Big 12 Tournament: Kansas State edges Iowa State when it counts

posted by anngaff, a Women Talk Sports blogger
Wednesday, March 9, 2011 at 4:59pm EST

About anngaff:

Chief Technical Officer, Women Talk Sports. I competed in Track & Field and Cross-Country in college at the University of Nebraska and competed professionally in Track & Field (3000m Steeplechase) fr...more

After losing to the Cyclones twice this season, the Kansas State wildcats were determined to not lose to them at the Big 12 Tournament today.

"We felt we could bring it a little more today, especially since they played last night," said sophomore Brittany Chambers, who has scored 83 three-pointers so far this season.

"The fact that we lost to them didn’t settle well. We wanted to come out with the mentality to fight hard until the finish, and we didn’t have that in the other games," added junior forward Jalana Childs, who was seen limping much of the game due to a strained hip flexor.

Childs was in tears after stretching her hip flexor too far going up to block a shot, but she was determined to keep going. In the final minute of the game, with her team up just three points, Childs leaped to block a shot by Iowa State senior Kelsey Bolte.

Coach Deb Patterson described the suspense of Bolte's final shot, "It felt like Bolte was open for 10 seconds. But everyone understood how we were going to defend. Jalana did such a tremendous job of identifying out of a scramble to go to Bolte and guard her. When I saw her there, I felt relieved because of her size. Bolte can shoot over just about anyone else."

"No one else was going to guard her so I had to! It was a good shot, so thank God she didn’t make it!" exclaimed a relieved Childs. She then deferred credit for her teams win to Chambers, saying, "She has grown so much. I want to be like her one day."

Chambers credited her team for screening well and giving her the opportunities for good shots, "Coach has given me the green light and it is attributed to my team that I can get open and take those shots."

The Wildcats will face Baylor in the semi-finals on Friday. Childs, Chambers and Coach Patterson agreed that they will need to come with the intensity they've had in their recent games in order to challenge the Bears.

"We didn’t come out with the fight last time we played Baylor. Against a team like Baylor, you have to give it your all. They’re a team you can’t back down against," remarked Chambers.

Check out all of Big 12 Women's Basketball Tournament coverage.

Also follow myself (@anngaff), Cheryl Coward of HoopFeed.com (@hoopfeed) through the final on Saturday.

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Big 12 Tournament: Kansas State edges Iowa State when it counts

March Madness 2011

Big 12 Basketball Championships
March 8 - 12, 2011

More from this author:

Big 12 Tournament: Kansas State edges Iowa State when it counts

March Madness 2011

Big 12 Basketball ChampionshipsMarch 8 - 12, 2011

More from this author:

Big 12 Basketball Championships
March 8 - 12, 2011