnessed by 3,079 fans, the Wildcats improved their record to 4-2, while the Trojans suffered their first loss of the season, falling to 3-1.

The contest was tightly contested through the first 20 minutes, with Kansas State holding a narrow 35-28 lead at halftime. The Wildcats seized control immediately after the break, outscoring Troy 24-13 in the third quarter to build a commanding 59-41 advantage. They continued to extend their lead in the final period, ultimately cruising to the 22-point win.

Kansas State’s offense was efficient, scoring 81 points on 88 possessions for an offensive rating of 91.9. The Wildcats shot 41.7 percent from the floor, connecting on 30 of 72 attempts, and were effective from the free-throw line, making 13 of 15. They also dominated inside, outscoring Troy 42-26 in the paint.

Troy’s offensive struggles were a key factor in the outcome. The Trojans managed just 59 points on 91 possessions, resulting in an offensive rating of 65.1. They shot a frigid 26.5 percent from the field, making only 22 of 83 shots, and hit just 6 of 31 attempts from beyond the three-point line.

Despite the shooting woes, Troy battled on the glass, hauling in 20 offensive rebounds compared to just nine for Kansas State. However, the Trojans were unable to capitalize fully on those second chances, and their 21 turnovers further hindered their efforts.

Kansas State’s victory was a balanced effort. Taryn Sides, a guard from Phillipsburg, Kansas, orchestrated the offense with a team-high six assists to go with nine points in 31 minutes. Tess Heal, hailing from Melbourne, Australia, contributed 11 points, while Brandie Harrod of Oklahoma City provided a strong inside presence with 12 points.

Jordan Speiser from Warrenton, Missouri, led the Wildcats in scoring with 13 points, and Gina Garcia of Barcelona, Spain, chipped in eight points and five assists. Aniya’ Foy from Katy, Texas, was a force defensively, adding nine points, a block, and a steal.

For Troy, Rachel Leggett led the team with nine points and three assists. Fortuna Ngnawo, from Bafoussam, Cameroon, recorded a double-double with 10 points and was active on the boards. Saniya Jackson of Montgomery, Alabama, added six points and four assists, and Leilani Guion from Orlando, Florida, contributed six points, two assists, and a block.

The game began with both teams trading baskets in a sloppy first quarter that featured numerous missed shots and turnovers. Troy held a brief early lead, but Kansas State closed the period on a 5-0 run, capped by a Jordan Speiser three-pointer, to take a 15-12 lead.

The Wildcats maintained their momentum in the second quarter, using a 7-0 run midway through the period to stretch their lead to double digits. Troy managed to cut the deficit to seven by halftime, but any hope of a comeback was extinguished by Kansas State’s explosive third-quarter surge.

The Wildcats opened the second half with a 12-4 run, effectively putting the game out of reach as Troy’s shooting struggles persisted. Kansas State’s ball movement and interior scoring proved too much for the Trojans to overcome down the stretch.

With the win, Kansas State looks ahead to a road game at Green Bay on Saturday. Troy will aim to rebound quickly when they travel to face Missouri on Thursday.