K-State Kicks Off Cancun Challenge Against Columbia: Game Preview & What to Expect!

K-State Women’s Basketball: Heading to Cancun

This Thursday, K-State’s women’s basketball team squares off against Columbia in the 2025 Cancun Challenge. The game kicks off at 12:30 p.m. (CT) at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya. You can catch all the action on FloCollege, though a subscription is required.

What’s at Stake?

This match marks the first time these two teams have faced each other. K-State’s head coach, Jeff Mittie, has a history of success against teams from the Ivy League, holding a record of 10-1.

Currently, K-State sits at 3-2, while Columbia is at 4-3. Columbia recently bounced back from two losses with a convincing 73-60 victory over Binghamton. Their head coach, Megan Griffith, is in her 11th season and has led the Lions to two consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.

Main Players to Watch

• Nastja Claessens: This junior forward is a key player for K-State. She scored a career-high 21 points in the recent game against Green Bay.
• Taryn Sides: A junior guard with 15 assists so far this season, Sides is fast approaching the K-State career assists list.
• Jordan Speiser: The freshman forward has made an impact with two double-doubles in her debut season, tying for the Big 12 lead.
• Riley Weiss and Perri Page: Columbia’s Weiss is averaging 16.2 points, while Page contributes 14.4 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.

Defensive Strengths

K-State prides itself on its strong defensive play. This season, the Wildcats have kept opponents to an average of 56.4 points per game. Historically, teams led by Mittie have been tough to score against. When holding an opponent to under 49 points, K-State boasts an impressive record of 148-4 over the last 22 seasons.

Key Trends

Interestingly, K-State performs better when leading at halftime. Since the 2001-02 season, they’ve won 88% of games when ahead at the break. Similarly, late-game comebacks have often been a challenge, but recent improvements suggest the team is learning how to manage tight finishes better.

Fun Facts

K-State has participated in several tournaments in Mexico, holding a 2-8 record overall, including a challenging 1-8 in Cancun. Their last victory in Mexico was against Princeton in 2018, which gives them a small glimmer of hope as they aim to build on that success this week.

Now, as the Wildcats prepare for an exciting matchup, fans can look forward to seeing how they adapt and perform against Columbia. With promising talent on both sides, this game will be one to watch.

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